Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Three White Horses” by Andrew Bird
Andrew Bird’s “Three White Horses” is an intriguing song filled with layered symbolism that tells a story wrapped up in a poetic style. The song opens with a description of the titular “three white horses”, and Bird then builds a vivid image of a gathering of people coming together to see them.
The narrator speaks of tribal drums and bagpipes playing the “pieces of a dream”, hinting at a culture that is centuries old. This symbolizes the primitive traditions that have been passed down for generations, and the coming together of these people serves as a reminder that we can all share the same hopes and dreams in spite of our differences. The white horses are a metaphor for the power of the collective and the strength that comes from being united in common cause.
The chorus speaks of what could be achieved if people come together under the guidance of the horses. It speaks of a future that could be formed “as we ride the storm away,” one where we no longer see the world in terms of us and them, but instead come together in a unified vision of a better world.
The chorus describes how if we follow the horses, we can create a paradise that will last forever. This conveys the idea that the wisdom and strength of a collective can be greater than the individual, and that by coming together, we can bring about real and lasting change.
The song closes with a call for us to unite around the horses and to use their power to build a shared future. In doing so, it encourages us to look beyond our differences and to find common purpose and common ground. Through this shared vision, the song speaks to the power of collective action and to the hope for a new, better world.