“Wild Horses”, now there’s an overused song title, right? Admittedly there are a few other songs out there with the same title. I thought it might be kind of fun to do my own take on Wild Horses. Listening to this, you’ll soon realize it is quite different.
Its a fictional story, of life on the road. It could be about a truck driver, or a travelling salesperson, or a calf roper. I’ve never been any of those, but I have experienced travelling alone for extended periods and the thoughts that sometimes come with that. The wild horses in this story are in Wyoming, but they could be Alberta, or South Dakota, or New Mexico, etc. “Wyoming” just flowed the best with the line and, having travelled through Wyoming, it is stunningly beautiful, but much of it is a very lonely landscape, which fits well with the theme of this song.
This is the most “Country and Western” sounding of all my songs so far. It’s not a genre I ever thought I would right in but it was fun nonetheless, and I’ve been told my voice is right for this type of music, so what the heck!
FYI, the “wildies” in this picture were west of Sundre, Alberta, not far from where I grew up, but that’s a different story…
Wild Horses
copyright 2023 Steve Smith (SOCAN)
This coffee’s cold and far too weak
The waitress couldn’t give a damn
As she gazes out the window with those foggy eyes
She’s still waiting for her Superman
And all these roadside diners feel the same
My constant friend, an empty seat
As I catch my reflection in the polished rail
Not sure who’s looking back at me
Pre Chorus
She said, “hey mister can you take me away to any place other than here?”
I said, “your first town will always call you home”
Chorus
When I get that call I’ll be on my way
Maybe tomorrow, wait and see
I’ll drive through Wyoming on my way back home
See those wild horses running free…
Time to turn it down for the night
Drivin slowly through the sinnin’ part of town
Past the bars and taverns with their warm red glow
I feel my inhibitions wearing down
Been on the road for far too long
Feeling disconnected and alone
It’s that sucker punch that hit me from a darkened room
I’ve never really felt this far from home
Pre Chorus
She said, “hey mister can you take me away to any place other than here?”
I said, “you can never leave those things you’ve done”
Repeat Chorus