big black horse and a cherry tree by KT Tunstall Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Mystical Metaphors of Fate and Choice

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for KT Tunstall's big black horse and a cherry tree at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Two, three, four

(Woohoo, woohoo)
(Woohoo, woohoo)

Well, my heart knows me better than I know myself
So I’m gonna let it do all the talking
(Woohoo, woohoo)
I came across a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree
(Woohoo, woohoo)

I felt a little fear upon my back
I said don’t look back, just keep on walking
(Woohoo, woohoo)
Well, the big black horse said “Look this way”
He said, “Hey lady, will you marry me?”
(Woohoo, woohoo)

But I said “No, no, no, no, no, no”
I said “No, no, you’re not the one for me”
No, no, no, no, no, no
I said “No, no, you’re not the one for me”

(Ooh, woohoo)

And my heart had a problem in the early hours
So I stopped it dead for a beat or two
(Woohoo, woohoo)
But I cut some cord, and I shouldn’t have done it
And it won’t forgive me after all these years
(Woohoo, woohoo)

So I sent her to a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree
(Woohoo, woohoo)
Now it won’t come back ’cause it’s oh-so-happy
And now I’ve got a hole for the world to see
(Woohoo, woohoo)

And it said “No, no, no, no, no, no”
I said “No, no, you’re not the one for me”
No, no, no, no, no, no
I said “No, no, you’re not the one for me”

(Ooh, woohoo) (not the one for me, yeah)
(Ooh, woohoo)
I said “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
You’re not the one for me” (woohoo)
No, no, no, no (woohoo)
No, no, no (woohoo)
No, no
You’re not the one for me

Big black horse and a cherry tree
I can’t quite get there ’cause my heart’s forsaken me
Yeah, yeah, yeah (woohoo)
Big black horse and a cherry tree
I can’t quite get there ’cause my heart’s forsaken me

KT Tunstall’s ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’ is more than a foot-stomping folk-rock anthem; it’s an odyssey wrapped in metaphor, an intimate look at the crossroads of decision and desire. It is a tale of self-discovery and the unwavering voice of the heart that refuses to be silenced or steered by the alluring yet ominous shadows that dwell in our path.

As deceptively simple as it may first appear, the song is layered with a complexity that invites listeners to peel back the surface and explore the deep-seated themes that resonate with the choices we confront and the consequences we carry. Tunstall orchestrates an interplay between autonomy and temptation, the symbolic with the literal, and the tension between what the heart knows and what the world offers.

At the Crossroads of Mystic and Reality: Delving into the Heart’s True Voice

Behind the infectious ‘woo-hoos’ and rhythmic guitar lies a narrative at a crossroads, an intersection of mysticism and reality. It is here that the heart speaks loudest, separate from the cognitive dissonance of the mind, guiding the footsteps of our protagonist who stands at the precipice of a life-altering decision.

Through Tunstall’s poetic lens, the heart emerges as not just an emotional compass, but a character in its own right—frank, fearless, and unflinchingly honest. The authority vested in the heart’s voice is a testament to the instinct that seeks our truest welfare, often understanding our needs before we do.

An Ominous Proposal: The Big Black Horse as a Symbol of Temptation

The big black horse, with its imposing presence, serves as a harbinger of temptation, offering a pact that promises ease but also signifies a loss of self. It poses a question, a proposal of sorts, one which requires a response that will define the trajectory of our narrator’s destiny.

By personifying temptation as a suitor seeking her hand—an entity that can be confronted and conversed with—Tunstall frames the meeting as a moment of agency. Our protagonist’s repeated refusals, while fraught with an innate fear of the unknown, resound with the power of choice and self-determination.

The Cherry Tree’s Silent Witness: A Symbol of Growth and the Bitter-sweet Taste of Life

Equally enigmatic in Tunstall’s lyrical landscape is the cherry tree, silent yet stoic, a symbol that often represents growth, cycles, and the fragile bloom of life that can so quickly turn from sweet to tart.

As a witness to this strange encounter, the cherry tree can be seen as a metaphor for the internal blossoming that occurs when we heed our deeper truths, even when it leads us through the thicket of challenge and change.

A Heart’s Rebellion and its Price: Untangling the Knots of Consequence

In the aftermath of our heroine’s bold declarations, she grapples with the consequences—a heart that has been silenced and banished, now ‘oh-so-happy’ in its self-imposed exile, leaving our protagonist to navigate the hollow echo of a choice made.

The autonomy exercised comes at a somber price, reflecting the perennial truth that our boldest decisions bear their own burdens—remorse, what-ifs, and a self-awareness that can carve a cavity within. It is a nuanced portrayal of the ambiguous aftermath that follows resolute defiance.

The Resonance of a Refrain: ‘You’re Not the One for Me’

Amidst the enigma wrapped in melody, Tunstall embeds a refrain that echoes with the certainty of internal clarity, ‘No, no, you’re not the one for me.’ It stands out as a memorable line, serving as both anthem and mantra to thousands who have faced their own moments of truth.

This line reverberates not just as rejection of an immediate offer, but a broader assertion of identity and the unwavering conviction that guides our most profound life choices. It captures the essence of the song’s spirit—an empowered declaration that has emboldened listeners to choose their path, forge their narrative, and let their heart lead the way.