Switchfoot - Dark Horses Lyrics
Lyrics
I've made my mistakes
I've seen my heart cave in
I got my scars
I've been to hell and back again
Born for the blue skies
We'll survive the rain
Born for the sunrise
We'll survive the pain
We're singing hey, you can't count us out
We've been running up against the crowd
Yeah, we are the dark horses
We're singing wait, it's not over now
We've been down but we've never been out
Yeah, we are the dark horses
We found a way out
The city takes everything it can
But outside the crowds
I can feel my lungs again
Born for the blue skies
We'll survive the rain
Born for the sun rise
We will survive the pain
We're singing
La la la la la la la
Were singing we don't care what they say
We know we'll find a way
Yeah, we are the dark horses
Keep running with the dark horses
Stand up for the dark horses
Hope makes the blood change courses
Keep running with the dark horses
Stand up for the dark horses
Video
SWITCHFOOT - DARK HORSES
Meaning & Inspiration
"Dark Horses," released by Switchfoot on September 22, 2011, arrives as a powerful anthem of resilience and unyielding hope, resonating deeply with anyone who has faced adversity. The song artfully portrays a journey through personal struggles, acknowledging past mistakes and the profound impact of hardship, as evidenced by lines like "I've made my mistakes / I've seen my heart cave in." This raw honesty sets the stage for a message of enduring strength, a core tenet found throughout Scripture. The declaration, "We're born for the blue skies, we'll survive the rain" and "Born for the sunrise, we'll survive the pain," echoes the biblical assurance that even in the darkest seasons, a brighter future is promised. This resilience can be linked to passages such as Romans 8:18, which states, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us." The song’s central metaphor, the "dark horse," represents those who are overlooked, underestimated, or who persevere against all odds. This imagery powerfully aligns with the spirit of many biblical figures who rose from obscurity to fulfill divine purposes, often facing significant opposition.
The chorus, with its defiant declaration, "You can't count us out / We've been running up against the crowd / Yeah, we are the dark horses," speaks directly to a spirit of unwavering conviction, refusing to be defined by external judgments or setbacks. This resonates with the biblical call to stand firm in one's faith, even when it means going against the prevailing currents of the world. Consider 1 Samuel 14:6, where Jonathan, facing an overwhelming Philistine army, declared, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few." The song further emphasizes finding freedom and regaining one's breath when stepping away from the pressures of the world, as in "The city takes everything it can / But outside the crowds / I can feel my lungs again." This finding of space and clarity often parallels the biblical invitation to rest in God's presence and withdraw from the noise of life to hear His voice more clearly, as exemplified in Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God." The repeated call to "Keep running with the dark horses / Stand up for the dark horses" is a powerful exhortation to embrace one's unique journey and to champion those who do the same. This encourages a communal spirit of support and solidarity, reflecting the Christian emphasis on bearing one another's burdens and lifting each other up, as urged in Galatians 6:2: "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." The persistent refrain that "Hope makes the blood change courses" is perhaps the most profound spiritual insight of the song, underscoring the transformative power of hope, which Scripture presents not as mere optimism, but as a steadfast anchor in the face of uncertainty, as described in Hebrews 6:19: "We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, a hope both firm and secure." "Dark Horses" ultimately offers an inspiring message of enduring faith, personal strength, and the quiet, unyielding power found in perseverance and unwavering hope.