Thought It Was a War Anthem – Turns Out It’s a Chilling Funeral March
Corb Lund, the Alberta-born country and roots artist, is no stranger to telling stories that cut deep. But few of his songs hit as hard or span as far in time as “Horse Soldier, Horse Soldier.”
This isn’t your average country tune. There are no pickup trucks, no backroads, and no Friday night bonfires. Instead, it’s a sweeping and chilling march through hundreds of years of warfare, told from the first-person perspective of an immortal cavalry soldier.
The song is a list – but not a simple one. It catalogs battle after battle, war after war, empire after empire. From Ottoman wars, Napoleonic campaigns, the American Civil War, the World Wars, to even modern conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, this horse soldier has ridden through them all.
As the lyrics unfold, we realize this soldier is not a real man but a powerful metaphor – a symbol of the perpetuity of war and mankind’s addiction to conflict. He has no side, no ideology. He serves wherever he is called, under whichever flag demands his sword.
The relentless rhythm, combined with the growing intensity of the imagery, creates a sense of unease. The more you listen, the more you feel trapped in this soldier’s timeless curse. It’s a brilliant technique – using repetition and detail not to glorify war, but to expose its relentless, soul-eroding nature.
Corb Lund’s inspiration came partly from his grandfather, a real cavalry soldier in World War I. Raised around horses and military history, Lund crafted a song that pays homage to tradition while also critiquing it.
What’s especially striking is how the lyrics name-check real military regiments, tactics, and historical references from different cultures – including British Dragoons, Russian Hussars, and even Nazi SS units. This makes the song feel eerily real, as if this ghost soldier might truly exist, cursed to ride forever.
In the end, “Horse Soldier, Horse Soldier” is not just a song – it’s a dirge for humanity’s dark obsession. It asks: How many times must we ride into battle before we learn?
Whether you’re a history buff, a country music fan, or just someone searching for deeper meaning in lyrics, this is one track that demands your attention – and will leave you with more questions than answers.