A Horse with No Name was written by Dewey Bunnell and is known for its distinctive sound and evocative lyrics that suggest a journey through the desert. It was inspired by Bunnells experience of living on military bases in the southwestern United States and his childhood memories from family trips. The song was an attempt to capture the feeling of desolation and beauty of the desert he had experienced.
On the first part of the journey I was looking at all the life There were plants and birds and rocks and things There were sand and hills and rings The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz And the sky with no clouds The heat was hot and the ground was dry But the air was full of sound
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name It felt good to be out of the rain In the desert you can remember your name 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain La, la, la lala la la la, la, la La, la, la lala la la la, la, la
After two days in the desert sun My skin began to turn red After three days in the desert fun I was looking at a river bed And the story it told of a river that flowed Made me sad to think it was dead
You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name It felt good to be out of the rain In the desert you can remember your name 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain La, la, la lala la la la, la, la La, la, la lala la la la, la, la
After nine days I let the horse run free 'Cause the desert had turned to sea There were plants and birds and rocks and things There were sand and hills and rings The ocean is a desert with its life underground And a perfect disguise above Under the cities lies a heart made of ground But the humans will give no love
You see, I've been through the desert on a horse with no name It felt good to be out of the rain In the desert you can remember your name 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain La, la, la lala la la la, la, la La, la, la lala la la la, la, la La, la, la lala la la la, la, la La, la, la lala la la la, la, la La, la, la lala la la la, la, la La, la, la lala la la la, la, la La, la, la lala la la la, la, la La, la, la lala la la la, la, la