O'Neill started writing songs and music at an early age. She moved to Dublin, aged 18, to study music on a full-time basis. Early on she was welcomed into the folk and traditional scene in pubs and venues around the city where her singular voice, witty lyrics and observations on modern Irish life gained her popularity and set her apart as a unique talent.
Her independently released debut album, "Has an Album", was released in August 2009 and sold out throughout Ireland displaying her popularity not just in Dublin but nationwide.
Her second album, "Same Cloth Or Not", was released on Song Seeds Records in October 2013. The album was recorded in a beautiful rented cottage in Wicklow in the winter months with David Kitt producing and Karl Oldum engineering and includes her band Stina Sandstrom (vocals) and Mossy Nolan (bouzouki) and some wonderful interventions from London-based string duo Geese (Emma Smith & Vincent Sipprell).
Following the release of "Same Cloth Or Not", O'Neill toured with Glen Hansard in Ireland and then to the UK with Scottish folk singer James Yorkston. Subsequently, she has toured North America, Canada, Europe Scotland & the UK, opening for David Gray, Mick Flannery, Angel Olsen as well as Glen Hansard and Sixto Rodriquez along the way.
In 2016 she released "Pothole in the Sky".
As with her 2013 album "Same Cloth Or Not", her 2018 album, "Heard a Long Gone Song", was nominated for the Choice Music Prize.
All the Tired Horses
Lisa O'Neill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
All the tired horses in the sun
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
All the tired horses in the sun
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
All the tired horses in the sun
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
All the tired horses in the sun
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
All the tired horses in the sun
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
All the tired horses in the sun
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
All the tired horses in the sun
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
The lyrics to Lisa O'Neill's song, "All the Tired Horses," present a stark image of exhaustion and futility. The repetition of the lines "All the tired horses in the sun / How am I supposed to get any riding done?" suggests a sense of overwhelm and helplessness. The horses themselves are a metaphor for the burdens of life, and the sun represents the fatigue and pressure that comes with trying to keep up with it all. The singer seems to be acknowledging that it may be impossible to achieve everything she wants to, given the constant demands of the world she lives in.
The song's sparse instrumentation and simple, repetitive structure contribute to its meditative, reflective quality. The humming that accompanies the lyrics gives them an almost chant-like quality, emphasizing the sense of weary resignation. The song's overall effect is one of contemplation and acceptance, rather than frustration or anger. The horses may be tired, but there is a sense that life goes on, and the singer must find a way to work within the limitations of her circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
All the tired horses in the sun
The singer is surrounded by tired horses that have been working hard in the sun, which creates a difficult and oppressive atmosphere.
How am I supposed to get any riding done?
The singer is struggling to find motivation to ride the horses due to the oppressive and exhausting environment created by the sun and tired animals.
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
The singer is lost in thought, perhaps contemplating their situation and trying to find a solution to their problem.
Writer(s): Bob Dylan
Contributed by Nathaniel A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.