"Six White Horses" is a song by Waylon Jennings released in 1972. The lyrics depict a grieving father who is anxiously awaiting news about his son, who is presumably at war. The song starts with the father looking through the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of his son returning home. He is unsure if the knock he hears at the door is his son's or if it is the news of his son's demise, symbolized by "six white horses coming down the road." The uncertainty and fear surrounding his son's fate are evident in these lines. The father pleads for reassurance, asking someone to come and touch him, to tell him that everything will be alright. He feels that his days and nights blend together in anguish, emphasizing the emotional toll the situation has taken on him. He reads a letter that confirms his son's absence, likely sent by the military notifying him that his son is away fighting. Frustrated with the fighting and longing for peace, the father expresses his desire to have his son return home. The song highlights the bond between father and son. The father recollects the moments of teaching his son life lessons, such as the value of life and the horrors of killing. Despite these teachings, the father admits that he would run to his son's side in battle if he could, symbolizing the depths of his love and willingness to protect his child. The second half of the song takes a nostalgic turn, as the father visits his son's room and touches the belongings that remind him of his childhood. The cradle where his son once lay now serves as a poignant reminder of the passing of time. The song ends with the father still hoping to see his son return home. The uncertainty of whether it will be his son or the news of his son's death, represented by the symbolic white horses, lingers, leaving the listener with a sense of the father's longing and anguish. Overall, "Six White Horses" is a heartfelt and emotional song that captures the universal feelings of fear, grief, and hope experienced by parents whose children go off to war.
