Continuing my track-by-track presentation of Brandi Carlile’s In These Silent Days…
The fourth track of In These Silent Days is an unexpected burst of righteous anger, and proof that Carlile can tear it up with the best of them. She channels her inner rock star in her live shows, but this is the first time I’ve heard it unleashed on a record.
The song shares a title with Carlile’s memoir, and she says it was inspired by the emotions stirred within her when writing the book.
Carlile had this to say about how writing her memoir informed this song: “I got some perspective. I realized there were some things I had a right to be angry about. I needed to sort of scream it out and play an electric guitar.”
‘Broken Horses’ gives me serious Elton John vibes, which makes sense as Carlile has worshipped John since she was a kid. His music inspired her to try her own hand at songwriting.
Now she counts him among her close friends.
I wear my father’s leather on the inside of my skin
I’m a tried and weathered woman, but I won’t be tried again
Don’t think that you can come for me without your Sunday best
You had better call your priest and hope the devil gets the rest
Before I do
Oh, and I will do
[Verse 2]
I’ve worn the jester’s bells and I have vanished with the fools
I have worshiped at the altar of the puppet master’s rule
I have hеld my tongue too many scenes bеfore the final act
With my children in the cheap seats and a zipper on my back
Thanks to you
No thanks to you
[Chorus]
Tethered in wide open spaces
In fields that lead for miles
Right into the barrel of a gun
Mendin’ up your fences with my
Horses runnin’ wild
Only broken horses know to run
[Verse 3]
I have ever so politely treaded softly for your praise
I have whispered through the tears and pleaded sweetly to your face
It is time to spit you out like lukewarm water from my mouth
I will always taste the apathy, but I won’t pass it down
Enough with you
You, you
[Chorus]
Tethered in wide open spaces
In fields that lead for miles
Right into the barrel of a gun
Mendin’ up your fences with my
Horses runnin’ wild
Only broken horses know to run
[Verse 1]
I wear my father’s leather on the inside of my skin
I’m a tried and weathered woman, but I won’t be tried again
Don’t think that you can come for me without your Sunday best
You had better call your priest and hope the devil gets the rest
Before I do
Oh, and I will do
[Chorus]
Tethered in wide open spaces
In fields that lead for miles
Right into the barrel of a gun
Mendin’ up your fences with my
Horses runnin’ wild
Only broken horses know to run
Meet Me In Montauk 
Another great song, and I definitely hear the Elton John influence, perhaps with some Melissa Etheridge thrown in.