Black Horse And The Cherry Tree

KT Tunstall's 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree' is a song rich with metaphor and emotional depth, exploring themes of self-discovery, decision-making, and the consequences of our choices. The song begins with the singer's heart taking the lead, suggesting an internal struggle between intuition and rationality. The repetitive 'Woo hoo' serves as a rhythmic mantra, emphasizing the journey and the emotional highs and lows that come with it.

The imagery of the 'big black horse and a cherry tree' is central to the song's narrative. The black horse can be seen as a symbol of temptation or a significant life decision, while the cherry tree represents beauty, life, and perhaps a simpler, more innocent time. When the horse proposes marriage, it signifies a pivotal moment where the singer must choose between following a tempting but potentially wrong path or staying true to herself. Her repeated refusal, 'No, no, you're not the one for me,' underscores her determination to make the right choice, even if it's difficult.

As the song progresses, the singer reflects on a mistake—'I cut some cord, and I shouldn't have done it'—indicating a past decision that led to regret. This regret is personified by the heart that has 'forsaken' her, leaving a metaphorical hole for the world to see. The song ends on a note of unresolved tension, with the singer unable to fully move past her mistake, symbolized by her inability to 'quite get there' to the cherry tree. This unresolved tension speaks to the universal human experience of living with the consequences of our choices and the ongoing journey of self-discovery and acceptance.