Meaning of 'WILD STALLION' by William E. Simpson II

William Simpson II
3 days ago
5 min read

Drawing from the lyrics of WILD STALLION and William E. Simpson II’s profound life as a wild horse ethologist, living among wild horse bands in the Cascade-Siskiyou Mountains, the song is a powerful embodiment of the wild horse’s perspective, channeled through Simpson’s decade-plus of immersive experience. As a herald of the horses’ emotions and worldview, Simpson translates their untamed essence into a lyrical narrative that weaves ecological, spiritual, and natural themes into a poignant call for their preservation. The song is not just a tribute but a voice for the stallions, mares, and foals Simpson has observed up close—sharing their breath, seeing the fire in their eyes, and witnessing their reactions to a world both beautiful and threatening.

Below, the meaning is explored through the lenses of ecology, spirituality, and the natural world, with Simpson’s role as their advocate and interpreter at the core.

Ecological Significance

The song WILD STALLION positions wild horses as vital stewards of the American landscape, reflecting Simpson’s advocacy through his “Wild Horse Fire Brigade” initiative, which emphasizes their role in mitigating wildfires and fostering biodiversity. The opening verse (“I was born where the sky meets the mountain winds / Two million years runnin’ free with my kin / On the land where the fossils of my kind still lay”) grounds the stallion in an ancient ecological lineage, asserting their native status against claims of being “invasive.” Simpson, through the stallion’s voice, challenges the dominance of cattle grazing (“no bones of the cattle they graze here today”), highlighting how wild horses are integral to the land’s evolutionary tapestry. Their grazing patterns, as Simpson has documented, reduce wildfire fuels, preserving forests and watersheds—an ecological service the song subtly champions by tying the stallion’s existence to the health of the “sacred land.”

The bridge’s reference to “kin fall[ing] to steel and flame” alludes to human-driven threats like roundups, slaughter, and habitat loss due to livestock overgrazing, which Simpson critiques in his work. The stallion’s resilience (“I wear the scars of battles won”) mirrors the herds’ ability to endure in harsh ecosystems, from fire-scorched hills to drought-stricken plains. Through the song, Simpson heralds the horses’ ecological role, urging listeners to recognize them as allies in combating megafires and restoring balance to the West’s fragile ecosystems. The stallion’s voice becomes a plea for coexistence, emphasizing that their survival is intertwined with the land’s health.

Spiritual Resonance

WILD STALLION elevates the wild horse to a spiritual emblem, a creature “carved by God’s own hand” with a “heart full of thunder.” Simpson, having lived among the herds and felt their spiritual presence, infuses the lyrics with a sense of divine connection. The chorus’s imagery of racing the wind, watching stars fall, and hearing “heaven’s call” portrays the stallion as a being in communion with the cosmos, unbound by earthly constraints. This spiritual dimension reflects Simpson’s observations of horses as sentient, soulful creatures, whose lives—marked by moments like “angels sing[ing] when a newborn cries” or “whisper[ing] to spirits on the midnight breeze”—carry a sacred weight.

The final chorus’s declaration, “I am the vanishing spirit of America… Untamed… Unbroken… Still free,” positions the stallion as a symbol of the nation’s wild soul, a spiritual legacy teetering on extinction. Simpson’s role as herald is evident here: he channels the stallion’s defiance and grace, drawing from his intimate encounters to convey their reverence for the land and sky. The song suggests that wild horses embody a divine truth, living “by honor” and guided “by grace” through a world that often rejects them. For Simpson, who has watched them grieve fallen kin and celebrate new life, the song is a prayer to preserve this spiritual heritage, urging humanity to reconnect with the sacred wildness the horses represent.

Connection to the Natural World

The lyrics of WILD STALLION are steeped in the rhythms of the natural world, painting the stallion as an extension of the mountains, winds, and stars. Simpson’s lyrics—rich with images of “crest[ing] the peaks in the black before dawn” and “snow touch[ing] an eagle under moonlit skies”—reflect his firsthand experience of the horses’ deep attunement to their environment. The stallion is not separate from nature but a living thread within it, dancing with stars and weeping with trees. This natural unity, drawn from Simpson’s observations of herds navigating rugged terrains and seasonal cycles, underscores their role as keystone species, shaping the landscape through their presence.

The song’s natural imagery also serves as a lament for a vanishing wilderness. Lines like “I’ve seen my kin fall” and “I am the vanishing spirit” evoke the erosion of the American West under human pressures—fences, roundups, and land mismanagement. Simpson, who has lived “as one of them,” uses the stallion’s voice to express both the beauty of this natural world and the grief of its loss. His role as herald is to amplify the horses’ silent emotions, translating their vigilance, joy, and sorrow into a narrative that invites listeners to see the world through their eyes: a world of open plains, starlit nights, and untamed freedom.

Simpson’s Role as Herald

William E. Simpson II’s unique life—living among wild horses, managing a herd through his nonprofit, and studying their behaviors up close—positions him as more than a songwriter; he is a conduit for their perspectives and emotions. The lyrics of WILD STALLION are imbued with the authenticity of his experiences: smelling the sage on their coats, watching their reactions to predators or dawn, and feeling their bonds as a herd. As a herald, Simpson gives voice to the voiceless, capturing the stallion’s pride, grief, and defiance in a way that feels as if the horse itself is speaking. His intimate knowledge of their social structures, ecological impact, and spiritual presence shapes the song into a manifesto for their survival.

Through WILD STALLION, Simpson advocates for the horses’ right to exist as wild, native beings, challenging policies that threaten their freedom. The song’s closing lines—“Untamed… Unbroken… Still free”—are both a celebration of their enduring spirit and a call to action, reflecting his mission to protect them through initiatives like the Wild Horse Fire Brigade. By weaving ecological, spiritual, and natural themes into the stallion’s narrative, Simpson invites listeners to honor the wild horses not as relics but as living embodiments of America’s untamed heart.

Overall Significance

WILD STALLION is a lyrical testament to the wild horse’s ecological, spiritual, and natural significance, with William E. Simpson II serving as their herald. The song channels the stallion’s perspective—rooted in ancient lineage, divine freedom, and harmony with the land—while mourning the threats to their existence. Through vivid imagery and emotional depth, Simpson translates the horses’ unspoken emotions into a universal call to preserve the wild. Informed by his life among them, the song is both a celebration of their untamed spirit and a warning that the “vanishing spirit of America” hangs in the balance, urging us to act before it’s lost forever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul3ZJv0GPPM