From the recording Horses & Horsepower
Musicians:
Jack Dunlap: Guitar and lead vocals Robert Mabe: Banjo
Alex Kimble: Bass
Mason Wright: Fiddle
Danny Knicely: Mandolin
Buddy Dunlap: Dobro and harmony vocals Elizabeth Baker: Harmony vocals
Mary Dunlap: Harmony Vocals
Written and arranged by Jack Dunlap
Published by Frogtown Music (BMI)
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Will Shenk Produced by Jack Dunlap, Robert Mabe and Will Shenk
Genres: Bluegrass, Folk, Americana
My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer on July 9th, 2022. He passed away on October 29th later that year. Throughout his fight with cancer, I wanted to write a tribute to him, but couldn’t get anything to stick until my sister Jill, her husband James and I met with the funeral home to go over arrangements and write the obituary. When we got to the hobbies portion, we talked about how he loved riding horses, driving muscle cars and how he was a truck driver his whole life, to which my brother-in-law said, “He loved horses and horsepower.” I went home that day and started writing the song.
I’m so pleased to have three of my five siblings playing and singing on this tribute to our dad. They all knocked their performance out of the park and I know he’d be proud of the legacy he left behind that I see in all of my siblings.
Lyrics
Dust is settling again, make me feel like jumping in
Turn her over and take her for a ride
Spray the gravel haul the load weld the rubber to the road It’s a natural thing like the moon pulls on the tide
Fire it up burn it down, feel the heat all around
As the flames climb higher to the tower
When the smoke fills the air, have no fear I’ll be there As we struggle to repent our final hour
Horses and horsepower
Feel it underneath my feet, as the road push back the heat My heart so tense it’s bound to explode
But she’s waiting there for me, with our babies two by three So I’ll countdown with the white lines in the road
Fire it up burn it down, feel the heat all around
As the flames climb higher to the tower
When the smoke fills the air, have no fear I’ll be there As we struggle to repent our final hour
Horses and horsepower
Time to get back on track, as the sweat pours off my back Dig my boots a little deeper in his side
You must think I’m insane, to hold on to the mane
But there’s no better thrill than hanging on the ride
Fire it up burn it down, feel the heat all around
As the flames climb higher to the tower
When the smoke fills the air, have no fear cause I’ll be there As we struggle to repent our final hour
Horses and horsepower