“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
“Twenty Wild Horses” galloped out on September 20, 1999, as the third single from Status Quo’s 23rd studio album Under the Influence (released March 29, 1999). Written by Francis Rossi and Bernie Frost, and produced by Mike Paxman, this rock‑folk fusion track captures Quo’s knack for marrying driving riffs with singalong melody. Though it peaked at a modest No. 53 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 96 in the Netherlands, its warm groove and witty lyric hook—“twenty wild horses and 500 men”—have endeared it to fans for decades.
Rossi teamed up with longtime collaborator Bernie Frost to craft Under the Influence’s opening salvo, “Twenty Wild Horses,” aiming to blend Quo’s trademark boogie‑rock with folk‑tinged storytelling . Eagle Records issued the single on September 20, 1999, backed by B‑sides “Analyse Time” and “Obstruction Day”. The album itself marked the last batch of Rossi/Frost originals before Rossi reunited with Bob Young for later projects .
Right from the jangling acoustic intro you sense something different—this isn’t a straight‑ahead rocker but a melody‑driven tune with a touch of folk warmth. Rossi’s lead vocal feels like he’s leaning in, sharing a secret about Mukluks‑and‑mini‑skirts adventures in some northern outpost—then kicking into that irresistible chorus . The phrase “twenty wild horses and 500 men” wasn’t plucked from history; Rossi later admitted it simply sounded great against the melody, and sometimes that’s all songwriting needs.
While it didn’t storm the Top 10, “Twenty Wild Horses” gave fans a fresh set‑list staple and earned airplay across Europe. It reached No. 53 on the UK Singles Chart (Official Charts Company) and even charted in the Dutch Single Top 100 at No. 96. Critics noted its warm folk‑rock texture as a standout on an album otherwise heavy on hard‑driving riffs.
Beyond Quo’s own live shows, the track inspired a Spanish‑language cover—“Toda la Noche”—from Mexico’s Pobre Barrio in 2002. A dramatic live take with a 72‑piece orchestra even appeared on the Night of the Proms Vol. 6 CD, proving the song’s melody can soar in any setting .
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Lyrics
How do you do?
Tell me how are you?
Have you been well?
Give my regards to the world
Hand on my heart, I didn’t do what they say
’cause I would rather be blind
Or lose my mind completely
Twenty wild horses and five hundred men
They couldn’t drag me that far down again
Give me a colt 45 to my head
So I can say I’d be better off dead
Straight as an arrow I’ll make a new start
What can I tell you, it’s straight from the heart
I have a dream and it’s the same every night
I sleep with you, everything seems to be right
Beyond belief
When I awake and I find, that I am stuck in this place
My back’s to the wall completely
Twenty wild horses and five hundred men
They couldn’t drag me that far down again
Give me a colt 45 to my head
So I can say I’d be better off dead
Straight as an arrow I’ll make a new start
I wanna tell you it straight from the heart
So what can I say?
Seems that in here I find everyone is innocent
All I can do is hope and pray for an end
I’ve had enough, but that don’t change anything
Hand on my heart
I didn’t do what they say
Now at the end of the line
I’m loosing my mind completely
Twenty wild horses and five hundred men
They couldn’t drag me that far down again
Give me a colt 45 to my head
So I can say I’d be better off dead
Straight as an arrow I’ll make a new start
What can I tell you, it’s straight from the heart
Twenty wild horses and five hundred men
They couldn’t drag me that far down again