There were other things in the notebook, some conversation bits and things. “Don’t talk to me that way. I’m not listening.” Only Tom would put that in a song. I wrote it, but I would have never put it in a song. He said to me, “Don’t be afraid to steal from yourself.”

Matt Berninger Poetry is like ice skating, whereas songwriting to me feels like swimming. With songwriting, you’re down in the water and you’re really reacting to the music, whereas with poetry, you’re on the top. All through “Horses” you hear someone who is probably more comfortable in poetry starting to become a singer and a songwriter, starting... See more