Daryl Braithwaite riding The Horses to Falls Downtown

SONGWRITERS have been trying to emulate the good feeling created by Daryl Braithwaite’s version of The Horses for years.

It was originally written by Rickie Lee Jones and Walter Becker, but Braithwaite’s 1990 cover has become one of Australia’s unofficial anthems, beloved by people from all walks of life.

Braithwaite can still recall hearing the song for the first time, prompting him to take it to producer Simon Hussey during the sessions for his album Rise.

Nearly 30 years later, the swell of the song’s chorus still causes goosebumps.

“I spoke to Rickie Lee Jones earlier this year – she wrote it about her daughter,” Braithwaite said.

“I think it’s a song of hope – it’s a hopeful, joyous song.

“Then there’s the melody – if you could bottle it, gee whiz.”

Now a whole new generation are discovering the song, and the rest of Braithwaite’s music.

The recent ARIA Hall of Fame inductee has been invited to play Falls Downtown in Fremantle, alongside artists like Fleet Foxes, Run the Jewels, Liam Gallagher and Flume.

Braithwaite hasn’t heard of many of the acts he’ll be sharing the bill with, understandable given many of his cohorts weren’t born when he was topping the Australian charts.

“I’ve heard of Flume, and the chap from Oasis,” he said.

“I think he’s got an anger problem.

“There’s a couple I’ve heard of – it’ll be interesting for me to see and hear some of these acts.”

THE ESSENTIALS

WHAT: Falls Downtown

WHERE: Kings Square, Fremantle.

WHEN: January 6-7

TICKETS: www.fallsfestival.com/fremantle