It’s actually a half-Niggun. See below for more on that. This Hoofbeats Niggun is about life journeys, frustration and fulfillment.
Years ago, in my early teens, my classmates would get together to learn Chassidic melodies with two of the parents of the class who had a special appreciation for heartfelt and meaningful Niggunim – Chabad Chassidic melodies. They seemed to focus on melodies that had words or a specific message which would be easier for us to relate to and remember.
There’s a classic Niggun called “Ribono Shel Olam” which sings of yearning and closeness to G-d, G-d being our father and us being his children. The second half is a wordless melody, that is kind of a half-Niggun of its own.
Listen to the melody here on Chabad.org on the 5th Nichoach Album. The second-half of the song begins at 1:50.
They divided this half-Niggun into 3 parts (hard to put into writing, but we’ll try)
1) They sang hoofbeats and wagon-wheels into the melody: “Clipptity Clop-Clop, Cliptity Clop-Clop, Cliptity, Cliptity, Cliptity, Clop-Clop..” that’s the journey. A Chassid heads off on a spiritual journey.
2) But then, alas… “Ay, ay, ay!!” there are pitfalls and setbacks, there are no doubt going to be frustrations and unrealized goals along the way.
3) But the Chassid is not discouraged, he continues to forge ahead, with the “ay, yay, yay” but instead of in despair or distress, it is forceful and determined, dedicated and encouraged. Think “The Little Train that Could” and “I think I can, I think I can…”