Growing up in Malibu, California, she began learning the violin at the age of four and left regular school five years later with the goal of becoming a world-class violinist; she practiced eight or nine hours a day and read a wide range of literature. Progressing to writing her own music, she studied under various teachers and went to Indiana University, which she left over issues regarding the relationship between classical music and the appearance of the performer. Through her own independent label Traitor Records, Autumn debuted with her classical album On a Day: Music for Violin & Continuo, followed by the release in 2003 of her album Enchant.
She appeared in singer Courtney Love's backing band on her 2004 America's Sweetheart tour and returned to Europe. She released the 2006 album Opheliac with the German label Trisol Music Group. In 2007, she released Laced/Unlaced; the re-release of On a Day... appeared as Laced with songs on the electric violin as Unlaced. She later left Trisol to join New York-based The End Records in 2009 and release Opheliac in the United States, where previously it had only been available as an import. Currently she is on tour to promote her newest album Fight Like A Girl. She played the role of Painted Doll in Darren Lynn Bousman's 2012 film The Devil's Carnival.
Across the Sky
Emilie Autumn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That millions of strange shadows on you tend?
Since every one, hath every one, one shade,
And you but one, can every shadow lend."
See beyond the moment
Think beyond the day
Hear the word
My voice will not be cast away
Fatalistic fortune
Ever near the end
Love goes on
But time does not return again
Across the sky
I will come for you
If you ask me to
Demystify
Your uncommon dreams
Stranger things have come true
Fear no more the midnight
Fear no more the sea
Close your eyes, regret nothing
You're safe with me
Look into the shadows
Step into the mist
Search your land but doubt never
I still exist
Across the sky
I will come for you
If you ask me to
Demystify
Your uncommon dreams
Stranger things have come true
Ask yourself: is this all there is?
Take no answer but the one you find
I have put my faith in aberrations of your kind
But even if you're in my mind
Across the sky
I will come to you
If you ask me to
Demystify
Your uncommon dreams
Stranger things have come true
Should we hear the silence?
Should we hear the noise?
I don't need this blind acceptance
I have made my choice
Light lives in the darkness
Beauty lives in pain
In destruction we may lose ourselves
But still I will remain
Across the sky
Across the sky
See beyond the moment
Think beyond the day
Hear the word
Hear the word
The lyrics of Emilie Autumn's Prologue: Across the Sky are highly introspective and thought-provoking. The first stanza sets the tone of the song with a series of questions about the nature of existence, identity, and reality. The second and third stanzas offer a sense of comfort and reassurance, urging the listener to look beyond the present moment, to be open to life's mysteries, and to embrace the unknown with curiosity and wonder.
The song's central theme is the search for meaning in a world full of uncertainty and confusion. It suggests that life is a journey, a mystery to be unraveled, and that we must all find our own way in it. The lyrics evoke a sense of otherworldliness, with references to shadows, mist, and the sky, giving the song a dreamlike quality.
One possible interpretation of the song is that the singer is a guide, offering comfort and hope to someone who is lost or unsure of their path in life. The repeated refrain of "across the sky" suggests that the singer is omnipresent and can be reached from anywhere. The use of the first person in the final stanza ("I have made my choice") further reinforces this idea.
Overall, the song is a poetic reflection on the human condition, offering a sense of hope and wonder in a world that can often seem dark and foreboding.
Line by Line Meaning
What is your substance, whereof are you made
What is your true essence, what makes up your being
That millions of strange shadows on you tend?
Why do people have so many perceptions of you that are not entirely accurate?
Since every one, hath every one, one shade,
Since every person shares one common trait with everyone else
And you but one, can every shadow lend.
Yet each person is unique and can impart their own shadow on others
Across the sky
A promise to reach out and connect, despite distance
I will come for you
I will be there for you
If you ask me to
But only if you desire it
Demystify
To unravel and reveal the true nature of
Your uncommon dreams
Your unique aspirations and desires
Stranger things have come true
The unlikely can become reality
Fear no more the midnight
Don't be afraid of the unknown and darkness
Fear no more the sea
Don't be afraid of the vastness of life and the unknown future
Close your eyes, regret nothing
Be at peace with yourself and have no regrets
You're safe with me
I will protect and care for you
Look into the shadows
Investigate the unknown and hidden parts of yourself
Step into the mist
Embrace the uncertain and vague aspects of life
Search your land but doubt never
Explore and discover without hesitation or disbelief
I still exist
I am present and real, despite any doubts or fears
Ask yourself: is this all there is?
Consider if your current reality is all that life has to offer
Take no answer but the one you find
Don't accept any answer without first seeking truth and clarity yourself
I have put my faith in aberrations of your kind
I believe in the unique and unconventional aspects of your nature
Even if you're in my mind
Even if we're not physically together, you're still present in my thoughts and feelings
Should we hear the silence?
Should we pay attention to the absence of noise or words?
Should we hear the noise?
Should we focus on the chaos and distractions around us?
I don't need this blind acceptance
I don't want people to blindly accept what I say without questioning or understanding
I have made my choice
I have chosen my own path and beliefs
Light lives in the darkness
Even the darkest of times can have hope and positivity
Beauty lives in pain
There can be beauty and growth in difficult experiences
In destruction we may lose ourselves
When things fall apart, we may struggle to find our place or identity
But still I will remain
Yet, I will persist and endure
See beyond the moment
Think beyond the present and consider the future
Think beyond the day
Imagine beyond the immediate and ordinary
Hear the word
Listen and pay attention to what is being said
Hear the word
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the importance of listening
Contributed by Lucy Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.