Abraham took Isaac's hand
And led him to the lonesome hill
While his daughter hid and watched
She dare not breathe, she was so still
Just as an angel cried for the slaughter
Abraham's daughter raised her voice

Then the angel asked her what her name was
She said, I have none
Then he asked, how can this be
My father never gave me one

And when he saw her, raised for the slaughter
Abraham's daughter raised her bow
How dearest you, child, defy your father
You'd better let young Isaac go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Arcade Fire's song Abraham's Daughter depict the story of Abraham taking his son Isaac to a lonesome hill to sacrifice him to God as a test of faith. As Abraham commanded his son to lie down on the altar, his daughter watched in terror as she hid and held her breath. Just as Abraham raised his knife to kill Isaac, an angel cried out for the slaughter to stop. Abraham's daughter then breaks her silence and raises her voice, protesting against the violence and bloodshed.

The angel then turns to the daughter and asks for her name, to which she answers that she was never given one by her father. In response, the daughter raises her bow towards her father, ready to defend her brother from being sacrificed. Abraham then confronts her and demands that she release her grip on the weapon and let Isaac go. The lyrics serve as a metaphor for the universal call for nonviolence and the importance of standing up against injustice even if it means defying authority.

Line by Line Meaning

Abraham took Isaac's hand
Abraham lead Isaac by the hand

And led him to the lonesome hill
Abraham took Isaac to a desolate place on a hill

While his daughter hid and watched
Abraham's daughter observed the events without being seen

She dare not breathe, she was so still
She made no movements and held her breath in fear of being detected

Just as an angel cried for the slaughter
As the angel announced the imminent sacrifice

Abraham's daughter raised her voice
Abraham's daughter spoke up

Then the angel asked her what her name was
The angel interrogated her name

She said, I have none
She replied with the absence of a name

Then he asked, how can this be
The angel questioned why she had no name

My father never gave me one
She explained why she had no name

And when he saw her, raised for the slaughter
When the angel saw her prepared for the sacrifice