Abney Park began around 1997, but their popularity exploded with the onset of internet music, with much success through MP3.com in the early 2000’s. The band was a regular chart topper, often holding the number 1 – 5 positions in Goth and Darkwave, and Industrial Dance music charts. In 2005 the band morphed from a more Darkwave/Industrial inspired act to a Steampunk inspired act.
Abney Park's music has been featured on a number of movie soundtracks, including "Insomnis Amour", "Goth", and "Lord of the Vampires". The band's music has also been featured in many compilation CD’s, including Cleopatra Records “The Unquiet Grave” vol. III, "Annihilation and Seduction", "Eighteen" and many more.
Abney Park has performed all over the North America, appearing in Portland, Chicago, Las Vegas, Reno, Hollywood, and countless shows in their home base of Seattle. Their fans form a near-cult following, and have been known to travel from as far as New Zealand and Mexico City just to see them perform.
Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll
Abney Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There she is on the stage
Spinning as she sprawls
Thank God the curtains fall
Her spring is sprung
And dance is done
Spinning as she sprawls
Thank God the curtains fall
In the morning, he twists the key quite hard
And ticking, she's brought to a boil
"Relevée, my sweet, en pointe, en garde!"
Her innards twang as they uncoil
Herr Doktor's fingertips trace by
On craquelature from every fall
The daylight made to race quite by
With paint and paste and stitch and awl
"Patience, patient bumblebee,
Soon your audience admire
A shapely arabesque or three
I'll wind you up, you'll never tire."
Starry tutu, sullen moue
A frozen carmine mouth
Twinkles as she jerks and swoons
The lady's ushered out
[spoken] Gentlemen, this fallen angel is the illegitimate daughter of art and science. A modern marvel of engineering, clockworks elevated to the very natural process which even now sets your blood racing and your eyes flashing at such irreproachable beauty. Here is Gaia, here is Eve, here is Lilith, and I stand before you as her father. Sprung fully-formed from my brow, dewy and sweet; she can be yours and yours again, for her flesh is the incorruptible pale--the excuse from the wages of sin!
And as the sackcloth, sodden, slumps
Beneath these chipped and china limbs
The sour flesh pines, grunts, and thumps
"Step right up, boys, tuppence for a spin!"
The song "Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll" by Abney Park is a beautiful and haunting tale of a clockwork doll that is brought to life by a mad scientist. The song describes the doll spinning and dancing on stage, seemingly alive and full of grace. But as the curtains fall, the song takes a darker turn, revealing the true nature of the doll's existence.
The lyrics describe how the doll is brought to life each day by the twisting of a key, and forced to perform at the whim of her creator. The doll's delicate clockwork parts are constantly under strain, as she is made to dance and twirl for hours on end. Her painted face and tutu are described in detail, but it is clear that she is not truly alive or free.
The mad scientist, Herr Doktor, is portrayed as cold and calculating, treating his creation with a detached and almost cruel attitude. He takes pride in his creation, showing her off to audiences as a work of art, but never truly seeing her as a living being. The doll's fate is ultimately tragic, as she is reduced to a cheap attraction at a carnival sideshow.
Overall, "Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll" is a poignant commentary on the nature of life and free will. It highlights the dangers of unchecked scientific progress, and the importance of treating all beings with respect and dignity.
Line by Line Meaning
Herr Drosselmeyer's doll
Referring to the singer's creation, a clockwork doll made by Herr Drosselmeyer.
There she is on the stage
The doll is present and performing.
Spinning as she sprawls
The doll is moving erratically on the stage.
Thank God the curtains fall
The performance ends and the artist is relieved.
Her spring is sprung
The doll is broken or malfunctioning.
And dance is done
The performance is over.
In the morning, he twists the key quite hard
The singer has to wind up the doll to activate it.
And ticking, she's brought to a boil
The doll's movements become fluid and graceful.
"Relevée, my sweet, en pointe, en garde!"
The artist giving instructions to the doll on how to move and pose.
Her innards twang as they uncoil
The doll's gears and parts make a sound as they move.
Herr Doktor's fingertips trace by
Herr Doctor examines the doll's imperfections and damage.
On craquelature from every fall
The doll has cracks from previous falls or malfunctions.
The daylight made to race quite by
The doll's repairs have to be done quickly in the limited time frame.
With paint and paste and stitch and awl
Herr Doctor uses different materials to repair the doll.
"Patience, patient bumblebee,"
The singer addressing the doll and telling her to be patient while being repaired.
Soon your audience admire
The doll will return to the stage soon and be admired once more.
A shapely arabesque or three
The doll will perform graceful ballet moves on the stage.
I'll wind you up, you'll never tire."
The singer will wind up the doll to ensure it never stops performing.
Starry tutu, sullen moue
The doll wears a beautiful tutu but has a sad expression.
A frozen carmine mouth
The doll's mouth is fixed in a red, lipstick-like color.
Twinkles as she jerks and swoons
The doll's movements are jerky and uncoordinated.
The lady's ushered out
The doll is removed from the stage and taken away.
[spoken] Gentlemen, this fallen angel is the illegitimate daughter of art and science. A modern marvel of engineering, clockworks elevated to the very natural process which even now sets your blood racing and your eyes flashing at such irreproachable beauty. Here is Gaia, here is Eve, here is Lilith, and I stand before you as her father. Sprung fully-formed from my brow, dewy and sweet; she can be yours and yours again, for her flesh is the incorruptible pale--the excuse from the wages of sin!
The singer refers to the doll as a work of art and science, created by him to be admired. He also implies the doll can be bought and owned.
And as the sackcloth, sodden, slumps
The doll is deteriorating and falling apart.
Beneath these chipped and china limbs
The doll's limbs are damaged and chipped due to previous performances.
The sour flesh pines, grunts, and thumps
The doll's movements are uncomfortable and unpleasant to watch.
"Step right up, boys, tuppence for a spin!"
The singer is promoting the doll and encouraging people to pay to see it perform.
Contributed by Micah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.