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.
Scheherazade
Abney Park Lyrics
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There was a city covered in runes
That tell the tale of a faithless king
And how his wives'd been suffering
Each day he wed to another wife
And each morning he'd take another life
And loyalty could not be found
Writhe and spin and tell your tale
Bend and twist, your life is frail
Writhe and spin and tell your tale
Bend and twist, your life is frail
A thousand miles across seas of sand
There was a prince in a merciful land
With Scheherazade he played when young
And her lure around him, around he'd hung?
She tied her notes to a raptor's claw
And he stretched his wings, disobeyed the law
That bird of prey flew through the night
To tell the prince of Scheherazade's plight
Writhe and spin and tell your tale
Bend and twist, your life is frail
Writhe and spin and tell your tale
Bend and twist, your life is frail
(repeats)
The lyrics to Abney Park's "Scheherazade" tell the story of a ruthless king who marries and murders a new wife each day, until he meets Scheherazade – a woman who manages to captivate him with her storytelling abilities. The song is set across the sea of endless dunes and in a city covered in runes. The runes tell the tale of the king's faithlessness and the suffering of his wives. According to the lyrics, loyalty could not be found among the women until Scheherazade came along.
The song then introduces a prince in a merciful land who knew Scheherazade when they were young. She ties her notes to a raptor's claw and the bird flies to the prince to tell him of her plight. The lyrics repeat the chorus of "writhe and spin and tell your tale, bend and twist, your life is frail," which seems to echo the idea that Scheherazade's storytelling skills are what allowed her to survive and thrive in a dangerous situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Scheherazade" speak to the power of storytelling and the ability of a strong woman to overcome a dangerous and hostile environment. Through her storytelling, Scheherazade is able to captivate the king and ultimately save her own life.
Line by Line Meaning
Across the sea of endless dunes
There was a faraway land covered in sand dunes.
There was a city covered in runes
There was a city that had mysterious symbols all over it.
That tell the tale of a faithless king
These runes told the story of a king who didn't keep his promises.
And how his wives'd been suffering
The story told of how each of his wives had suffered.
Each day he wed to another wife
Every day he married a new woman.
And each morning he'd take another life
And every morning he would kill his new wife.
And loyalty could not be found
No one was loyal to the king because of his terrible actions.
'Til the day he wed Scheherazade
Until he married Scheherazade, who was able to change things.
Writhe and spin and tell your tale
Scheherazade was telling stories to keep herself alive.
Bend and twist, your life is frail
She knew that her life was in danger and tried to do whatever she could to stay alive.
A thousand miles across seas of sand
Far away, across a vast desert.
There was a prince in a merciful land
There was a kind-hearted prince in another place.
With Scheherazade he played when young
The prince used to play with Scheherazade when they were kids.
And her lure around him, around he'd hung?
He was drawn to her and couldn't resist her.
She tied her notes to a raptor's claw
Scheherazade sent a message to the prince using a bird of prey.
And he stretched his wings, disobeyed the law
The bird flew to deliver the message, even though it was against the law.
That bird of prey flew through the night
The bird flew a long distance, even through the darkness.
To tell the prince of Scheherazade's plight
The bird carried a message from Scheherazade, telling the prince about her situation.
Contributed by Liliana H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.