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.
Stigmata Martyr
Abney Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On heroin or vanity
To jack their personality
Beyond normal humanity
A crowd of massed humanity
Bows down and worships diligently.
He's built a loyal following,
But jealous man plots from the pews--
No need for valid righteousness
One slightly truthful word set free
Will turn the tides quite easily
Our accusations need not be
What would bury mortal man--
The sins of our own deity
Are tiny, but on these we stand
We don't cry for the gods that die by our hands--
We throw stones if our gods take a stand
We create and destroy our stigmata martyrs, stigmata martyrs
So once upon the podium
A crucifix we then erect
And nail our hero heartily,
Hands and feet, and bind his neck
The reason for our worship fades
Our idol's drenched in his own blood
Forgotten are the virtues that
We valued beyond royalty
We don't cry for the gods that die by our hands--
We throw stones if our gods take a stand
We create and destroy our stigmata martyrs, stigmata martyrs
With joy we dig his shallow grave,
Anticipating pains to come
We watch the wriggling dance of death
And laugh, light-hearted, at death's fun
We've pounded out the joyous light;
Our savior's buried now for years
A legend now of time gone by,
A martyr of forgotten tears
We don't cry for the gods that die by our hands--
We throw stones if our gods take a stand
We create and destroy our stigmata martyrs, stigmata martyrs
The lyrics of Abney Park's song "Stigmata Martyr" could be interpreted as a criticism of human behavior that relies on creating heroes and then destroying them. The song describes the process of how humans first worship their heroes, but then turn on them when they become jealous or discontent with their position. The line "To jack their personality, beyond normal humanity" suggests how some people are drawn to the excesses of fame, whether it be through drugs, ego inflation or other means, in order to become an object of worship.
The lyrics describe the process of turning on a hero, as the audience begins to steer him/her to conform to their desires, pushing him beyond his limits. The lyrics suggest that humans are prone to build up their heroes just to tear them down again. The chorus, "We create and destroy our stigmata martyrs, stigmata martyrs," emphasizes this point. The song also touches on the idea that we create our own gods and if they do not meet our exacting expectations, we are quick to destroy them.
Overall, the lyrics of "Stigmata Martyr" highlight the fickleness of humans in their adulation of others, and the tendency to create and destroy idols, often for no good reason. The song could also be interpreted as a reminder to be mindful of our behaviors and not to elevate people to the point where they can do no wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
A heroine, a deity
Someone who is admired and worshipped, like a legendary figure or icon
On heroin or vanity
They may be under the influence of drugs or obsessed with their own appearance and status
To jack their personality
They may alter their behavior or persona in order to fit the image that their followers desire
Beyond normal humanity
They are viewed as being above or beyond what is considered normal or human-like
A crowd of massed humanity
A large group of people who gather together in order to express their admiration and devotion
Bows down and worships diligently.
They show great reverence and devotion to their chosen idol or icon
He's built a loyal following,
The object of their devotion has been successful in gaining and maintaining their followers
And soon they steer him thoroughly.
Those who are devoted to their hero often seek to control or manipulate them for their own benefit
But jealous man plots from the pews--
Some people who are not part of the inner circle may have negative intentions and may seek to undermine or harm the object of adoration
No need for valid righteousness
The critics and doubters do not consider themselves to be bound by the same standards of behavior or morality as those they oppose
One slightly truthful word set free
The smallest hint of truth or criticism can be enough to turn public opinion against their idol
Will turn the tides quite easily
It is surprisingly easy to sway public opinion against someone who was once seen as infallible or beyond reproach
Our accusations need not be
The accusations against the hero do not need to be true or fair, as long as they are effective in discrediting them
What would bury mortal man--
Accusations that would be ignored or shrugged off if made against an ordinary person, can be damaging or lethal when made against someone who is elevated to the level of a hero or deity
The sins of our own deity
The same people who were worshipping and adoring the hero, are now turning against them and holding them responsible for their own moral failings
Are tiny, but on these we stand
The accusations against the hero may be exaggerated or trivial, but they are enough to make people abandon their once-beloved hero
We don't cry for the gods that die by our hands--
People do not hesitate to turn on their idols and heroes, even if they were the ones who created them and put them on a pedestal
We throw stones if our gods take a stand
People are quick to attack and criticize anyone they see as being superior or beyond themselves
We create and destroy our stigmata martyrs, stigmata martyrs
People have a tendency to elevate certain individuals to the level of deities, and then turn on those same individuals when they fail to meet their expectations
With joy we dig his shallow grave,
There is often a perverse satisfaction in seeing someone who was once viewed as infallible or godlike, brought low
Anticipating pains to come
People are eager to see their former idol suffer and be punished for their failings
We watch the wriggling dance of death
People find entertainment or satisfaction in seeing someone they once worshipped, struggling and suffering in their downfall
And laugh, light-hearted, at death's fun
People find joy or amusement in the suffering or death of someone who was once viewed as a hero or a deity
We've pounded out the joyous light;
The spark of inspiration or greatness that initially drew people to their hero, has been extinguished through their downfall and disgrace
Our savior's buried now for years
The object of their devotion has been dead or disgraced for a long time, but their memory and legacy still live on
A legend now of time gone by,
Their hero has become a mythical figure or legend of the past, whose exploits are celebrated or romanticized
A martyr of forgotten tears
Their hero has become a martyr or symbol of the sacrifices and suffering that they endured, even if those sacrifices were ultimately in vain
Contributed by Alexis N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.