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.
The Emperor's Wives
Abney Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under banyan covered skies
Lived a king with untold riches;
Jewels, gold, and two fair wives
Both had hair as black as midnight,
Coal-black eyes that sparkled bright,
Terracotta skin as smooth as bronze
And tender movements like a sprite's
Every night he indulged his fantasies
Enjoyed his wives and went to sleep
As he slept his wives kept secrets
Holding hands under the sheets
Each dark day in his ancient palace
The Emperor sat on his throne of gold
His young wives explored bright gardens
Eyes met eyes and hands took hold
One bright day in the dead of summer
A pretty young wife saw a look of love
On her lovers face--toward their husband
Fires burned jealous; she'd lost her love
One hot night in the dead of summer
The emperor's wife stole a magi's blade
Crept into her lovers' chamber,
And as they slept her lovers slayed
In a deep, a dark, a forest kingdom
Under banyan covered skies
Lived a king with untold riches;
Jewels, gold, and two fair wives
Both had hair as black as midnight,
Coal-black eyes that sparkled bright,
Terracotta skin as smooth as bronze
And tender movements like a sprite's
The lyrics of Abney Park's song, The Emperor's Wives, tells a story set in a deep, dark forest kingdom where a king resides with his two wives. The king is described as someone with untold riches, possessing jewels and gold, and both his wives having black hair, coal-black eyes that sparkled bright, and tender movements like a sprite's. The king indulges in his fantasy every night, enjoys his wives, and goes to sleep while his wives kept secrets, holding hands under the sheets. However, one of the wives falls in love with the other wife, and out of jealousy, she stole a magi's blade and killed her lover while they slept. The song ends with a repetition of the beginning lyrics.
The story in this song touches on themes of love, jealousy, and secrets. It shows how the relationships between these three characters can be complicated, which can lead to tragic endings. The lyrics also provide a vivid description of the setting, and the use of metaphors and similes creates a mystical atmosphere. The song's storytelling style, combined with its haunting melody, makes it an engaging and thought-provoking piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep, dark in the forest kingdom
In an area with dense trees and a lack of natural light, within a society led by a monarch
Under banyan covered skies
Within a wooded area where banyan trees spread their branches overhead
Lived a king with untold riches;
Referring to a wealthy ruler, whose fortune was beyond quantifying
Jewels, gold, and two fair wives
In possession of precious gemstones and valuable metals, as well as being married to two attractive women
Both had hair as black as midnight,
Describing the dark hair color of both wives
Coal-black eyes that sparkled bright,
Noting the wives' coal-black eyes that shone brilliantly
Terracotta skin as smooth as bronze
Describing the women's smooth skin that had a tone similar to terracotta and bronze
And tender movements like a sprite's
Referring to the graceful and playful way the women moved
Every night he indulged his fantasies
The king acted out his personal desires each evening
Enjoyed his wives and went to sleep
The king found pleasure in spending time with his wives before retiring to bed
As he slept his wives kept secrets
During the king's slumber, his wives withheld hidden feelings or thoughts
Holding hands under the sheets
The wives shared physical affection while remaining unseen
Each dark day in his ancient palace
Every day within the king's antiquated residence
The Emperor sat on his throne of gold
The king held court from his seat of power made from the precious metal of gold
His young wives explored bright gardens
The king's youthful wives took time to wander through vibrant gardens
Eyes met eyes and hands took hold
The women made contact through their glances and gestures
One bright day in the dead of summer
On a sunny day within summer, when everything seemed lifeless
A pretty young wife saw a look of love
One of the king's attractive wives detected a sign of affection
On her lovers face--toward their husband
The expression of love on the face of one woman was directed at both her husband and her fellow wife
Fires burned jealous; she'd lost her love
The jealousy the wife experienced was all-consuming, and she believed she had lost the love of her life
One hot night in the dead of summer
During a sweltering summer night when everything was still
The emperor's wife stole a magi's blade
One of the king's wives took a magic knife without permission
Crept into her lovers' chamber,
She entered the room where both of her lovers slept
And as they slept her lovers slayed
She killed both of her sleeping lovers
In a deep, a dark, a forest kingdom
The story returns to the beginning setting, a forested land without much light
Under banyan covered skies
The forested region with banyan trees above remains the same
Lived a king with untold riches;
Returning to the wealthy king from the opening
Jewels, gold, and two fair wives
He continues to possess gems and metals, as well as his two wives
Both had hair as black as midnight,
The wives still have dark hair
Coal-black eyes that sparkled bright,
Both wives' black eyes still shine brilliantly
Terracotta skin as smooth as bronze
Their smooth-looking, brownish-red skin remains the same
And tender movements like a sprite's
The women's movements remain graceful and playful
Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.