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 Secret Life of Dr. Calgori
Abney Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clockwork brain and glowing oils
Copper, brass, explosive jelly
His mechapede policed Old Delhi
Invented the radio transmitting toe
Played poker with Theremin, Tesla, and Poe
Harnessed cold moonlight to power airships
And distilled antitoxins from postnasal drips
Entropy
Fading his life away
Before the world could ever see
Dissipating and evaporating
Hired and sacked behind locked doors
A man in uniform fighting cold wars
Invented steam soldiers and taught them to fight
And they stopped things going bump in the night
All his accomplishments hidden for life
His genius top secret even from his wife
An aged wrinkled genius, his memory fading
His fates, his creations, the government evading
Entropy
Fading his life away
Before the world could ever see
Dissipating and evaporating
Entropy
Fading his life away
Before the world could ever see
Dissipating and evaporating
Test tubes and Tesla coils
Clockwork brain and glowing oils
Copper, brass, explosive jelly
His mechapede policed Old Delhi
Invented the radio transmitting toe
Played poker with Theremin, Tesla, and Poe
Harnessed cold moonlight to power airships
And distilled antitoxins from postnasal drips
Entropy
Fading his life away
Before the world could ever see
Dissipating and evaporating
Entropy
Fading his life away
Before the world could ever see
Dissipating and evaporating
Entropy
Fading his life away
Before the world could ever see
Dissipating and evaporating
The song "The Secret Life of Dr. Calgori" by Abney Park is an ode to the life and work of a genius inventor whose accomplishments were never fully recognized or appreciated due to the secrecy surrounding his work. The lyrics describe the many incredible inventions and discoveries made by Dr. Calgori, from his test tubes and Tesla coils to his radio transmitting toe and steam soldiers. He even played poker with other famous inventors, such as Theremin, Tesla, and Poe. However, despite his impressive contributions to science and technology, Dr. Calgori's legacy faded away due to his secretive nature and the society's lack of understanding and appreciation of his work. The repeated use of the word "entropy" throughout the song serves as a metaphor for Dr. Calgori's slow and inevitable decline, as his life's work dissipated and evaporated into obscurity.
The song's lyrics are full of references to various inventions and historical figures, and they offer a glimpse into the secret life of a brilliant inventor who was larger than life but ultimately unrecognized. The song's themes of secrecy, marginalization, and unfulfilled potential resonate with anyone who has felt unappreciated or undervalued in their accomplishments or creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
Test tubes and Tesla coils
Explaining the experimental technology Dr. Calgori used in his creations.
Clockwork brain and glowing oils
Describing the imaginative and inventive nature of his mind.
Copper, brass, explosive jelly
Listing the various materials and elements he incorporated into his designs.
His mechapede policed Old Delhi
Illustrating one of his useful inventions, a mechanized centipede that monitored the city of Old Delhi.
Invented the radio transmitting toe
Highlighting his propensity to invent things that seemed impossible and unconventional.
Played poker with Theremin, Tesla, and Poe
Depicting some of his famous friends, who were also known for their ingenuity and unique qualities.
Harnessed cold moonlight to power airships
Elaborating on a particularly remarkable accomplishment, that of powering an airship with moonlight.
And distilled antitoxins from postnasal drips
Revealing another example of his analytical mind, through inventing a way to create antitoxins from bodily fluids.
Entropy
An overall theme of the song, describing the gradual breakdown of Dr. Calgori's life and the decay of his creations.
Fading his life away
Further emphasizing the mental and physical decline Dr. Calgori experienced in his later years.
Before the world could ever see
A lamentation that the world never got to see the full extent of his creations, due to their secretive nature.
Dissipating and evaporating
Continuing the theme of entropy, describing how everything he created slowly dissolved and disintegrated over time.
Hired and sacked behind locked doors
Implying that Dr. Calgori's work was often considered dangerous, secretive, and various governments may have been involved in his employment.
A man in uniform fighting cold wars
Suggesting that Dr. Calgori's work may have involved advancing military technology in preparation for potential conflicts.
Invented steam soldiers and taught them to fight
Furthering the military implications of his inventions, he is depicted as developing automatons that could fight.
And they stopped things going bump in the night
Perhaps alluding to the idea that his creations also had a role in preserving peace and order.
All his accomplishments hidden for life
Reiterating the idea that Dr. Calgori's creations were kept secretive and confidential.
His genius top secret even from his wife
Adding to the mystery and confidentiality surrounding his work and creations.
An aged wrinkled genius, his memory fading
Describing Dr. Calgori in his old age, weakened and forgetful.
His fates, his creations, the government evading
Implying that even after his death, his secrets were kept from the general public.
Contributed by Thomas W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.