After two demo tapes in 1990 and 1991, the band were picked up by French label Adipocere Records, which made possible the band's first two commercial releases, 1993's Up Through the Linear Shades 7" and 1994's Longing For Scarlet Days EP. In 1995, Beyond Dawn released their critically acclaimed full length debut Pity Love on Candlelight Records. Soon after, the band began work on an album intended to be a departure from the doom metal music they were becoming known for, but their record label was less than pleased with the band's drastic change in sound and they were soon in search of a new label. They eventually signed with Misanthropy Records and released Revelry in 1998 to more critical praise. Beyond Dawn eventually resumed work on the would-be 1996 album and, after adding additional material and overdubs, released In Reverie in 1999 on Eibon Records, which would also be reissued in 2005 with two bonus tracks included. During the latter half of 1999, they released Electric Sulking Machine on the Peaceville label, which soon became a favorite amongst fans and remains sought after due to its limited pressing.
Due in part to the limited commercial success of Frysh, the band went on hiatus in 2003 to focus on other projects. Some time later, several tracks from Frysh were remixed by various electronic and EBM artists and released in the form of the double LP We're Down With Species of Any Kind in 2005. The band remains on an indefinite hiatus.
The Penance
Beyond Dawn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You who made me roam this halls of
You had your ways with me
You will never tame my heart
Who froze my tears to ice
Who made me roam the halls of lament
Halls of lament
You who froze my tears to ice
You who made me roam this halls of
You had your ways with me
You will never tame my
You who froze my tears to ice
You who made me roam this halls of
You had your ways with me
You will never tame my heart
You had your ways with me
You will never tame my heart
You, you, you will never
You, you, you will never
You, you, you, you will never
You will never tame my heart
The lyrics of Beyond Dawn's "The Penance" are a declaration of defiance against someone who has inflicted deep emotional pain on the singer. The first verse addresses this person as the one who "froze [the singer's] tears to ice" and forced them to "roam the halls of lament." The use of the words "froze" and "ice" creates a stark image of emotional numbing, while "roam the halls of lament" further emphasizes the singer's feelings of sorrow, despair, and hopelessness.
In the second verse, the singer questions this person directly, asking "who" did these things to them. The repetition of "who" creates a sense of frustration and confusion, as if the singer is struggling to comprehend why someone would treat them so cruelly. The final lines of the song repeat the same two verses, this time emphasizing that the singer's heart cannot be tamed or controlled by this person. The repetition of "you will never tame my heart" feels like a mantra, a way for the singer to reinforce their own strength and resilience.
Overall, "The Penance" is a powerful song about overcoming emotional pain and standing up to those who have hurt us. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of suffering and resilience, and the repetition of certain phrases adds to the song's hypnotic and cathartic quality.
Line by Line Meaning
You who froze my tears to ice
The person who caused me to become emotionally numb and unable to express my feelings
You who made me roam the halls of
The person who forced me to wander aimlessly through a place of sadness and regret
You had your ways with me
The person who exercised control and power over me, manipulating me to do their bidding
You will never tame my heart
Despite their attempts to dominate and influence me, they will never truly understand or be able to control my innermost feelings and desires
You had your ways with me
The person who exercised control and power over me, manipulating me to do their bidding
You will never tame my heart
Despite their attempts to dominate and influence me, they will never truly understand or be able to control my innermost feelings and desires
You, you, you will never
Emphasizing the absolute certainty that the person will never be able to subdue or conquer the singer's heart
You will never tame my heart
The artist's final assertion that their heart cannot and will not be conquered by the person in question
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EINAR SJURSO, ESPEN INGIERD, PETTER HAAVIK, TORE GJEDREM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dark Krishna
Nightmarish doom