Dark Sanctuary is a neoclassical darkwave group founded in Paris, France in… Read Full Bio ↴Dark Sanctuary is a neoclassical darkwave group founded in Paris, France in February 1996. Their songs can be categorized primarily as "dark atmospheric", most of them having a unique feel to them - mixtures between gothic, ethereal and ambient music, relying on classical instruments for the most part. Their first official release was a 20 minutes single track MCD, "Funeral Cry", released in 1997 and, at that time, the band only consisted in two members, Arkdae on keyboards and Marquise Ermia on vocals.

In 1998, the band wanted to increase its strength by adding new members: another keyboards player, Hylgaryss, a percussionnist/bassist, Sombre Cÿr and a violinist, Eliane joined Dark Sanctuary. Together, they recorded the first album, "Royaume mélancolique" and made their first concert in September 1998 near Paris.
In November 1999, they signed with Wounded Love Records and after the second violinist Marguerite joined, they recorded their second album, "De lumière et d'obscurité", which was released in November 2000. But, right after their recording sessions, Marquise Ermia left the band to carry on her studies, and a new singer, Dame Pandora, thus joined Dark Sanctuary.

Their third album, "L'être las - L'envers du miroir" was recorded in March 2002 and released at the beginning of 2003, few months after the release of a two-track single. This album, which has had a huge success in France and Germany, definitely established Dark Sanctuary as one of the greatest bands in this musical style.
After few concerts in France, the band returned to Germany in order to record its 4th album, "Les mémoires blessées". This album was released in early 2004 and confirmed Dark Sanctuary's own style while providing a deeper maturity, as well as new musical horizons.
The same year, the band was on tour in Europe, including a memorable date at the Wave Gothik Treffen, in the majestic Leipzig's theatre.

Then the year 2005 began with a major event, their first compilation, "Thoughts: 9 Years in the Sanctuary" was released on the US label Projekt; it summarizes no less than 9 years of career.
The other event of the beginning of this year is Dark Sanctuary's appearance in the tribute to Dead Can Dance, "Summoning of the Muse: A Tribute to Dead Can Dance", also released on Projekt.

In July 2005 Dark Sanctuary went back to Germany to record their fifth opus at the E-Klangschmiede Studio. Consequently, their new album "Exaudi vocem meam, Part I" is scheduled for November 2005.
The year 2006 promises to be rich too as the sequel of this opus, "Exaudi vocem meam, Part II", as well as concerts are announced.

As of 2009, they will be on an indefinite hiatus. They have finished recording, and shall be releasing, a collaborative effort with Victoria Francés titled "Dark Sanctuary".

Official site: http://www.dark-sanctuary.com

L'ombre triste
Dark Sanctuary Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Music by Arkdae, Lyrics by M.Camu]

Les ailes collées par ton sang au pavé
Et le jour qui éclaire ton spectre écrasé.

Parfois tu me fais peur, tu me fais voir
La mort au fond de l'abîme, au milieu de la rue

Tu ressembles à cette feuille de papier
Lisse comme le ciel, un beau jour d'été.

Mais un peu de sang colle ta peau au pavé.
Et j'ai peur, et j'ai froid, c'est ma mort, c'est ta mort que je vois.

Ils ont écrasé ta tête et ton coeur,
Ils t'ont tout volé, pauvre spectre écrasé.
J'ai envie de pleurer; pourtant je ne t'aime pas.

[Translation]

[The Gloomy Shade]

[Music by Arkdae, Lyrics by M.Camu]

The wings stuck on the pavement by your blood
And the day which enlightens your crushed spectre.

Sometimes you frighten me, you make me see death
In the depths of the abyss, in the middle of the street.

You look like this paper sheet
Smooth like the sky in a beautiful summer day

But a small amount of your blood is stuck on the pavement
And I'm frightened, and I'm cold / It's my death, it's your death I behold

They crushed your head and your heart

They stole you everything, poor crushed spectre
I need to cry though I don't love you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "L'ombre triste" by Dark Sanctuary paint a sombre picture of a gruesome event – the death of a person whose wings are now crushed and stuck on the pavement. The song begins by describing this blood-stained scene, where the light of day seems to highlight the tragic figure that has now become a ghost. The singer of the song is occasionally afraid of what she sees, and is reminded of the possibility of death hovering even in the midst of a bustling street.

The second verse is dedicated to describing the appearance of the ghost under the dying daylight. The reference to a "paper sheet" with its "Lisse comme le ciel" or "smooth as the sky" highlights the frailty of the ghost and how it once might have been like that of any normal person alive. But now, the scarlet smear on the concrete shows the truth of the tragedy that the singer sees unfolding before her.

The final verse is an expression of the singer's deepest emotions. Even though she doesn't particularly love the ghost who now lies before her, she cannot help but feel the urge to cry in mourning. It is a powerful commentary on the profound sadness that is stirred when one witnesses a death, even if the person is a stranger.

Overall, "L'ombre triste" is a poignant and melancholy song that reflects on death, and highlights how temporary and fragile life is.

Line by Line Meaning

Les ailes collées par ton sang au pavé
Your wings are glued to the pavement by your own blood

Et le jour qui éclaire ton spectre écrasé.
And the day illuminates your crushed spirit

Parfois tu me fais peur, tu me fais voir
Sometimes you scare me, making me see

La mort au fond de l'abîme, au milieu de la rue
Death at the bottom of the abyss, in the middle of the street

Tu ressembles à cette feuille de papier
You resemble this sheet of paper

Lisse comme le ciel, un beau jour d'été.
Smooth like the sky on a beautiful summer day

Mais un peu de sang colle ta peau au pavé.
But a little bit of blood sticks your skin to the pavement

Et j'ai peur, et j'ai froid, c'est ma mort, c'est ta mort que je vois.
And I'm scared, and I'm cold, it's my death, it's your death I see

Ils ont écrasé ta tête et ton coeur,
They crushed your head and your heart

Ils t'ont tout volé, pauvre spectre écrasé.
They stole everything from you, poor crushed spirit