In 1986, after twenty years with the Dirt Band, McEuen departed to pursue a solo career. From 1991–1997, he released four albums for Vanguard Records. He composed music for movies and television and he appeared as a guest on albums with several artists including five albums with Michael Martin Murphey. He returned to the Dirt Band in 2001, departing the band once again in late 2017.
Recently, he has also been playing smaller venues with his son, Nathan McEuen.
Sheik of Araby
John McEuen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love belongs to me.
At night when you're asleep
Into your tent I'll creep.
The stars that shine above,
Will light our way to love.
You'll rule this land with me;
The lyrics of John McEuen's song 'Sheik of Araby' tell the story of a Sheik from Araby who has taken possession of his lover's heart, pledging his undying love for her. The Sheik is so obsessed with his love that he plans to sneak into his beloved's tent at night to be with her, staring at the stars above that will guide him to her. The Sheik guarantees that once he has her, they will rule together and he will make her the queen of his land.
The lyrics have a romantic and passionate tone that captures the essence of a forbidden love that may have been prevalent during the Sheikdoms of the Arabian peninsula, where love between different people or classes was not always accepted. It is a tale of a powerful man declaring his love and devotion to a woman who he may have had to fight for, as signified by the line, "Your love belongs to me." The Sheik of Araby is a symbol of dominance, power, and prosperity, but in this song, he is tamed by love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the Sheik of Araby
I am the ruler of Araby, a powerful leader who commands respect and adoration.
Your love belongs to me.
You are entirely devoted to me and your affection is mine to possess.
At night when you're asleep
When the darkness sweeps over the land and you are lost in slumber, I will come to you.
Into your tent I'll creep.
I will enter your dwelling place unnoticed and without permission, seeking to capture you for my own.
The stars that shine above,
The celestial bodies above us that illuminate the night sky.
Will light our way to love.
They will serve as our guiding light while we embark on a journey of passion and romance.
You'll rule this land with me;
You will be my partner and together we will reign over this land with authority and power.
Lyrics © HARRY B. SMITH COPYRIGHTS, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ted Snyder, Harry B. Smith, Francis Wheeler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind