Since the band's inception, there have been over fifteen musicians in and out of King Diamond, with the only two mainstays being vocalist King Diamond and guitarist Andy LaRocque. In 1987 the band released their second studio release Abigail (their first concept album). Throughout the 1980s, King Diamond released a total of four studio albums. In the early 1990s, the band was put on hold when King Diamond reunited with his former outfit Mercyful Fate. After reforming King Diamond in 1994, Diamond would balance recording and touring with both Mercyful Fate and his eponymous band throughout the 90's. Since the early 2000s, King Diamond have kept recording and touring and, since 2014, the band has been composed of vocalist King Diamond, guitarist Andy LaRocque, guitarist Mike Wead, drummer Matt Thompson, and bassist Pontus Egberg.
Black Horsemen
King Diamond Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Miriam in the mood, Jonathan was scared
Gazing into the dark, Jonathan saw the star
For a second he turned his back
And she was there like a ghost
She him hard and clean
To the bottom of the stairs
Abigail is here to stay"
The birth of Abigail would soon be realized
The second coming of a devil in disguise
And the moon did not shine
It was darker than ever before
On this sacred night
The soul of Miriam was crying out in pain
Remembering the day, arrival in the rain
The pain of labor was so strong that Miriam died
The final seeing was a pair of yellow eyes
You can still hear her screaming
If You're walking the stairs in July
Riding from beyond
The 7 Horsemen would arrive before the dawn
Servants of the count, when Abigail was born the first time
Oh no, they found her in the sarcophagus
Baby Abigail was eating, Oh I cannot tell You
"Take her, and bring her
To the chapel in the forest
So go now...The ceremony
And the coffin's waiting"
The Black Horsemen
That's the end of another lullaby
Time has come for me to say goodnight
The song Black Horsemen by King Diamond depicts the story of Miriam and Jonathan, who stand at the top of the stairs as Jonathan is frightened by the dark. However, when he looks back for a second, he sees Miriam as a ghost, and she pushes him to the bottom of the stairs. The lyrics then shift to the birth of Abigail, the second coming of the devil in disguise, and the pain of labor that results in Miriam's death. Despite the powerful imagery, the lyrics remain open to interpretation and can be seen as a commentary on the afterlife, death, and darkness.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was originally released in 1987 as part of the Abigail album. The album was a concept album that narrated the story of Miriam and Jonathan, and the birth of Abigail was a crucial plot point. The album went on to become one of King Diamond's most popular albums and has influenced various bands in the black metal and death metal scene.
Another interesting fact is that the song is often cited as one of the best examples of King Diamond's storytelling abilities. King Diamond is known for his ability to create horror-themed narratives that are both engaging and chilling. The song's imagery of black horsemen has been compared to the biblical Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which adds an additional layer of depth to the lyrics.
Furthermore, the song's structure is complex, with various musical motifs and themes that re-emerge throughout the song. The use of classical music and operatic vocals is also prevalent throughout the song, which showcases King Diamond's versatility as a singer.
In terms of the chords, the song is played in E minor with a basic riff based on power chords. The song has a somber and foreboding feel, which is accentuated by the droning guitar tones and the haunting vocals. Although the song has a simple structure, the way that the instruments and vocals interact with one another creates a unique and atmospheric sound.
In conclusion, Black Horsemen is a classic song that represents King Diamond's ability to weave powerful narratives while also creating haunting and atmospheric music. The song's themes of death, darkness, and horror remain relevant and engaging to this day. Its impact on the metal scene cannot be understated, as it has influenced various artists and continues to inspire new generations of listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
So there they stood at the top of the stairs
Miriam and Jonathan are at the top of the stairs, facing a dark situation.
Miriam in the mood, Jonathan was scared
Miriam was in the mood for something dangerous and Jonathan was scared.
Gazing into the dark, Jonathan saw the star
Jonathan sees a bright, hopeful star in the darkness.
For a second he turned his back
Jonathan briefly lost sight of the hope and light he saw.
And she was there like a ghost
Miriam appears suddenly and eerily.
She him hard and clean
Miriam hits Jonathan with a strong and clear message.
To the bottom of the stairs
Jonathan is pushed down the stairs by Miriam's message.
"Now we're finally alone, Miriam
Abigail is here to stay"
Jonathan realizes that Miriam and their child Abigail will be together, leaving him alone.
The birth of Abigail would soon be realized
Miriam's labor is about to bring Abigail into the world.
The second coming of a devil in disguise
Abigail is the devil in disguise, about to be born.
And the moon did not shine
It was darker than ever before
The night is especially dark and foreboding.
On this sacred night
The soul of Miriam was crying out in pain
Remembering the day, arrival in the rain
Miriam is in deep pain during the birth, remembering the rainy day she arrived in town.
The pain of labor was so strong that Miriam died
The final seeing was a pair of yellow eyes
You can still hear her screaming
If You're walking the stairs in July
Miriam dies during labor, seeing the eyes of the devil Abigail. Her screams can still be heard on the stairs in July.
Riding from beyond
The 7 Horsemen would arrive before the dawn
Servants of the count, when Abigail was born the first time
The 7 Horsemen, servants of the devil Count de LaFey, arrive before dawn when Abigail is born for the first time.
Oh no, they found her in the sarcophagus
Baby Abigail was eating, Oh I cannot tell You
The Horsemen find Abigail in a coffin, but the gruesome scene of what she was eating is too horrible to describe.
"Take her, and bring her
To the chapel in the forest
So go now...The ceremony
And the coffin's waiting"
The Black Horsemen
The Horsemen take Abigail to a chapel in the forest for a ceremony with a coffin waiting. They are the Black Horsemen.
That's the end of another lullaby
Time has come for me to say goodnight
The song ends, the story is finished, and it's time to say goodnight.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KIM BENDIX PETERSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Noname
So there they stood at the top of the stairs
Miriam in the mood, Jonathan was scared
Gazing into the dark, Jonathan saw the star
For a second he turned his back
And she was there like a ghost
She him hard and clean
To the bottom of the stairs
"Now we're finally alone, Miriam
Abigail is here to stay"
The birth of Abigail would soon be realized
The second coming of a devil in disguise
And the moon did not shine
It was darker than ever before
On this sacred night
The soul of Miriam was crying out in pain
Remembering the day, arrival in the rain
The pain of labour was so strong that Miriam died
The final seeing was a pair of yellow eyes
You can still hear her screaming
If You're walking the stairs in July
Riding from beyond
The 7 Horsemen would arrive before the dawn
Servants of the count, when Abigail was born the first time
Oh no... they found her in the sarcophagus
Baby Abigail was eating, Oh I cannot tell You
"Take her... and bring her
To the chapel in the forest
So go now... The ceremony
And the coffin's waiting"
The Black Horsemen
That's the end of another lullaby
Time has come for me to say Goodnight
Dexter Lee
The ending of this song is pure magic. I'm sure there are many people out there who shed a tear by hearing this. So emotional. A perfect ending. Time has come for me to say goodbye.
Koko Rengifo
true andy laroque michael dener gods
Chamisma
that's exactly what i always feel! you totally understood.
OpenGate
It is exactly that for me at the ending and i do shed tears and my hair on my arms stand up. It is like a culmination of the emotion.
No Time to Waste
My favorite part is when he goes: UUUUUUUUUSSSSH
Alonso de Hojeda
The ending dominates this song. Heartbreaking.
Spencer Nuckolls
Stupid people have no idea how fucking badass this gem is. Metal Forever.
Christopher Robin777
@wijnand klomberg Same here.
Nika Kublashvili
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Galaxy
This is not a song, this a story, a story that my kids will listen to! Thank you, King!