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.
Salem
King Diamond Lyrics
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At midnight that same night, the Lafaettes were slipping
At midnight that same night, there is a shadow creeping
Salem is moving without a sound
Salem is moving, moving, moving to the burial ground
By one of the graves, Doctor le Croix is waiting
Salem is moving without a sound
Salem is moving, moving, moving to the burial ground
Doctor Le Croix, shaking the hand of Salem
"My my my my my God, Salem tell me the secret
My my my my my God, this makes me feel uneasy"
In shock, Le Croix is terrified, this could be the end
Fear turns to hate. "Great Wanga will befall the Lafayettes
Salem help me, save us, Salem help me, save us
By turning them to dust
So take this money and off you go
To Madame Sarita's Boutique of Voodoo
A snake curse and a little "Goofer Dust"
You Salem will be the link between them and us
This could be an easy way to turn the Lafayettes to dead"
Two hours later. Salem leaves Madame Sarita
"My my my my my God, Salem is looking scary
My my my my my God, now he's heading for the cemetery
Kneeling in front of the graves
A handful of soil and Salem is on his way
He must leave a copper penny as payment for the soil
And to protect himself
From all the spirits that could come and dig themselves
Into his head, dead, dead, dead, Salem is here
By the house, in the dark, there is a shadow digging
The snake in the bottle, is buried and it's ready
Salem is moving without a sound
Everyone's sleeping, but me cause I don't need it
No
The lyrics to King Diamond's song Salem describe a scene where Doctor le Croix seeks the help of Salem, who is presumably a practitioner of voodoo, to put a curse on the Lafayettes. Salem agrees to the request and heads to Madame Sarita's Boutique of Voodoo to obtain the necessary items for the curse. He then kneels at the graves of the Lafayettes and performs the curse, protecting himself from any spirits that may try to harm him. Meanwhile, the shadow of the curse is seen lurking by the house in the dark, ready to take effect.
The song portrays the use of voodoo to exact revenge. The use of the name Salem could be interpreted as a reference to the Salem witch trials, as the use of voodoo was often associated with witchcraft. The mention of the snake curse and "Goofer Dust" adds an eerie element to the song as these are believed to be powerful components in voodoo curses. The mention of copper penny as payment for the soil is another example of the use of traditional beliefs and practices in voodoo.
The lyrics also suggest a strong belief in the supernatural, as Doctor le Croix is shown to be both terrified and shocked by the events taking place. Overall, the song Salem highlights the darker aspects of human nature and the lengths to which people will go to exact vengeance.
Line by Line Meaning
Saturday midnight
At midnight that same night, the Lafaettes were slipping
Salem is moving without a sound
Salem is moving, moving, moving to the burial ground
So hot and so quiet, only the leaves are shaking
By one of the graves, Doctor le Croix is waiting
Doctor Le Croix, shaking the hand of Salem
"My my my my my God, Salem tell me the secret
My my my my my God, this makes me feel uneasy"
In shock, Le Croix is terrified, this could be the end
Fear turns to hate. "Great Wanga will befall the Lafayettes
Salem help me, save us, Salem help me, save us
By turning them to dust
So take this money and off you go
To Madame Sarita's Boutique of Voodoo
A snake curse and a little "Goofer Dust"
You Salem will be the link between them and us
This could be an easy way to turn the Lafayettes to dead"
Two hours later. Salem leaves Madame Sarita
"My my my my my God, Salem is looking scary
My my my my my God, now he's heading for the cemetery
Kneeling in front of the graves
A handful of soil and Salem is on his way
He must leave a copper penny as payment for the soil
And to protect himself
From all the spirits that could come and dig themselves
Into his head, dead, dead, dead, Salem is here
By the house, in the dark, there is a shadow digging
The snake in the bottle, is buried and it's ready
Salem is moving without a sound
Everyone's sleeping, but me cause I don't need it
No
Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: King Diamond
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dolev Nirran
this song has such a great build up it's amazing!
Ernesto Gomez
A mi parecer el mejor album de King Diamond. esta exelente!!!! al igual q Andy La Roque en la guitarra.
Jose Heredia
chulada de album king diamond es inigualable
Brian Skala
Overlooked? Maybe best King album perhaps!
I was hoping a live song of this.
Louis Csanko
I AM A MERCYFUL FATE// KING DIAMOND FAN SINCE 1983 AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY EVERY KING DIAMOND ALBUM IS AWESOME.EACH ALBUM HAS IT'S OWN MAGIC! I CAN NOT HONESTLY PICK A FAVORITE!! I LOVE ALL OF THE ALBUMS// THEY RELASED ONE SONG OFF OF THE UPCOMING ALBUM( " THE INSTITUTE") THE SONG( " MASQUERADE OF MADNESS") IS GREAT!! I AM SO STOKED TO HEAR THE REST OF THE ALBUM \,,,/
๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฎ ๐
Brian Skala best this is not, have to say that, but better than spider's lullaby
Hitman
+Brian Skala This album could have been better, but it's last good one, undoubtedly.
Ronald Abinsay
Killer album a masterpiece
Valcirlei Lima
Muito Bom!! Go Brazil Trash
Louis Csanko
Imagine you went for a walk in the Louisiana Darkness at midnight with a full moon So bright it seemed like daytime// And Suddenly out of the thin air Appeared( KING DIAMOND) I WOULD ASK FOR AN AUTOGRAPH!! lol