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.
Spirits
King Diamond Lyrics
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And Abigail is watching his wheelchair burn
The flames lick the wooden floor
Spreading to the curtains, and then the draperies on the wall
Higher and higher they go
"I am the fire... I'm eating everything
I'll bring this mansion down, through me they all must come"
Spirits flying through the air
Spirits crossing over to the other side
To rest in peace and never die again
And to be with long gone friends
The ghosts of those who lived here in the past
They will use the flames to leave this EVIL house
Abigail is watching the spirits and the flames
Dancing hand in hand around her long black dress
Oh around and around they go, until they touch
Abigail is on fire
[Solo: Mike]
Spirits flying through the air
Spirits crossing over to the other side
To rest in peace and never die again
And to be with long gone friends
[Solo: Andy]
There is no pain as Abigail is eaten by the flames
Her body starts to fade, emptiness is growing inside
Slowly she's leaving her body behind
And the spirits are right by her side
[Solo: Andy]
Oh no here she goes, her spirit is in the air
The others guide her to the flames where they all will disappear
Spirits flying through the air
Spirits crossing over to the other side
To rest in peace and never die again
And to be with long gone friends
[Theme: Andy & Kol]
But Abigail forgot one thing:
"Her own little twin"
The song "Spirits" by King Diamond tells the story of Abigail, a recurring character in the band's discography, who has been left devastated by the death of her husband Jonathan. As she watches his wheelchair burn, the fire spreads throughout the mansion, revealing her to be the source of the flames, as she vows to bring the house down in order to free the ghosts who linger there. The spirits of those who lived in the mansion before use the flames as a way to leave the evil house and find rest in peace alongside their long-gone friends. In the end, Abigail becomes consumed by the flames, but as her body begins to fade, she discovers that the spirits are waiting to guide her to the other side. The song is a haunting meditation on death, grief, and the possibility of finding peace in the afterlife.
One interesting fact about "Spirits" is that it is the closing track on the album Abigail II: The Revenge, which serves as a conceptual sequel to the band's classic concept album Abigail from 1987. Another is that King Diamond himself considers Abigail to be one of his favorite characters, and has revisited her story in several other albums, including Abigail II and the upcoming The Institute. Additionally, the band's use of theatricality and storytelling in their music has been influential to many other metal bands over the years. Another fun fact is that the song features guitar solos from both Mike Wead and Andy LaRocque, two of the band's longtime members and talented shredders. Finally, it's worth noting that the lyrics to "Spirits" speak to a common theme in King Diamond's work, which is the idea that death and the afterlife are not necessarily something to be feared, but rather to be embraced as a continuation of existence in a different form.
Chords: Unknown
Line by Line Meaning
Jonathan is dead
Jonathan has passed away
And Abigail is watching his wheelchair burn
Abigail is observing the destruction of the wheelchair
The flames lick the wooden floor
The fire touches the wooden floor
Spreading to the curtains, and then the draperies on the wall
The fire expands to the curtains and then to the draperies on the wall
Higher and higher they go
The flames ascend to greater heights
I am the fire... I'm eating everything
I'll bring this mansion down, through me they all must come
The fire announces its destructive power and the fact that the mansion will fall through it, forcing everyone to face it
Spirits flying through the air
Spirits crossing over to the other side
To rest in peace and never die again
And to be with long gone friends
The spirits of the deceased are flying and crossing over to the other side where they can rest in peace and reunite with their old friends
The ghosts of those who lived here in the past
They will use the flames to leave this EVIL house
The ghosts of past inhabitants will utilize the fire as a way to escape the wicked house
Abigail is watching the spirits and the flames
Dancing hand in hand around her long black dress
Oh around and around they go, until they touch
Abigail is on fire
Abigail witnesses the spirits and flames dancing around her and is eventually caught up in the fire
[Solo: Mike]
Instrumental solo by Mike
There is no pain as Abigail is eaten by the flames
Her body starts to fade, emptiness is growing inside
Slowly she's leaving her body behind
And the spirits are right by her side
Abigail feels no pain as the fire engulfs her body and she slowly leaves it behind, with the spirits accompanying her
[Solo: Andy]
Instrumental solo by Andy
Oh no here she goes, her spirit is in the air
The others guide her to the flames where they all will disappear
Abigail's spirit departs from her body and joins the other spirits, who lead her to the flames where they will vanish
[Theme: Andy & Kol]
Closing instrumental theme by Andy and Kol
But Abigail forgot one thing:
"Her own little twin"
Abigail neglects her twin sibling
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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