Maple Bee is Melanie Garside, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from the… Read Full Bio ↴Maple Bee is Melanie Garside, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from the UK. Combining elements of synth-pop, alt. rock, folk and classical music, Maple Bee's debut was the 2004 double album 'Chasing Eva'. Maple Bee is one of a number of projects Melanie is involved with; others include Vertigo Angels, Huski, Mediæval Bæbes and Queen Adreena (fronted by Melanie's sister, KatieJane Garside, formerly of Daisy Chainsaw).
Melanie adopted the nickname Maple Bee in 2003, when she formed her now disbanded band Vertigo Angels.

Queen 23
Maple Bee Lyrics

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Far away upon a mountain side
There lives a girl I really need to find
They say she made her way around this world
Forgot it all and locked away the bird

And the queen lived on inside the castle walls
And the prince that's in the tower is still alone

Well, she's got this war with someone I can't know
And she's got no place to hide, nowhere to go
And the sun keeps bleeding on her land so grey
Yes, her sense of purpose left and moved away, away

And the queen lived on inside the castle walls
And the prince that's in the tower is still alone

Well, I caught her face, a mirror yesterday
And she disappeared before I turned away
But claiming I have stepped where she's been
It's like a wheel that's turning on the breeze, this thing

Yeah, the queen lived on inside the castle walls
And she's got no key to open or phone to call

Yeah, the queen lives on inside the castle walls
And the prince that's in the tower is still alone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Maple Bee's song "Queen 23" tell a tale of a mysterious girl who lives on a mountain side and has somehow managed to forget the world and become reclusive. The song's narrator is desperately searching for this girl, but it seems that she is involved in a war with someone the singer cannot know. She has nowhere to hide and no sense of purpose, and the sun keeps bleeding on her land, leaving it gray and bleak. The singer catches a glimpse of the girl's face in the mirror, but she disappears before he can turn around. Despite the girl's isolation and the singer's search for her, both the queen and the prince in the tower are still alone.

This song is rich in imagery and metaphor, leaving room for interpretation and multiple meanings. The girl on the mountain could symbolize someone searching for truth and meaning in life, while the war she is involved in could represent personal struggles or societal issues. The song also touches on themes of isolation, loneliness, and the battle for one's identity and purpose. Overall, "Queen 23" is a haunting and thought-provoking piece that leaves the listener with a sense of mystery and intrigue.

Line by Line Meaning

Far away upon a mountain side
There is a girl who Maple Bee wants to find, but she is isolated and hard to reach, living in a remote location.

There lives a girl I really need to find
Maple Bee has a strong desire to locate this girl, and sees it as a priority.

They say she made her way around this world
The girl Maple Bee seeks has traveled and experienced much in life.

Forgot it all and locked away the bird
The girl has since become reclusive and cut herself off from the world.

And the queen lived on inside the castle walls
The image of a queen living in isolation in her castle serves as a metaphor for the girl's secluded state.

And the prince that's in the tower is still alone
This line suggests that the girl is not the only one who is isolated and alone in this metaphorical castle.

Well, she's got this war with someone I can't know
There is some conflict or struggle in the girl's life that Maple Bee is not aware of.

And she's got no place to hide, nowhere to go
Despite her desire for seclusion, the girl is unable to truly escape from whatever troubles her.

And the sun keeps bleeding on her land so grey
The girl's surroundings are bleak and barren, with little light or color.

Yes, her sense of purpose left and moved away, away
The girl no longer has a clear sense of direction or drive, and feels lost or purposeless.

Well, I caught her face, a mirror yesterday
Maple Bee briefly caught a glimpse of the girl, but their meeting was fleeting and brief.

And she disappeared before I turned away
The girl remains elusive and difficult to capture or hold onto.

But claiming I have stepped where she's been
Maple Bee recognizes that the girl has traveled and experienced much, but feels a sense of connection to her.

It's like a wheel that's turning on the breeze, this thing
This connection or sense of familiarity feels ephemeral and fleeting, like something that is constantly shifting and changing.

Yeah, the queen lived on inside the castle walls
The metaphor of the queen living in isolation is repeated to emphasize the theme of isolation and loneliness.

And she's got no key to open or phone to call
The girl is truly alone and cut off from the rest of the world.

Yeah, the queen lives on inside the castle walls
The final repetition of this line reinforces the idea of the girl's isolation, despite Maple Bee's desire to connect with her.

And the prince that's in the tower is still alone
The final line underscores the theme of loneliness and lack of connection that runs throughout the song.

Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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