"Eyes of Ebony" is a song by British progressive metal band Haken. It is the closing track on the band's 2023 album Fauna.
Basis
"Eyes of Ebony"s themes stem from the White Rhinoceros and its extinction. The song also acts as a tribute to Richard Henshall's father Peter, who passed away in March 2021.
Production
According to Richard Henshall and Pete Jones, "Eyes of Ebony" was one of the first songs written for the album.
Lyrics
| "Eyes of Ebony" lyrics [Click here] |
Ash clouds in the distance littered the sky
Light faded in the world as I said "goodbye"
The caw of the raven pierced the air
Weep now or nevermore
I peered into the eyes of ebony
In a doleful state of reverie
Frozen in the umbra of the past
As melancholy washed over me
Stolen from the light
Unintended
Fighting for your life
Liberated now
You stood tall amid the roar
Raging against the black light
(Black light)
The hermit's timeless melody
Will shone on forevermore
(Shine on)
Stolen from the light
A primordial giant
At the gates of Valhalla
Freed from limbo
You were fighting for your life
In the heart of the flame
As the dying embers burnt to ash
The white rhino sang his last lullaby
At the great gig in the sky
The white rhino sang his last serenade
As his light began to fade
The shadowed raven above
It called you beyond the veil
Stolen from the light
A primordial giant
At the gates of Valhalla
Freed from limbo
You were fighting for your life
In the heat of the flame
As the dying embers burnt to ash
At the end of your rope
In the umbra time stands still
A deathly silence cracks the air
The eyes of ebony stare no more
An existential twilight
A liver of an eternity
The time has come now to let go
Be rid of your mortal coil
The ash clouds have blown away
As the sun rises on a new day
You gave me the power to believe
As we climbed to the mountaintop
You left your footprints in the sand
Immortalised, you'll never walk alone
You gave me the power to dream
As we strode to the mountaintop
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Personnel
Haken
- Ross Jennings - vocals
- Richard Henshall - guitars, keyboards
- Charlie Griffiths - guitars
- Peter Jones - keyboards
- Conner Green - bass
- Raymond Hearne - drums
Trivia
- "Eyes of Ebony" is the longest closing track by the band since 2016's Affinity.
- The song's lyrics contain multiple references to Henshall's father and his passions, such as his favourite football team and favourite band.
(You'll Never Walk Alone is the anthem of Liverpool FC, Shine On [You Crazy Diamond] and Great Gig in the Sky are songs by Pink Floyd).
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| "Eyes of Ebony" |
In Loving Memory of PETER HENSHALL |
| Song by Haken |
| Released |
3 March 2022 |
| Album |
Fauna |
| Genre |
Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock |
| Length |
8:32 |
| Live Plays |
0 (#54 [tied]) |
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