16 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Arabian Knights Lyrics
The jewel, the prize
looking into your eyes
Cool pools drown your mind
What else will you find
I hear a rumour-it was just a rumour
I heard a rumour-what have you done to her
Myriad lights-they said I'd be impressed Arabian Knights-at your primitive best
A tourist oasis-reflects in seedy sunshades a monstrous oil tanker
it's wound bleeding in seas
I heard a rumour-what have you done to her I heard a rumour-what have you done to her
Veiled behind screens
kept as your baby machine
Whilst you conquer more orifices
Of boys, goats and things
Ripped out sheeps eyes-no forks or knives
Myriad lights-they said I'd be impressed Arabian Knights-at your primitive best
It's a powerful song, a gut reaction to some of the horror stories we should by now all be familiar with about the abuse of women in the Middle East. Unfortunately, it only adds to a one-sided view of that culture, which has helped to justify recent wars. Terrible abuse of women does occur there - and it happens within wester cultures too. It might surprise some people, but most Arab women are not longing to be westernised.
This is one of the point about Siouxsie's songs which is really moving me, she isn't quiet about women's treatment and she's talking about it in a deeply perceptive and subtle way. This song is brilliant as Voodoo dolly or Candyman. I mean, who's talking about that today, Beyoncé???? And it is so obvious to me, knowing about how hard it is to be a woman in islamic countries, that this is not a racist song! You can put the word arabian in a song without being a racist. Hopefully.
This is one of the point about Siouxsie's songs which is really moving me, she isn't quiet about women's treatment and she's talking about it in a deeply perceptive and subtle way. This song is brilliant as Voodoo dolly or Candyman. I mean, who's talking about that today, Beyoncé???? And it is so obvious to me, knowing about how hard it is to be a woman in islamic countries, that this is not a racist song! You can put the word arabian in a song without being a racist. Hopefully.
And I'm sure Siouxsie isn't looking to become Arabianised.
And I'm sure Siouxsie isn't looking to become Arabianised.
@jimquk The stupidity of some kind of women like you ! Women in western countries are equal and have all the rights as men, even if we need to do more. And it\'s not a reason to say that you should not do anything for all the women outside of the western world who are suffered of cruelty by a gender apartheid against women! It\'s so easy to western bashing. You dont have the guts to go to Afghanistan to fight for women who are treated like animals by the talibans. You need courage instead of your coward comments above...
@jimquk The stupidity of some kind of women like you ! Women in western countries are equal and have all the rights as men, even if we need to do more. And it\'s not a reason to say that you should not do anything for all the women outside of the western world who are suffered of cruelty by a gender apartheid against women! It\'s so easy to western bashing. You dont have the guts to go to Afghanistan to fight for women who are treated like animals by the talibans. You need courage instead of your coward comments above !
@jimquk confused as to since when having rights or being able to go out in normal clothing or not being genitally mutilated is "westernization". Is basic human equity just a western feature? how progressive of you.
@jimquk confused as to since when having rights or being able to go out in normal clothing or not being genitally mutilated is "westernization". Is basic human equity just a western feature? how progressive of you.
That doesn't change the racism and generalization
That doesn't change the racism and generalization
First read their upside down cd booklet. This song was written after their trip to the middle east. She found out that is a muslim women was caught being promiscuous they would be stone to death. Then she heard that a brother basically kidnapped his sister and smuggled her out of the country to keep her alive. He was a knight.
@vestasme how does that justify the balant racism and generalization
@vestasme how does that justify the balant racism and generalization
"lash out at arab culture(?)" please save the histrionics. no culture is sacred or immune to criticism. the song ARABIAN NIGHTS is intelligent and thoughtful in it's critique and based on historical fact. white slavery, repression and deviant sex, oil spills, misogyny, all especially visible in arab culture past and present. siouxsie can trash ANY culture with accuracy and style, and she does. siouxsie "lashes out" at western culture in almost every song she writes, and we should be thankful, she is one of the few doing it intelligently. should poor little defenseless arab culture be protected from big bad souixsie? dry your tears, i think arab culture can survive the occasional criticism. in fact lack of criticism means no possibiltiy of change or growth. siouxsie's ARABIAN NIGHTS represents some of the best criticism there is, insightful, compelling, and most important of all, it is great music.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
@skinner this reply is racist. She can comment on thing things happening in the world. But not in a disgustingly racist vulgar and generalizing way. It pushes the Arab stereotypes and generalizes it. She's not immune to criticism and she's not some Martyr. There's a difference between criticism and plain out racism
@skinner this reply is racist. She can comment on thing things happening in the world. But not in a disgustingly racist vulgar and generalizing way. It pushes the Arab stereotypes and generalizes it. She's not immune to criticism and she's not some Martyr. There's a difference between criticism and plain out racism
I don't see this as Siouxsie lashing out against Arab culture in general, but at the way women in the Arab world are sometimes treated. Siouxsie has never struck me as a racist person, but I could see how an assertive and intelligent Western woman like Siouxsie would be disgusted and upset by the abuses many women in Arabic countries suffer. However, I am not sure that this is all this song is really about in a thematic sense. SatB songs tend to have more complex meanings than what appears on the surface. "Hong Kong Garden" has been called a racist song, for example, but the truth is that it is exactly the opposite.
This song is about female circumcision that is practised in Arabic countries. She doesn't hate Arabs, don't jump to conclusions. She is just against the practise. Re read the lyrics. "baby machine." Sound familiar?
^ Maybe you're the one who shouldn't be jumping to conclusions. After all, female circumcision is not widely practiced in the Arab world - it is mostly practised in African countries.
^ Maybe you're the one who shouldn't be jumping to conclusions. After all, female circumcision is not widely practiced in the Arab world - it is mostly practised in African countries.
I believe she's entitled to her subjective insights/criticisms/impressions, something that a great artist like her does in every song. The question of "who says what to whom", which quite often decides whether a statement/text is racist/offensive doesn't really apply to a critical lyricist like siouxie. I lament the absence of such great culturally-subversive art like hers today! Besides, the truly artistic and beautiful ambiguity of her lyrics keep them above petty racism. (for the record, I'm an Arab)
Look Skinner, WHAT makes you think that I view this song and/or Siouxsie in a negative light?!? ARABIAN KNIGHTS clearly expresses a VERY negative view of arab culture. DO NOT assume that I am scorning her for being politically incorrect! I was curious as to what inspired her to write this song. Was she speaking from her own personal experiences or from a political perspective. Moreover, had she ever been to an Arab country.
Look Skinner, WHAT makes you think that I view this song and/or Siouxsie in a negative light?!? ARABIAN KNIGHTS clearly expresses a VERY negative view of arab culture. DO NOT assume that I am scorning her for being politically incorrect! I was curious as to what inspired her to write this song. Was she speaking from her own personal experiences or from a political perspective. Moreover, had she ever been to an Arab country.
I hit report by mistake - sorry.
I hit report by mistake - sorry.
Sozluk - you ask if she has been to an Arab country. That is an unnecessary question, since the Arab countries have now come to US in the West.
Sozluk - you ask if she has been to an Arab country. That is an unnecessary question, since the Arab countries have now come to US in the West.
Here's an example of what they bring: canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/8463
Here's an example of what they bring: canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/8463
In addition to the comment about the visit to the Middle East (also the inspiration for Swimming Horses), I'm pretty sure it also vaguely references Siouxsie's molestation by the "Candyman"--the Arabic candy store owner.
SIOUXSIE: "It’s nothing to do with a ‘feminist’ thing, it’s like a humane thing. Like how the Muslim women cope, I don’t know. The way women are treated in some religions, if it was a race being treated like that and not a sex, there would be uproar about it. I still haven’t overcome being a girl yet, as far as other people see me, and that’s very important. I think it’s happened a bit, but not enough." Source: NME 15/08/81