When you dream you only dream you're Annabel.
All their secrets there inside you Annabel.
Born beneath an emerald sky sing Annabel.
Nothing that they did will stop you Annabel.
Land of the lights tangled hair and porcelain
Under the stars you begin
When you dream you only dream you're Annabel.
Sleep reminds you takes you there, oh Annabel.
Gentle whispers, endless winters, Annabel.
Why they couldn't let you be both Annabel.
Land of the lights of the ice
but love still lies you are the truth
they denied red like the sea
tangled hair and porcelain.
Under the stars you begin.
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh ah
(Only a boy under that)
Oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh ah
(Only a boy da da da)
All their secrets there inside you Annabel.
Nothing that they did will stop you Annabel.
Under the stars you begin
Sleep reminds you takes you there, oh Annabel.
Why they couldn't let you be both Annabel.
but love still lies you are the truth
they denied red like the sea
tangled hair and porcelain.
Under the stars you begin.
Oh oh oh ah
(Only a boy under that)
Oh oh oh ah
(Only a boy da da da)
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Taken from the Tales of Us booklet:
annabel
when you dream you only dream you're Annabel all their secrets there inside you Annabel born beneath an emerald sky sing Annabel nothing that they did will stop you Annabel
land of the lights tangled hair and porcelain under the stars you begin
when you dream you only dream you're Annabel sleep reminds you takes you there oh Annabel gentle whispers endless winters Annabel why they couldn't let you be both Annabel
land of the lights or the ice but love still lies you are the truth they denied red like the sea tangled hair and porcelain under the stars you begin
The song is based on a novel "Annabelle" by Kathleen Winter. It's about a child born with both sexual organs but forced to live as a male. http://www.amazon.com/Annabel-Novel-Kathleen-Winter/dp/080217082X
"Annabel" is about gender identity. The protagonist is a woman in a man's body, and the name of that female identity is Annabel. Every night Annabel is present in his dreams. I say "his" because at this point Annabel is still "in secrets".
There is some frustration with gender binary when it is sung "Why they couldn't let you be both, Annabel?" But there's also resolve; "Nothing that they did will stop you, Annabel."
Under the stars at the end of the song, the protagonist becomes Annabel completely.
I suggest watching the video that accompanies the track for further clarity. It's a beautiful song.
@Scarletting Please, read my comment! Liselotte
@Scarletting Please, read my comment! Liselotte
I've listened to this song for years and always loved it but it's tale only hit home when I started to come to terms with the nature of my own gender identity. I'm a cis-male but sometimes I'm Abigail. And if course Abigail scans exactly with Annabel.
So as a somewhat trans person I can attest to it's power as an anthem and yes to video is so brilliant it leaves zero doubt what the song is about.
@Iconoclypse Please read my comment! Liselotte
@Iconoclypse Please read my comment! Liselotte
Please, it not about trans!! It is about person that was born intetsexual!! They had surgery and made the baby to a boy. But when he grows up, he realize that he wants to be a girl. And that girl's name is Anabel!! That also explain the lyrics "why couldn't they let you be both?" If you don't belive me, read the book by Cathleen Winter.