She'll dance again She'll laugh again She'll smile again She'll live again The progression and decay of his hopes for her 😭

Usually, this type of narrative has two key differences. One, the doctor puts the research above their love until it's too late. Here, he cares for her and reads to her until the end. Two, they almost universally fail. While his success here is dubious and debatable, it's still further than they get in the typical narrative. I think it's strengthened greatly by these two deviations from the norm. It makes the doctor more sympathetic and harder to scorn. Usually these types are villains or used to prove a point about cherishing what you have. This doctor shows true love and true desperation to keep hold of it however he can. The lyrics, also, are amazing. The repetition of what she told him really drives home his drive and determination. The subtle shift of "she'll dance again" then "she'll laugh again" until he'll be satisfied just to see her smile once more. It also reinforces his desperation, but it also reinforces how she's degrading in condition. Almost every word reinforces some aspect of the story. Emphasizes the tragedy. The music itself may not be my favorite thing, but these are some of the best written lyrics I've ever had the pleasure of listening to, and it's a damn good story for a six minute song.

To me her message is the saddest. Because he takes it so far. The last repetition is different, because he feels she'd want to be saved no matter the cost, but it's one of those profound mind tricks where I doubt she'd want to live at such a cost. Her message is one of love, but it turns to obsession because he's grieving and it will cost him his life as well.

And I've broken every code of practice, but for my love, I'd shift the planet's axis! ... At this point, you know that shit has gotten real.

I'm rather disappointed that this group only ever made three songs :(

It physically hurts that they only have 3 songs

When I find the Clockwork Quartet I can surely promise They'll sing again

The female background singers give me chills. It adds serious urgency and really makes you realize his slow spiraling down into depravity. It's scary as heck and I love it.

This song is brilliant. Focused. Calculated. Horrifying. Brilliant.

To this day, I still think of Victor Fries, and hope that they were a heavy inspiration for this song, though Mr. Fries was not a medical practitioner. I do enjoy how the words she says to him slowly change into an echo in his mind, driving him further into his frenzied desperation to reclaim his fallen wife.

I remember listening to this song AGES ago, and now suddenly I was reminded of it. Had to feverishly look for it and I'm so happy I found it again! I love this song so much.

Heavy Mister Freeze and Nora vibes on this one. Shame they never made more songs.

I've turned on the bell in the feeble hope that another song is made...

There needs to be more songs like this, with beautiful stories that can truly move people. I love the clockwork quartet because although they have a small number of songs, they all tell amazing stories that pull different emotions. If anyone knows of any other good songs that do this kind of thing, please let me know

Get you someone who sees gleams in your eyes even when they have turned you into a robot.

For fucks sake, this piece of music... Fragile, crushing, sad to the bone. I swear it's been long time since those heavy goosebumps attended my skin.

Theres so many absolutley great details in the song. As the female quote is first a memory, then he hears it in his mind and finnaly he hears her telling him it again no longer able to separate memory from hallucination. That or hes actually recorded her to say it each night. Both equally disturbing. That and her quote is in all likleyhood not in context of the state she is in now. Its my favorite song of all times as no other song has ever made me wonder so much about every word delivery or beautifull tragic tone

lyrics: Monday the twenty-sixth of March The patient's passing seizures are becoming more pronounced by the day The underlying cause Seems to be some slow progressive decay If I don't find a cure I fear my patient must surely fade away But I swear I'll apply my science To the cause Brooking no defiance I'll deliver her from this malady She'll dance again And I'll never forget when we first were courting And she faced me, and her eyes were gleaming In the moonlight, and she spoke so sweetly (Don't let me go, my darling Hold me safely 'til the morning Promise, when the lights are fading You'll save me.) Tuesday the seventeenth of May A worrying symptom has reared its head this week She's been bedbound for a month And now the patient is no longer able to speak She tries to utter sounds But the grip of the illness is strong and the patient is weak On the bed, in a cold sweat Like a corpse, but she'll live yet When I find the cure, I can surely promise She'll laugh again As she did on our wedding day When we danced, and laughed the world away Even now I can hear her say (Don't let me go, my darling Hold me safely 'til the morning Promise, when the lights are fading You'll save me.) Sunday the twenty-third of June The patient no longer responds to stimuli of any kind She's now my only charge I clothe her and feed her, and nightly I read by her side For though she's paralysed I know that inside there must still be a functioning mind Neatly laid on the bedsheet I can still hear her fading heart-beat I'll keep her stable and continue my research She'll smile again And I must bring her back to me In her eyes I can see the gleam In my mind I can hear her pleading (Don't let me go, my darling Hold me safely 'til the morning Promise, when the lights are fading You'll save me.) Tuesday the eighteenth of July My latest apparatus is the only thing that's keeping her alive I had to stop her heart The mechanical replacement will ensure the other organs can survive Her body is destroyed But what nature has neglected the fruit of modern science shall provide And I've broken every code of practice But for my love I'd shift the planet's axis She'll return to me when she's been repaired She'll live again And I swear I can see the gleam In her eyes amidst the new machines And at night I can hear her whisper (Don't let me go, my darling Hold me safely 'til the morning Promise, when the lights are fading You'll save me. You'll save me!)

This REALLY does need to be a musical though!!!

Sheer genius. The poem so beautifully laid out, the performance perfectly clear and precisely modulated. The musical arrangement so full of powerful contrasts, the percussion echoing both the patient's heartbeat and the sounds of the machines, the stringed instruments shaping our vision of the Doctor's tragic wife. The drama profoundly moving. Sheer genius. Thank you for posting this treat for the soul.

I first got into steam punk around 8 years ago. Clockwork Quartet, the Cog is dead, steampowered giraffe, abney park and many more were my entire childhood. Finally coming back to this song and the watchmakers apprentice brings back happy memories. This song makes me incredibly emotional and I love listening to it. It's a bit sad to see that the Clockwork Quartet project has been given up on. I would love to have a fourth song. I also still know the lyrics to this song which is in my humble opinion about myself... quite incredible.

Bring back the clockwork quartet 2021

obsessed with the "doctor/scientist takes things too far"/sci-fi horror vibes here lately. this, devil's in the detail by the hoosiers...please if anyone knows of any other mad science sci fi horror songs PLEASE do tell. ive known about this song since i was in middle school; i think it's still on my old mp3 player :D

This is one of the most realistically romantic songs I have ever discovered

"Published on Oct 30, 2012" so this was relased on all hallow's eve? bit fitting for the grim theme.

this makes me want to do a musical. Alas I doubt I could find anyone to do music as good as this song.

Two words: HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL

so, how many people came here WITHOUT thinking it was about "the doctor", without it even crossing their mind?

That was absolutely fascinating. However, I expected that by the end, when the doctor's wife was being supported by countless machines, the doctor would be able to hear his wife speak again. Her dialogue would change to something like, "Please let me go, my darling. You must allow the mourning. Please let my lights start fading, and save me."

This song never fails to make me cry :,(

I don't know why, but I can't stop listening to this song/story. I've listened to it about 5 times in the last two days.

My god the vocals are haunting 😍

I have not yet clicked the link, so I know nothing more than what I've heard in this song, but here's my analysis: The language used and the technology spoken of and heard (typewriters and such) makes it sound like the era is somewhere around 1920-1930. Right after the widespread introduction of electricity, but before home machinery was a thing. We can therefore assume that the machinery the doctor is speaking about is entirely mechanical, maybe operating by rudimentary electrical motors, but no more than that. So we know we're not talking about a cyborg in the sense we know it, it's more a human kept alive by mechanical means. But we also know he succeeded, because he heard her whisper at the end. Before that moment, it was all "in my mind", but at that point it was "from the machines". He also said machines in plural, meaning he replaced more than her heart. And that her body had failed, but mentioning keeping organs alive. From this we can assume that the machinery is not mobile, nor is it humanoid. More likely is that he took her organs out of her body and put into a stationary set of machines, either carefully making sure the nerves were still connected, or replacing the nerves with electrical cords. Her brain in one machine, her lungs in another, her liver in a third etc.. This is why her voice came from WITHIN the mass of machines, her vocal cords are somewhere in the middle and not capable of much more than a whisper. Her awareness of her surroundings have failed and she perceives the world as a perpetual dusk, she is scared and cold and wishes for nothing more than her husband to hold her close, warm and comforting, but she will never again be able to feel that. It is unlikely she will even be able to hear his voice again. After all of this, she has hope and he has kept her alive, but he can never give her what she desires again. And that is the tragedy of this tale. He saved her, but she lost him and now he can hear her reaction to losing him, whispering for his touch until the machines fail or he turns them off.

You are loved, you innovated with this song, there’s nothing quite like that. You thought unique thoughts which is commendable to an ineffable degree.

This.. this is incredible, haha. It's so sad that he went insane trying to save his wife though...

This song speaks to me as one of my loved ones is fading away now and I have no way of saving her.

This song is so amazing, I am not ashamed to tell it made me cry first time I heard it. You are awesome. Sincerely, your russian fan.

Still gets me in the feels all these years later

I cant help but think Mr Freeze from batman...

After the final line, I have this image in my head of his "wife" taking him in an embrace and snapping his neck

This has got to be one of my favorite songs ever. I hope the Clockwork Quartet keeps producing new music!

Anyone still listen to this?

This song got stuck in my head and I couldn't for the life of me remember where it was from, it's so pretty I just love it. I love the typewriter and background noises. Very nice :)

Listened to this song more than 100 times, and still gives me chills, the true story of love...

I remember the first time i found this song, and untill today I wish more songs from this band T_T jejeje fucking amazing

So, 10 years? It has been 10 years. Thanks all who give those songs to us. And i may add one more thing - thanks for the sheets for this beautiful music. Any who interested - its free on their site

Incredibly beautiful. Reduces me to tears each time I hear it.

Was I the only one who noticed his standards of success lowered as the song progressed?

I feel this song very deeply from an epileptic stand point

Came back because I remembered this masterpiece! Just so amazing

It's a lovely music, hope the group will live again.

This song gives me goosebumps

A Steampunk Frankenstein Story. Brilliant!

I hear this each time I pick up my laptop to work on a new project and every time I hear the beginning I feel like I'm using a futuristic type-writer ^m^ for some reason I would expect this to be in a scene of Sweeney Todd o.o

I think the only thing more disturbing than the doctor's downward slide is the possibility that going to these lengths was exactly what his wife would have wanted.

This inspired me

This Is an amazingly sad period to hear this song, not for me, but for the world. However, it keeps my heart pumping with surreal emotions.... But, Alas!, even the dates seems right... Whispers of magic are everywhere.

I'm addicted!!! This song is sooooo Beautiful!!! I can't stop listening!!!

This song makes me cheer and weep, fills me with joy and breaks my heart! Its dark, bleak and absolutely magnificent!!!!!!!!!

This is hauntingly beautiful I love it so much...

did the research and the math. there is no actual year that contains all four dates in this song

every once in a while I remember this song and come listen to it, if only it was on spotify or somewhere

Listened to this back in middle school when it came out… and here I am in college so many years later, still in love with it! 😢❤

This takes me back to like eighth grade it's such a good song.

Been waiting since 2013 for them to make new songs...

Real Steampunk sound

Oh my! what a delightful and touchy song, Very admirable

je suis tombé par hasard sur ce lien en cherchant steampunk music sur le net et je suis tombé sur une perle, internet est immense, je me demande s'il n'est pas mille fois plus grand que l'univers vue ce que les gens y déposent chaque jours... Je suis heureux d'être tombé ici car ces musiques, je les adore !

This is absolutely fantastic!

His vocals are screaming to me that it's like Johnny Depp's Sweeney Todd. I love this so much.

I'm absolutely sure I've heard that typewriter rhythm at the beginning before. Maybe in a video. I don't know, I had never listened to this song...

The hat, coat, gloves, and glasses implied to me this was about the character Johannes Cabal who eventually turned to necromancy to aid his dying wife.

then she became GLADOS.

If the doctor lost his license he'd not just make his wife dance again, but also Ubercharge her to be bulletproof

This is beautiful. You guys are beautiful.

The melody is already stuck in my head, nice arrangement

I wish they would write some more songs because I love all the songs they have out!

this song is so darn cool

First time I proactively used facebook, just so I could tell everyone I know about the sheer greatness of this. All three of your pieces are amazing.

you guys need more songs!!!!

Haunting, beautiful, tragic, powerful. Love this song.

One of the biggest tragedies in modern music, the fact this band made this masterpiece and gave us the old Irish goodbye!

It doesn't matter how many times we make our journey to my parents. We always try to visit every month or so. It's a three-hour journey from our home to theirs. I always drive. I let my husband choose the music. This song always finds a way to our trek. I'm the one who introduced him this to this song. Should I be worried?

fristly there absolutely MUST be a music video for this, secondly there absolutely MUST be a part 2. i want to know about how he saves her and how her life and love is renewed and then she dances and he dances with her and it'd be so beautiful

his is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I come across and one of the only love songs that doesn’t make my heart ache so much as weep (pardon the stupidity). I love it to pieces.

perfect song for my OC Frederick! gaaahh~ love this song.

Please make more music. This is amazing.

Guys What if the female background singer's voice became gradually more robotic? It would be so epic.

I love that no one's downvoted this song. :)

a decent to madness is a slow process but will happen given the right conditons

This song gets me every damn time.

Today is Tuesday 17th May.

My favourite love song.

This song just screams batman the musical

somebody call doctor House

love this, fantastic

Anyone know any other groups like this? Story-driven, clockwork-y, stage-musical-esk music. I've found 'steampunk Opera: New Albion' which is kind of close.

Edgar Allan Poes favorite band

this is one of the best songs I know but I just cannot watch it too often...

Mr. Freeze vibes