Abney Park from Cookiewow by Vanilla

This is “Abney Park” the first of 12 brand new songs Vanilla recorded recently in Studio C at the historical Wally Heider studio complex in San Francisco (now Wally’s Hydeout at Hyde St Studios).

“Abney Park” is the kickoff track for our new album Cookiewow!

It’s true, Vanilla has a strange affection for misty graveyards and creepy charnel houses, but every cemetery is full of great stories, and London’s picturesque Abney Park cemetery is no exception…

The song features our good friend and collaborator Dave Gregory (XTC) on lead guitar and has lovely contributions from the whole team.

Hats off to Chris McGrew for the use of his truly historical studio and his engineering excellence.

Tracklist

1.	Abney Park	2:46

Lyrics

I wonder what we’ll find today
On a walk through Abney Park
No birds sing, no children play
As I wander in the dark

Figures glide from stone to stone
And gloom is all around
Listen to the Larches groan
As the winter sun goes down

The winter dregs are desolate
Today in Abney Park
No visitors to populate
The churchyard in the dark

Leaning on a sepulcher
Where graven words proclaim
The name of he who’s lying here
Reminding me again…

Suddenly I’m seized with fear
At this grave in Abney Park
I can’t recall what brought me here
Or why I can’t depart

Something deep inside of me
Says things are not the same…
Am I just an internee
Who can’t go back again?

Credits

from Cookiewow, track released May 16, 2025
Written by Jayson Jarmon (BMI), (C) 2025

Jayson Jarmon: lead vocal, backing vocals, guitar
Sean Gaffney: bass guitar, backing vocals
Scott Warfield: drums
James Peterson: piano
Dave Gregory: lead guitar
Jessica Van Horn: backing vocals

Produced by Jayson Jarmon and Sean Gaffney. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Mark Simmons at Wally’s Hydeout, San Francisco, CA , USA and at Pacific Studios, Tacoma, WA, USA. Engineered by Chris McGrew.

Cover design by Ben Thompson.

License