What exactly is garden about?

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Comments

  • AzWickerAzWicker Posts: 1,162
    Ed has a garden with a bunch of petrified Stone clones in it.
    Ed: 2011-07-09 2012-11-04
    PJ: 2011-09-03 2011-09-04
  • SpagsSpags Leigh-on-Sea, UK Posts: 3,054
    I always took the song to be from the point of view of a Native American Indian (or whatever the correct term is these days) talking about the capture/genocide of his people and the rape of the land they lived on. For me its about oppression and exploitation, a cheery little number then. Ten is such a heavy album, love it.
    Nature drunk and High
  • HeavyHandsHeavyHands Posts: 2,130
    Just my interpretation...

    Garden of Stone:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_ ... l_Cemetery

    There's a lot of references to war, but IMO the particular one being sung about was:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_Storm#Air_campaign

    She don't wander in...don't wander in here, she...
    She don't wander in here...don't wander in here...
    'She' may be a reference to Lady Justice or Lady Liberty

    The direction of the eye, so misleading
    The defection of the soul, nauseously quick
    The US's role, flip-flopping between the desire to cultivate ties with Iraq (the enemy) and eradicate terrorism
    I don't question, our existence
    I just question, our modern needs
    need for oil

    She don't wander in...don't wander in here, she...
    She don't wander in here...

    I will walk...with my hands bound obligation to country
    I will walk...with my face blood violence and maybe a feeling of shame for having a 'part' in perpetuating it
    I will walk...with my shadow flag Big Brother; unnamed threat, i.e. terrorism
    Into your garden, garden of stone...yeah...

    After all is done, and we're still alone one dies alone, regardless of one's service and sacrifice for country
    I won't be taken, yet I'll go...with my hands bound deployment in a war that may not be justified
    I will walk...with my face blood
    I will walk...with my shadow flag Big Brother; unnamed threat, i.e. terrorism
    Into your garden, garden of stone Arlington Cemetery

    I don't show...I don't share... military secrecy
    I don't need, yeah...What you have to give... benefits of being a citizen of a country and what is asked for in return

    Oooh, I will walk...with my hands bound
    I will walk...with my face blood
    I will walk...with my shadow flag
    Into your garden, garden...oh...

    I will walk with my hands bound
    I will walk into your garden, garden of stone...

    I don't know...I don't care...
    I don't need you for me to live...yeah, yeah, yeah, oh... defiance
    Uh huh huh... (8x)

    I definitely like this breakdown of the song. I have always thought that a garden of stone was a cemetery. I would point out, though, that the terrorism references you inserted were not on the minds of Americans in 1990/1991. At that time, even just 21 years after the hostages of the US embassy in Tehran, Iran were freed, the concept of terrorism was very foreign to Americans and it was rarely, if ever, a news topic. That aside, I think it's a spot on interpretation of the song.
    "A lot more people are capable of being big out there that just don't give themselves a chance." -Stone Gossard
  • -Buru--Buru- Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,292
    justam wrote:
    I thought a garden of stone was a cemetery too. I've thought that the character's hands are bound either because the person isn't fighting back or because the person is a "prisoner" to their own attachment to the other.

    Either way, it seems like the relationship or the love is dying because of the graveyard setting. :|

    This is how I interpreted Garden too, kind of like a relationship you can't break free from although it has gone bad (the direction of the eye so misleading, the defection of the soul), with the woman being unreachable (akin to a garden of stone), and the man following, face blood, hands bound (in spite of everything).

    I guess I read it as part personal, part social critique (questioning modern needs)

    Although it seems to be related to War (given what others have posted and Eddie mentioning when the song was written)
    I am just a dreamer, but you are just a dream...
    If I knew where it was I would take you there.

  • HeavyHands wrote:
    I definitely like this breakdown of the song. I have always thought that a garden of stone was a cemetery. I would point out, though, that the terrorism references you inserted were not on the minds of Americans in 1990/1991. At that time, even just 21 years after the hostages of the US embassy in Tehran, Iran were freed, the concept of terrorism was very foreign to Americans and it was rarely, if ever, a news topic. That aside, I think it's a spot on interpretation of the song.

    Sorry about that. I'm not American and was only 8 or 9 when Desert Storm was happening. I just have a vague recollection of watching the news coverage during that time. :? My country has been dealing with Islamic secessionists and insurgents since the 70's, before I was born, so any news on terrorism or Middle Eastern conflict is closely followed.
  • RideRickRideRick Hoorn Posts: 703
    justam wrote:
    I thought a garden of stone was a cemetery too. I've thought that the character's hands are bound either because the person isn't fighting back or because the person is a "prisoner" to their own attachment to the other.

    Either way, it seems like the relationship or the love is dying because of the graveyard setting. :|

    That was sort of my interpretation too.
    Seemed a lot of the Ten Album was actually about lost loved ones.

    - Once (backstreetlover) - wild, young, estranged of human life
    - Even Flow (Someday yet, he'll begin his life again, yeah) after being dumped
    - Alive (Fatherhood) that one is easy to understand
    - Why Go (About a girl put away) parents who care the wrong way, like in Daughter
    - Black (Ultimate love) still guessin' it's about abortion
    - Jeremy (a boy scorned) understanding pain
    - Oceans (Hold tight the ring...) metaphore
    - Porch (I know that i would not ever touch you) lost love, died possible
    - Garden (You, for me to live) maybe also after an abortion.. the pain is familiar to me
    - Deep (Christmas clean love) don't know wich member of pj had so much pain
    - Release (Oh dear dad) cry out for attention
    -State Of Love And Trust (help me from myself) must be pretty clear

    Most songs they wrote/had in a week.
    Ten was an impressive album which was about tormented love.
    Love for a lost dad. Love for a lost friend. Love for a lost child. Love for a lost girl.

    At least.. that is my opinion and feeling and why i love this album so much.
    Can't believe it is all that deep about war etc.
    Eddie Vedder was searching for love al of his youth.
    And still is as an all encompassing trip member 8-)
    | Pinkpop 1992 *BEST EVER | Rotterdam 1993 | Amsterdam 1996 | Pinkpop 2000 | Arnhem 2006 | Nijmegen 2007 | Rotterdam 2009 | Nijmegen 2010 | Amsterdam I + II 2012 ** | Amsterdam Eddie Vedder Solo 2012 First European Concert *EPIC*| Amsterdam I + II 2014 | Amsterdam Eddie Vedder Solo 2016 night I  | Amsterdam I + II 2018 | Amsterdam I -> Canceled  +  II 2022 *EPIC
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