1. The Garden is an American art… Read Full Bio ↴There are 3 artists with this name:
1. The Garden is an American art rock duo from Orange County, California, formed in 2011 by twin brothers Wyatt and Fletcher Shears. The duo released their debut album The Life and Times of a Paperclip in 2013, with several smaller releases following. In 2015, the group released their second studio album Haha along with the lead single "All Smiles Over Here :)" to critical acclaim after being signed to Epitaph Records. They released their third album Mirror Might Steal Your Charm on March 30, 2018. Their fourth album, Kiss My Super Bowl Ring, was released on March 13th, 2020. Their most recent album, Horeshit on Route 66, was released September 8th, 2022.
The band is known for their fast, punk-influenced two-piece bass and drum songs, with both their music and image being characterized by "DIY principles, thrift store-cum-glam fashion style and a vast list of influences." The brothers classify their sound as "vada vada," a philosophy which Wyatt Shears describes as “an idea that represents pure creative expression, that disregards all previously made genres and ideals”.
2. The Garden was a gothic rock / ethereal wave / shoegaze band from Pittsburgh, PA, United States. The band was formed in the autumn of 1985, with the intentions of pursuing a sound that was not only unique, but also moving. And through the years, Anthony LaCava, Christine Sacramento and Stephen Marlette, with accompaniment by Shelly O'Keefe on bells/keyboards, followed this dream by creating many songs of great substance. The band emerged with an intensely uncommon sound drawn on electronic drum tracks and dark ambient guitar mixed with rhythmic bass, heartfelt lyrics and strong vocals.
Often described as "Pittsburgh's first gothic rock band", The Garden has sustained a rather faithful following. Tanya Kavalkovich joined the band in 1996 with her lyrical violin contributing a new warmth and beauty to an already compelling sound. Opening for such acts as And Also the Trees, Wolfgang Press, Throwing Muses, Faith and the Muse, Strange Boutique, Spahn Ranch, Gargoyle Sox, Of a Mesh, FourWay Cross, This Ascension. The Curtain Society, Bella Morte, Eva O.
Heavy employment and academic demands forced Stephen to leave the band in 1997. Christine, Anthony, and Tanya formed a new band with drummer James and vocalist Patricia called Between the Waters
3. The Garden is a collaboration between David Tagg and Hakobune. It isn’t often that collaborative projects bear such bountiful fruit right from the start of their conception, but sometimes, nature seems to have another motive in mind, and we’re given a very special and very unique result. Hailing from near-opposite sides of the globe, David Tagg and Takahiro Yorifuji (also known here at Install and elsewhere as Hakobune) decided to combine their complementary approaches to ambient guitar music and make something new together.
"In Sea-Land" certainly conjures images of organic growth in a surreal landscape, and the album colors in the empty spaces with watery blue melodies submerged in ocean water and triumphant overarching towers of weathered stone drones surrounded by sea spray and thin clouds. Both similar to what David and Takahiro have individually created before, and also unique to itself, these two men have found an alchemical assurance in combining their crafts with The Garden. Sure to please fans of either musician’s work, or anyone who appreciates gentle guitars unspooled over a canvas of water and green. Deep and lush, alive and vibrant. A multifaceted pleasurable listen for the hot Summer months.
Thy Mission
The Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drum stick vanilla
Expiration date
That can give you salmonella
Truth is I'm lucky
I made it off a fluke like a junkie
Soil is so murky
Future is a haze, I am foggy
I'm a stupid prick
Talking to myself
On the way home
I don't need your help
Even if I did
I wouldn't let you know
Flame lit like a candle
Chop it up and go
I can pay you twenty
I called so many times
I can pay you twenty
Don't know what's in these bags
I can pay you twenty
I called so many times
I can pay you thirty
Don't know what's in these bags
Scum shit, dumb shit
Drum stick vanilla
Expiration date
That can give you salmonella
Truth is I'm lucky
I made it off a fluke like a junkie
Soil is so murky
Future is a haze, I am foggy
I'm a stupid prick
Talking to myself
On the way home
I don't need your help
Even if I did
I wouldn't let you know
Flame lit like a candle
Chop it up and go
I can pay you twenty
I called so many times
I can pay you twenty
Don't know what's in these bags
I can pay you twenty
I called so many times
I can pay you thirty
Don't know what's in these bags
The Garden's song "Thy Mission" is a rebellious track that provides an insight into the minds of two brothers, Wyatt and Fletcher Shears, who make up the band. The lyrics are cryptic and could be interpreted in different ways. The opening lines "Scum shit, dumb shit, Drum stick vanilla, Expiration date, That can give you salmonella" depict frustration and anger towards the current state of affairs. The lyrics are a criticism of the mainstream music industry and the shallow lyrics that are being presented to the audience daily. The line "expiration date, that can give you salmonella" could also be seen as a metaphor for the toxic and uninspiring music that is being produced by many artists in the industry.
Furthermore, the track seems to be a commentary on society and its expectations. The lines "Truth is I'm lucky, I made it off a fluke like a junkie" imply that the band members do not fit into societal expectations for their success. Still, they were fortunate enough to stumble upon the music industry and make music their passion. The track is also a nod to the punk rock culture, which emphasizes individualism, freedom, and rebellion in the face of conventional systems. The line, "I'm a stupid prick, Talking to myself, On the way home, I don't need your help" exemplifies the ethos of punk rock culture, where one is expected to be self-sufficient and bold while challenging the conventions of society.
Overall, "Thy Mission" is a thought-provoking song that encourages its listeners to question society's norms and expectations while maintaining their self-identity and staying true to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Scum shit, dumb shit
Describing something that is low quality or undesirable.
Drum stick vanilla
Something that matches the bare minimum requirements.
Expiration date
Something that has a limited lifespan.
That can give you salmonella
Something that is dangerous or harmful.
Truth is I'm lucky
Acknowledging that success is often attributed to luck.
I made it off a fluke like a junkie
Being successful despite the odds or through unintended means like a drug addict.
Soil is so murky
The path to success is unclear or difficult to navigate.
Future is a haze, I am foggy
Uncertainty and lack of clarity about the future.
I'm a stupid prick
Self-deprecating language, low self-esteem.
Talking to myself
Being alone and disconnected from others.
On the way home
Going through life's journey alone and without support.
I don't need your help
Refusing help and not reaching out for support.
Even if I did
Admitting the possibility of needing help but still refusing.
I wouldn't let you know
Keeping up a façade of independence and strength to avoid appearing vulnerable.
Flame lit like a candle
A spark of hope or ambition in a difficult situation.
Chop it up and go
Finding a way to move on and make progress despite difficulties.
I can pay you twenty
Offering a low value or selling oneself short.
I called so many times
Persistently pursuing something despite obstacles.
Don't know what's in these bags
Uncertainty and risk-taking in pursuit of success.
I can pay you thirty
Increasing the value placed on oneself and one's abilities.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Fletcher Steven Shears, Macbriare Samuel Demarco, Wyatt James Shears
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind