Abe Vigoda was an experimental, tropicali punk rock band based in Los Angel… Read Full Bio ↴Abe Vigoda was an experimental, tropicali punk rock band based in Los Angeles, California but originally formed in Chino, California in 2004. They took their name from the actor Abe Vigoda most famous for appearing as Detective Sgt. Phil Fish on the sitcom television series Barney Miller from 1975-1977. They gained noteriety for their performances at The Smell. They have so far released three full length albums, the first of which, Skeleton, was released in the U.S on July 8th 2008 on Post Present Medium.

Abe Vigoda are the new LA punk secret weapon. Coming from a shattered and splattered background of no wave, pop, darkness and hope, Abe Vigoda brought forth a sound that is tempting and beautiful, yet melodic and tropical.

The first proper full length comes in the name Skeleton and is a twisted joy ride through the four boys private party. Soothing parts that remind you of Captain Beefheart and My Bloody Valentine, or some punk with a haunting reggaeton pulse that makes you move. When the record is done after a little more than thirty minutes, you are left feeling that there is something they are trying to tell you, on second listen it smacks you in the face... Abe Vigoda are here! Coming from the same team as The Smell champions No Age and Mika Miko, Abe Vigoda held a DIY attitude and lay all over the place whenever they can, bringing an instant vibe all their own.

They have since broken up. Michael now has a side project under his own name, (he released an album off of Big Joy Records). Juan Velazquez (guitar/synth) has started a new band known as Roses. David plays in a rad pop band called Dunes who are out on PPM.

The Garden
Abe Vigoda Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I bare the weight of the birds above me. I know their song cause it's
Only for me. Water the garden. Get shot in the street. Fountains flood
Cities up to their knees. Palms bend the light into shinning glory.
Cloud shades the home that will never house me. It never rains and she

Never weeps. It never rains and she never weeps. We took the words
From the mouths of our children. Turned them to flags running high
Over mountains. Trust in this life, there is no other. Look in my eyes

For I am your brother.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Abe Vigoda's "The Garden" depict an individual who is fully aware of their surroundings and the beauty that exists within it. They talk about bearing the weight of the birds above them and understanding the unique songs that they sing just for the individual. This signifies a deep connection with nature and a recognition of the importance of the smaller things in life. Despite this connection, there exists a sense of danger within the world they inhabit. They mention getting shot in the street, fountains flooding cities, and homes that will never house them. This is indicative of a world that is unpredictable and unsafe. However, even against this backdrop, there is beauty in the form of shining palms and the clouds that shade and protect.

The second half of the song takes on a philosophical message. The lyrics reference the idea of taking words from the mouths of children and turning them into flags running high over mountains. This symbolizes how the values and beliefs of society are often built on the youth and their teachings. Furthermore, the lyrics encourage the audience to trust in this life, as there is no other. The individual speaks about being a brother to others and asks for others to look in their eyes to understand this connection. Thus, the song ultimately imparts a message of finding beauty amidst the chaos of the world and embracing connections with others in the process.

Line by Line Meaning

I bare the weight of the birds above me.
I carry the burden of the birds flying above me.

I know their song cause it's Only for me.
I understand their song because it belongs only to me.

Water the garden. Get shot in the street.
Even if you do something peaceful like watering a garden, you can still be a victim of street violence.

Fountains flood Cities up to their knees.
The water from fountains rises so high it floods the city to knee-level deep.

Palms bend the light into shining glory.
Palm trees reflect sunlight gloriously.

Cloud shades the home that will never house me.
The cloud casts a shadow on the house where I'll never be welcome.

It never rains and she Never weeps.
It never rains and she never cries.

We took the words From the mouths of our children. Turned them to flags running high Over mountains.
We have taken the words our children speak and made them into symbols of patriotism that rise over mountain tops.

Trust in this life, there is no other.
We should believe in this life as there's no other like it.

Look in my eyes For I am your brother.
By looking into my eyes, you can see that I am your brother and share a common bond.

Contributed by Jason M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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