Perkins's melancholy songs reflect the personal tragedy he has experienced over the years. His father died of AIDS in 1992. His mother was on board a flight that was flown into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. His debut album, Ash Wednesday, a chronologically sequenced album of songs written before and after his mother's death, was released in February 2007 by XL Recordings with a lead single called "All The Night Without Love". Perkins had help from his elder brother, Oz Perkins, on drums and friend Ethan Gold who produced, arranged, and mixed the album. The album includes backing vocals by Ariana Lenarsky, Shana Levy of indie band Let's Go Sailing, and Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond among others.
His second album, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, will be released on March 10, 2009
Oficial website: www.elvisperkins.net
In the Garden
Elvis Perkins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before I was born
In the still working morning
The seed was sown
Of the lamb and the lion
From maiden I'm told
She wore her hair
At the foot of the bed
Where I′ve been kept
The sea of white roses
Where lower things crept
In the black night
In the garden behold
The overgrown
Weeds and wild flowers
Swallowed them both
Where they moved with their maker
To them, now they're ghosts
In the black night
The lyrics to Elvis Perkins's song "In The Garden" evoke a sense of mystery and introspection. The garden represents a place of origin and creation, a symbol of life and growth. The singer is told that before they were even born, in the stillness of the morning, the seed was sown in the garden. This can be interpreted as a reference to the beginning of their existence and the cycle of life itself.
The mention of the lamb and the lion alludes to the biblical imagery found in the book of Isaiah, where it signifies a peaceful coexistence between different beings. This juxtaposition may suggest the duality and complexity of human nature, with the lamb representing innocence and vulnerability, and the lion symbolizing strength and power.
The next lines speak of a maiden who wore her hair around her neck, creating an intriguing visual image. This suggests that the maiden possessed a strong connection to her identity and may even have been considered daring or unconventional. The foot of the bed becomes a significant location, possibly representing the boundaries of the singer's experience or the place where their dreams and aspirations lie.
The sea of white roses symbolizes purity and beauty, but it is also a place where lower things crept. This can be interpreted as a reference to the darker aspects of life, where negative influences and desires can arise even within seemingly idyllic environments. The mention of the black night further emphasizes this contrast between light and darkness, perhaps representing the complexities and challenges of navigating life.
Overall, "In The Garden" portrays a deep exploration of existence, the human condition, and the mysteries of creation. It invites the listener to reflect on the interplay between innocence and experience, beauty and darkness, and the complexities that lie within the garden of life.
Line by Line Meaning
In the garden I'm told
According to what I've been told, in this metaphorical garden...
Before I was born
Before my existence began...
In the still working morning
During the tranquil yet active early hours of the day...
The seed was sown
The initial foundation was planted...
Of the lamb and the lion
Representing both innocence and strength...
From maiden I'm told
As narrated by a young woman...
She wore her hair
Her beautiful locks adorned her...
Around her neck
Encircling gracefully her delicate throat...
At the foot of the bed
Positioned near the end of the sleeping area...
Where I've been kept
Where I have remained confined or protected...
The sea of white roses
A vast expanse of pure white roses...
Where lower things crept
A place where lesser beings snuck and hid...
In the black night
During the dark and shadowy hours...
In the garden behold
Observe within this garden...
The overgrown
Covered and crowded by excessive growth...
Weeds and wild flowers
Both unwanted plants and untamed beauty...
Swallowed them both
Devoured and consumed them completely...
Where they moved with their maker
Where they existed alongside their creator...
To them, now they're ghosts
Now these elements are mere spectral forms...
In the black night
During the dark and obscure night...
Writer(s): Bob Dylan
Contributed by Thomas I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Nikodimos77
Is there a full version of this song performed by Kiernan Shipka?
@obligatorystatement
reminds me of tip toe through the tulips, awesome movie too.
@jennagraciliano6156
Thomas Rand I love that song I use to sang it to my 6 month old cahse I could make my voice sound funny like tinny tim lol I don't k ow why I like songs like this lol
@obligatorystatement
Forgot I posted this comment, 6 years ago geez…where has the time gone.
@HauntFreak13
This is great but can we get Kat’s version pleeeease...?
@Danzamagu
Was this song composed and written by Elvis Perkins? Is that why i can't find the "original?"