Opening
Lucy Simon Lyrics


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LILY:
Clusters of crocus,
Purple and gold
Blankets of pansies,
Out from the cold.
Lilies and iris,
Safe from the chill.
Safe in my garden,
Snowdrops so still.

FAKIR:
Ah
A'o jadu ke mausam,
A'o garmiyo ke din.
A'o mantra tantra yantra,
Us ki bimari hata'o.

CHILDREN'S VOICE:
Mistress Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
Not so well, she said, see the lily's dead,
Pull it up and out you go.

Mistress Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
Far too hot, she cried, see my rose has died,
Dig it up, and out you go.

Mistress Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
Had an early frost, now it's gone, it's lost,
Dig it up, you're out, you're up




You're out, you're up
And out you go.

Overall Meaning

The first two stanzas of Lucy Simon's song, "Opening," describe a beautiful garden filled with different flowers. The singer mentions groups of crocuses, pansies, lilies, iris, and snowdrops, all of which have bloomed despite the chill of the weather. The garden represents a place of safety, where flowers can thrive and grow despite the conditions surrounding them. This image offers a message of hope and resilience, suggesting that even when external forces are harsh, we can still find small moments of beauty and peace.


The third stanza introduces a new voice, the Fakir, who begins singing in a foreign language. The title "A'o jadu ke mausam" suggests that he may be speaking Hindi, referencing magic and the change of seasons. It's possible that he is performing a spell to protect the garden or heal the flowers. His verse offers a sense of mystery and intrigue, adding to the poetic and mythical atmosphere of the song.


Finally, the last half of "Opening" features a children's choir singing a familiar nursery rhyme: "Mistress Mary, quite contrary." This playful and yet somewhat ominous addition creates an interesting juxtaposition with the rest of the song. The repetition of the verse highlights the cyclical and unpredictable nature of gardening, as even the most careful efforts can still lead to failure. This idea reflects the wider themes of the song, which suggest that despite the beauty and resilience of the natural world, there is still an inherent fragility that we must respect and protect.


Line by Line Meaning

Clusters of crocus,
Groups of purple and gold-colored flowers (crocuses) growing together.


Purple and gold
The colors of the crocus flowers mentioned in the previous line.


Blankets of pansies,
Layers of purple-colored flowers (pansies) covering the ground.


Out from the cold.
The pansies are emerging from the cold weather and are now blooming.


Lilies and iris,
Different types of flowers (lilies and irises).


Safe from the chill.
These flowers are protected from the cold temperature and harsh weather conditions.


Safe in my garden,
The flowers are safe and protected within the confines of the garden.


Snowdrops so still.
A type of flower (snowdrops) that is still and frozen.


A'o jadu ke mausam,
Come, the season of magic (in Hindi).


A'o garmiyo ke din.
Come, the days of summer (in Hindi).


A'o mantra tantra yantra,
Come, the spells, doctrines, and instruments of magic (in Hindi).


Us ki bimari hata'o.
Let us heal their sickness (in Hindi).


Mistress Mary, quite contrary,
Addressing a character named 'Mistress Mary.'


How does your garden grow?
Asking how 'Mistress Mary's' garden is doing.


Not so well, she said, see the lily's dead,
Mistress Mary responds by saying her garden isn't doing well and points out the dead lily flower.


Pull it up and out you go.
She instructs the person to remove the dead lily flower and leave.


Far too hot, she cried, see my rose has died,
Mistress Mary exclaims that it is too hot and points out the death of a rose flower.


Dig it up, and out you go.
She orders the person to uproot the dead rose flower and leave.


Had an early frost, now it's gone, it's lost,
Mistress Mary explains that her garden was hit by an early frost, and now it's gone.


Dig it up, you're out, you're up
Again, she instructs the person to uproot the affected part of the garden.


You're out, you're up
She repeats herself, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.


And out you go.
Finally, she tells the person to leave the garden completely.




Contributed by Sydney I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Swampzoid

Lucy Simon was so beautiful on many levels

Makeji

Judy needs a better wig. Oh, dear, she was so natural when (all of us) were young.

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