Magazine were an influential British post-punk band founded in 1977 by form… Read Full Bio ↴Magazine were an influential British post-punk band founded in 1977 by former Buzzcocks singer Howard Devoto and guitarist John McGeoch. The other members of the band's classic lineup included bassist Barry Adamson, keyboardist Dave Formula, and drummer John Doyle. The band burst onto the scene with the single Shot by Both Sides and released four albums before disbanding in 1981. In 2009 the band resurfaced for half a dozen live performances in the UK, with Noko (who collaborated with Devoto in the late 80s in Luxuria) filling the position of guitarist. These performances, which earned very favourable reviews, took place in February in Manchester, London and Glasgow. Later the same year there were more festival appearances.
in 2011 Magazine returned with their first new recorded material from the band in 30 years, though Adamson had left the reunion by this point.

Magazine's music continues to be an influence in modern music today. While having roots in the punk and new-wave movements, Magazine combined elements of avant-garde and pop. Radiohead in particular draws on the lyrical style of the group, and have performed "Shot By Both Sides" in concert. What's more, Radiohead's 1995 single "Just", with its ascending guitar hook, bears a passing resemblance to "Shot By Both Sides". Former Smiths singer Morrissey, a fan and acquaintance of Devoto's, covered "A Song From Under The Floorboards" as a B-side to his 2006 single "The Youngest Was the Most Loved". "Floorboards" was covered by My Friend The Chocolate Cake on their 1994 album Brood. Half Man Half Biscuit have performed live covers of a number of Magazine songs. "The Light Pours Out Of Me", from the album Real Life, has been covered by both Peter Murphy and Ministry. Swedish punk band No Fun At All did a cover of "Shot By Both Sides" on their record "And Now For Something Completely Different". Devoto co-wrote two songs with Mansun, "Everyone Must Win" and "Railings", contributing vocals to the latter, and the band later covered "Shot By Both Sides" for John Peel.
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The Garden
Magazine Lyrics

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I'm in a web
I tasted blood in the garden
I'm in a maze, I'm in a maze
So they hung science in my heart
I`m in a web
"your phony ghosts went by" I laughed
I'm in a maze, I'm in a maze
"I dragged them out of the dark"

I'm open wide
I pressed thorns into my flesh
I am awake, I am awake
My eyes look like claws
I'm open wide
Man eating man eating man
I am awake, I am awake
My sickness is my reward

I'm in a web
I'd swear I saw the sunlight shake
I'm in a maze, I'm in a maze
The sky`s all over my head
I'm in a web
I'm feeling gravity harden
I'm in a maze, i`m in a maze
Sounding the alarm from the center of a flowerbed
I'm open wide
I am the only one awake
I am awake, I am awake
And I'm so well informed
I'm open wide
I'll see the bottom of the lake
I am awake, I am awake
In the eye of a brainstorm

I am responsible
Man eating man eating man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Magazine's song "The Garden" convey a sense of being trapped and disoriented, as if caught in a web or maze. The repeated phrases "I'm in a web" and "I'm in a maze" suggest a feeling of entanglement and confusion. The line "So they hung science in my heart" could be interpreted as a metaphorical reference to the imposition of logic and reason, which may be confining and restrictive.

The imagery of blood and thorns implies a sense of pain and self-inflicted suffering. The singer describes pressing thorns into their flesh, symbolizing a willingness to endure hardship in order to awaken from their current state of mind. The line "My eyes look like claws" suggests a sense of intensity and a desire to break free from the constraints.

The repeated phrase "I am awake" indicates a newfound sense of awareness and clarity. The singer seems to celebrate their awakened state, describing it as a reward for their sickness. This could be seen as a rejection of societal norms and a realization of one's own autonomy and truth.

In the second verse, the reference to seeing the "sunlight shake" and the sky being "all over my head" evokes a feeling of disorientation and instability. The line "sounding the alarm from the center of a flowerbed" could symbolize the singer's defiance and the need to disrupt the stagnant and oppressive surroundings.

The final line, "Man eating man eating man," suggests a theme of survival and the ruthless nature of human beings. It conveys a sense of disillusionment with society and the recognition of the individual's responsibility in navigating a world where others may prey upon one another.

Overall, "The Garden" can be interpreted as a introspective exploration of the singer's journey towards awakening and breaking free from societal norms and expectations.

Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Mute Song Limited, Songtrust Ave
Written by: BARRY ADAMSON, BEN MANDELSON, DAVID TOMLINSON, HOWARD DEVOTO, JOHN E DOYLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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