Band Members:
Caleb Stull - Vocals, Guitar
Julie Bavalis - Bass
Rees Haynes - Guitar
Rob Linton - Drums
Alison Maira - Keyboard
The Garden
Parlour Steps Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pound it with your fists!
The city hides a hiding soil.
They keep it under the streets.
If you need to feel some dirt,
You can come over to my yard.
We can mash the soil between our fingers!
And all it took for space to be made
It was just a whore's fake blush,
With cherry trees for shade.
Mulch a life into piles of dirt!
People puzzle at the mess in your yard.
We can mash a life between our fingers!
The lyrics are an invitation to connect with nature, to actually work the ground and dig the earth with your own hands, as opposed to living in a concrete landscape. The first verse reflects on how the city hides the soil under the streets, making it seem like nature is not there. The suggestion is that if you need to connect with nature, you can come over to the singer's yard and "mash the soil between your fingers". This is an intimate way of experiencing nature and the simple pleasure of digging the ground.
The second verse talks about the idea of creating space by destroying the lawn, which may be interpreted as a metaphor for societal norms and expectations. The line "it was just a whore's fake blush, with cherry trees for shade" suggests that the lawn was only a superficial facade, masking the true essence of nature. The chorus repeats the invitation to work with the soil and suggests that this process of labour can create meaning and life where others only see a mess.
In summary, the lyrics are a call to reconnect with nature and the earth by working with it and acknowledging its presence. The metaphor of the lawn suggests that there are societal norms and facades that need to be torn down in order to reveal the true beauty and meaning of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Work the ground and dig the earth.
Start cultivating and excavating the soil.
Pound it with your fists!
Use force to break up the earth.
The city hides a hiding soil.
Urban areas conceal fertile ground under paved surfaces.
They keep it under the streets.
Municipalities cover up and neglect potential gardening space.
If you need to feel some dirt,
If you crave a connection to the earth,
You can come over to my yard.
You are welcome to visit and cultivate my plot of land.
We can mash the soil between our fingers!
We can enjoy the tactile sensation of manipulating dirt.
And all it took for space to be made
The creation of a garden
Was all out war on the lawn.
Requires fighting and uprooting the manicured grass.
It was just a whore's fake blush,
The former yard was superficial, a painted facade.
With cherry trees for shade.
But with some natural beauty in the form of trees.
Mulch a life into piles of dirt!
Use organic materials to enrich and nourish the soil.
People puzzle at the mess in your yard.
Others may not understand the purpose of a natural and creative landscape.
We can mash a life between our fingers!
Our garden can represent newfound vitality and connection to nature.
Contributed by Alex N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.