Founded by Creager in 1992, they have long held true to their mission of enlightening the common man as to the power and versatility of the mighty cello. Historically influenced, and constantly costumed, Rasputina keeps a small legion of incredibly passionate admirers enthralled with their earnest musicianship. Considered to be quite a pioneer and visionary, Melora and her group have inspired countless young people to pick up the cello, and have re-inspired many uninspired string players. Rasputina considers this to be the finest payment for their work.
Professional involvements have included Nirvana, Ultra Vivid Scene, Marilyn Manson, Porno For Pyros, Belle and Sebastian,and Cheap Trick.
Former Members of Rasputina:
Julia Kent (89-99)
Kris Cowperthwaite (00-02)
Zoë Keating (02-06)
Sarah Bowman (06-08)
Jonathon TeBeest (00-08)
The Pruning
Rasputina Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where they practice horticulture, there they know what's going on.
They're not afraid to cut it.
Well then, the best get picked from this virtuous thicket,
By scythe or scissor, by instrument and implement.
That's how they cut it.
It's time to trim and thin an invasive vine.
The roots are lifted, the leaves are dry.
Oh perilous world - You're showing every sign of losing your heart.
Fledgling and tattered during these strange later days,
just before it all fell apart.
You can build such fantastic palaces on foundations of straw,
on weird promises, but with one fatal flaw.
The seedling is taken as a delicacy, by the sower who's mowing down the nursery.
The reaper is hiding in the flowerbeds.
They're each thinking over what the other said.
They said, "We each disturb the earth, but you my friend,
Yeah, you did it first, yes you did."
Oh you perilous garden. Forever dying.
In Rasputina's song The Pruning, the lyrics describe a scene on the border of an orchard where horticulturists are cutting and trimming plants. The singer acknowledges that the best plants are picked from this "virtuous thicket" using various instruments such as a scythe or scissor. As the scene unfolds, it becomes clear that there is more to these lyrics than just an observation about gardening. The singer notes that the natural laws governing the growth and death of plants apply to material things, including the "perilous world" and its problems. In these "strange later days," the world seems to be on the verge of collapse while people continue to build on "foundations of straw" with fatal flaws. The singer believes that the world is dying just like the garden, forever trapped in a cycle of pruning and decay.
The lyrics of The Pruning address concepts of power struggles and the inevitability of change and decay. The scene of horticulturists pruning and shaping the orchard is a metaphor for the ways in which humans try to control nature and each other. However, the singer notes that ultimately, no one can escape the natural laws that govern existence. The recurring image of cutting and trimming serves to reinforce this theme of decay and the fleeting nature of life. Through this metaphor, the song critiques human attempts to create an artificial order and control over the world while ignoring the deeper currents of change and entropy that underlie everything.
Line by Line Meaning
On the border of an orchard, on a cultivated lawn,
In a specific location on the outskirts of a fruit-growing area, on a carefully maintained meadow,
Where they practice horticulture, there they know what's going on.
Where people have been trained in the basics and principles of plant cultivation, they know what they're doing.
They're not afraid to cut it.
They are willing to prune or remove portions of the plant in order to keep it healthy.
Well then, the best get picked from this virtuous thicket,
As a result of good pruning, the finest parts of the plant are selected from this excellent grove.
By scythe or scissor, by instrument and implement.
Using sharp tools like a curved blade or cutting tool to help in the trimming.
That's how they cut it.
That's the way the plant is cut in order to keep it healthy and well-maintained.
It's time to trim and thin an invasive vine.
At present, it's necessary to trim and thin out an undesirable vine that's growing out of control.
The roots are lifted, the leaves are dry.
The plant's roots are removed from the soil, and its leaves have become wilted and withered.
From natural laws to material things, nothing in the truth can be changed.
Everything, from natural laws to earthly objects, represents the truth and is unchangeable.
Oh perilous world - You're showing every sign of losing your heart.
Oh, dangerous world – You exhibit indications of becoming heartless and inhumane.
Fledgling and tattered during these strange later days, just before it all fell apart.
Weak and scrappy during these odd latter days, only moments prior to everything collapsing to bits.
You can build such fantastic palaces on foundations of straw, on weird promises, but with one fatal flaw.
You can construct magnificent structures atop weak foundations, on unrealistic pledges, but there's always a significant, never-failing drawback.
The seedling is taken as a delicacy, by the sower who's mowing down the nursery.
The vulnerable, developing plant is consumed as if it is a premium fare by the harvester who is recklessly decimating the area where it's grown.
The reaper is hiding in the flowerbeds.
The person who is reaping or depriving others of their fortunes is concealing themselves in the place designed to showcase the beauty of the flowers.
They're each thinking over what the other said.
Both parties are pondering the statements each one made.
They said, "We each disturb the earth, but you my friend, Yeah, you did it first, yes you did."
The statement made by them is, "We both cause upheaval in the world, but you, my companion, were the first to do so, indeed you were."
Oh you perilous garden. Forever dying.
Oh you dangerous garden, always withering and dying.
Contributed by Cameron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.