Rays formed in the fertile crescent of the California Bay Area, a hotbed of… Read Full Bio ↴Rays formed in the fertile crescent of the California Bay Area, a hotbed of musical growth in the past decade, and Rays' members pull not only from that recent miasma but also from a wealth of Bay Area musical history. You Can Get There From Here represents a turning point for the band, angling their scrappy, post-punk fury into a more refined & melodic pop sensibility, drawing inspiration from UK DIY pop & punk like Dolly Mixture, Cleaners From Venus, Television Personalities & more.

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The Garden
Rays Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time

When you take you gotta give so live and let live
Or let go
I beg your pardon

I never promised you a rose garden

I could promise you things like big diamond rings
But you don't find roses growing on stalks of clover
So you better think it over
Well if sweet-talking you could make it come true
I would give you the world right now on a silver platter
But what would it matter
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times
While we can

I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time

I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden

I could sing you a tune and promise you the moon
But if that's what it takes to hold you
I'd just as soon let you go
But there's one thing I want you to know
You'd better look before you leap
Still waters run deep
And there won't always be someone there
To pull you out
And you know what I'm talking about
So smile for a while and let's be jolly
Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times
While we can

I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden

Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time

Overall Meaning

In "The Garden," Ray's lyrics speak to a person whom he may have disappointed or let down. He seeks pardon for not fulfilling the promises made, emphasizing that he never guaranteed a perfect and easy life. The line "I never promised you a rose garden" is a metaphor suggesting that life isn't always beautiful and effortless, and there will inevitably be hardships and challenges along the way, represented by the "little rain" mentioned. Ray highlights the importance of reciprocity in relationships, the need to give as much as you take, and the concept of live and let live.

He further explains that he could make grand promises and sweet-talk in an attempt to fulfill desires, but he acknowledges that it wouldn't truly bring happiness or fulfillment. The idea of "roses not growing on stalks of clover" reinforces the notion that unrealistic expectations or superficial gestures won't lead to genuine happiness. Ray encourages the listener to appreciate and enjoy the present, to smile and be jolly, and to share the good times while they can.

Overall, "The Garden" serves as a reminder that life isn't always smooth sailing, and that both joy and sorrow are part of the journey. It encourages embracing the imperfections, being cautious before making decisions, and finding contentment in the simplicity of the present moment.

Line by Line Meaning

I beg your pardon
Please excuse me or forgive me

I never promised you a rose garden
I never guaranteed a life of only happiness and prosperity

Along with the sunshine
In addition to the pleasant moments

There's gotta be a little rain some time
There will inevitably be difficulties or challenges

When you take you gotta give so live and let live
In relationships, you need to be willing to compromise and accept others' choices

Or let go
Or else, release your hold on someone

I could promise you things like big diamond rings
I could offer material possessions and grand gestures

But you don't find roses growing on stalks of clover
But true beauty and happiness are not found in unexpected places

So you better think it over
Therefore, it is advisable to consider your choices and decisions carefully

Well if sweet-talking you could make it come true
If persuasive words alone could fulfill your desires

I would give you the world right now on a silver platter
I would offer you everything effortlessly

But what would it matter
But ultimately, it wouldn't make a significant difference

So smile for a while and let's be jolly
So, let's find joy and happiness in the present moment

Love shouldn't be so melancholy
Love should not bring constant sadness and sorrow

Come along and share the good times
Join me and experience the positive moments

While we can
While it is still possible or available

I could sing you a tune and promise you the moon
I could serenade you with sweet songs and make extravagant promises

But if that's what it takes to hold you
But if that's the only way to keep your affection

I'd just as soon let you go
I would rather let you leave

But there's one thing I want you to know
However, there is an important message I want to convey to you

You'd better look before you leap
You should consider the consequences before making impulsive decisions

Still waters run deep
Quiet individuals often have profound thoughts or emotions

And there won't always be someone there
And there may not always be someone available

To pull you out
To rescue or assist you

And you know what I'm talking about
And you understand the situation I am referring to

I beg your pardon
Please excuse me or forgive me

I never promised you a rose garden
I never guaranteed a life of only happiness and prosperity

Along with the sunshine
In addition to the pleasant moments

There's gotta be a little rain some time
There will inevitably be difficulties or challenges

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Comments from YouTube:

Kurious Kat

8y↑5

Hey Ray, I had the same problem with my tomatoes, birds getting to them looking for water because it has been so hot here in TX.. I thought they were squirrels at first. So my husband bought me two bird baths, because I already feed them and the birds go in the bird baths now and don't touch my tomatoes. I just need them to get all the bugs, cuz I have plenty!

Karen Warehime

Ray, you're such a blessing to me. You're a dose of "happy" when I need it. I so appreciate you taking us into your garden. You encourage me to keep trying to grown something in my parched Texas garden. Thank you!

The Kamakura Gardener

8y↑8

Thanks, Ray. You're videos are quite medicinal! 👍🏾👍🏾👏🏾👏🏾😀

High Desert Garden

8y↑4

I'm sure that someone has said this already but I'll say it just incase. If you provide a water source near your garden, such as a bird bath, the birds won't drink your tomatoes.

Kim120onepawsh

Wow, that storm reminded me of a bow echo we had here in Southern Illinois a few years back..So glad you're all ok with no damage.

Zone 6b

Hi, Ray, Thank you for taking the time to share your garden with us. It looks like you got plenty of advice on the birds. Here's a tip for your problem with Rascal mudding your bed... close your bedroom door before you go out. Unless, of course, you just enjoy the race for saving the sheets!

Wolfie1038

Great video as usual! Glad you and your farm survived the storm. Rapanzel looks great! I'm hoping you might find it in your heart to offer some in the fall seed exchange!

Sandra Dee

You are so lucky to have that beautiful view to look at every day!! Love your madusa! Going to have to try that one next year! Since you have so many, do you ever throw them in a pot for sauce too - especially since you don't peel them? Thanks for another entertaining and informative video!

Melissa RMT

I love your longer videos. Like the shorter ones but really love the longer ones. Looks like a proper storm. Glad you survived it :)

Larry342516

Glad all of you are safe Ray, and no damage from the storm. Thanks for the video.

Barbs Morning Garden

8y↑1

During dry seasons place a birdbath with some fresh water about 20 feet from the garden. Thats how I keep birds from tomatoes. Hope that helps! Everything looks beautiful Ray!

linaeable

8y↑5

If the robins are doing it for moisture you could maybe put some water out for them?

Cambium27

Love the storm intro. More of that even if it's just regular rains. :-)

Iwona

Hi Ray, because I like to give advice... :)
You could use a scarecrow or at least a piece of cloth waving in the wind to scare away those unwanted critters.
By the way, really enjoy your videos

Ramona Carbone

8y↑1

I didnt do so great with my first garden but I did learn alot! Next year will be better!

Southpaw Davey urban farm.

Great vid Ray. Glad you all survived the storm. We have no chance with tomatoes in the ground here in Switzerland. Our dogs like to rub up the sofa when wet and muddy...

Rob Bob's Aquaponics & Backyard Farm

8y↑1

Nice little storm mate ;) I have a few of second generation Rapunzel seeds given to me. Not sure if I'm game enough to sow them out after seeing your monster :D
Thanks for the look around Ray.

Badá Rock

I love your edition, very nice video. Thank you! We have some bad storms in Brazil too, with some loss. But my humble garden is doing well.

Emmit Stewart

We had a storm like that come through last week. It knocked our sunflowers flat, broke several trees in the park across the street, and left us with no electricity for five hours. We live in the middle of town. I can only imagine the effect it had on the suburbs and countryside.

Wesley Hammil

7y↑1

Hello Ray, I've found that alot of the time a birdbath in the vicinity of vegetables or fruit trees will help prevent damage to your crops and also gives honeybees access to water. I know you didn't ask for input but bought it help you or your viewers. Have a great day.

Rover

Hey Ray! Great video! Is it okay if I grow and prune my tomato plants to grow upwards, then when I transplant them I bury them deep then prune them to grow low?

Praxxus55712

That sounds like a good idea to me Mayo.

jetpowered1

Glad to hear you didn't get storm damage Ray!

Lindell Byford

Hi Ray. I had the same problem a few years back with birds pecking my tomatoes. I got some rubber snakes and put in the beds and they kept the birds away as long as I moved the snakes once or twice each day. Eventually, I went on vacation and the snakes didn't move and the birds figured it out. I think it's a good solution, though, as long as you can keep moving the rubber snakes so that they seem real to the birds.

wildchook (Mary)

Great video Ray. I enjoyed the update on the garden. I tell ya, if I could, I would stick my hand through my computer screen and pick a tomato to eat right now. :)That turkey is so cute.

Skylark Amaris

By the way Ray, I didn't know you had so many videos. You've come a long way in your journey. GOOD FOR YOU RAY! My daughter and I have some catching up to do. From: little old California ⛵

SC75 [Isaac G.]

wow that sure is a crazy storm ! Also great vid as always ray! :)

Christine Horan

Thank you ray, I feel a fool for texting you the mistake of planting wrong seeds & telling you they were Rapunzel .i just put 5 seed in soil.praying they will grow well indoor after fall comes.i can't wait to see a string of those juicy Lil tomatos❤️

Jocke Thörngren

YAY! Maybe a boxcar willie seed give away later on then? :) Great video as usual Ray.

Christine Horan

Thank you for your reply❤️give the kids a great love from me. Your all so lucky to have the farm 🙏🏻❤️

music cliche

We just had that kind of storm like what you had and it saturated my garden. We are all experiencing that the whole week everyday and it never stops here in the Philippines. Well, I still have a good day. I kinda influenced by your programs. Thanks allot Ray.

emo4elmo

got hit in Illinois with a storm the other night, broke a few of my sunflowers :( this is my first year gardening, nothing has produced worth bragging about but my husky cherry red tomatoes are doing well and I'll be getting my 2nd flush here soon. Lots to learn and i can't wait to start my 2nd season gardening, before this season is even over haha.

Vincent Lazana

I was thinking that if you put some type of watering device hanging on the outside of the tomato fence that maybe the robins will drink from that instead of the tomatoes. Like the ones I see at the farm supply that are used for chickens.

Just a thought.

Chell Hoch

Ray another excellent video ty. My peppers are doing great this year, even got some corn( in the city lol) Do you know anything about sweet potatoes? I was given some but know little about them.

Nicholas Smerk

8y↑1

I've had Tabasco plants flower through Christmas inside the house, without trimming them down.

Gary Verderamo

Listening to you (jokingly) call Rascal a pig and it occurred to me. "How come Ray doesn't have pigs?"

coltranem

Hi Ray..what was the potting mix and compost ratio for rapunzel? It is amazing a container plant got that big. Do you feed it anything else or is it still working with the original potting mix and compost?

coltranem

Simply amazing. Is the pot such that the roots can reach the soil underneath?

Praxxus55712

This was grown in 2/3 plain dirt and 1/3 rich compost. I used plain water and no extra fertilizer at all.

Julia Bentley

OMGosh, I must have missed this. video....that storm was incredible....looked scary too
Way back when when I was on the farm, My Goats (and chickens) LOVED my apple trees LOL
I Love the old Grandmother Tree.

Debie Baugher

love your tomato Medusa lol. we call ours the tomato elemental.

zhukpavlo

8y↑1

I had birds pecking my tomatoes - I put a shallow bowl out with water for them - the pecking stopped.

seanlaca

Hey Ray, I'm thinking of getting a Meyer lemon plant for my apartment. I don't have a yard or even a patio, but I have a large window that gets about 8 hours of sunlight. When you get a chance can you give me tips on how to grow it, how to keep from getting too big, etc. Advice from anyone else with experience is also welcome in the comment section.

Kyle Lester

I've had a Meyer for a couple years, keeping it inside in the winter. I've had but 1 fruit set and it fell off after a couple months. Perhaps it needs more light and P,K. The flowers smell awesome though! This winter (when it flowers for me) I'm going to give it more light.

Praxxus55712

I used potting mix for my lemon tree. It grew nicely in just this. The only thing you will have to do is snip back the branches now and then, which is simple. If it is growing in a direction you don't like, snip it back. I know this sounds extremely simplified but it works for me. :)

Granny Grunt

So glad your garden, animals, house & you survived the storm. It looked wicked. How is Buckey doing? We don't see much of him. My real reason for commenting [besides what I already said] is that I know we are really close to your birthday. I'm not sure exactly when it is, but I am sure it's close. So I wanted to be sure to wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY!!! Hope I am not too far off.

Smitty101

Hey Ray - I watch alot of you tube videos and saw a smart way to get the air out of the Zip lock bags. Just fill it with what ever you want and Dip them in a container of water - the water will squeeze the air out better than you can, unless you have one of those Vac machines.

Mark Thieme

awesome share ray :) did rapunsal start developing ripe tomatoes early or? glad everything is ok from the storm !tfs thumbs up

Praxxus55712

Yes she started right off the bat with ripe tomatoes and has been filled with them for months.

reza habibi

May I ask you, which website is best to by some Rapunzel tomato seeds?
Your videos are excellent, thank you for your hard work.

Hexagon Sun

Thanks. I am going to try these at home and in the community garden I am helping found at my college.

Praxxus55712

8y↑1

I bought mine from Reimer seeds online.

Miss Fortune

8y↑1

Hi Ray...do you happen to remember where you got your Rapanzel seed? I figured it's worth a shot asking. 😜

Miss Fortune

Thanks!

Praxxus55712

I believe I bought them from this place Patty: http://www.reimerseeds.com/rapunzel-tomato.aspx

RBT

8y↑1

Ray, one solution to your bird problem is to put a bird bath near your garden or even just place bowls of water nearby and the birds will drink that instead of damaging your tomatoes.

ukulele frodo

the bean might be a hyacinth legume!!! great vid those plants are real producers

Debbie Doud

The vine with purple flowers/beans is called Hyacinth Bean. They are annuals. The bean pods will produce seeds to grow again next year.

Sia Mean

I got the same pesky robin problem. So I put out a bird bath. They take car of the bugs too.

Kat

8y↑1

Love rainy days and sudden storms ;call me weird.

Cristy17

Where is Bucky?? I only saw Lewis..The Rapunzel tomato is awesome! I will definitely try to grow that next year! Glad you and your menagerie of animals survived the storm unscathed!

Rebekah Nance

7y↑1

You are so adorable. You're kind like Mr Rogers but in Garden town🍓

Jackie Horsley

ray I can,t beleave how big your tomatoe plant got I well have to check into a tomatoe plant like that next year

TheTomBevis

That Rapunzel tomato shows how much better good compost is, compared to chemical fertilizer.
I like to make pies out of those unripe apples, they still have a little texture after cooking instead of turning into mush. I like a little tartness in my apples, though.

Featherwind

@5:03 laughing so hard my ribs hurt.... 'maybe the tree sucked him up'.

Skylark Amaris

Good day Ray and good to see you doing so well. Hope your finger gets better. Here in the high desert no rain just big hot dusty winds. I don't have any advice on gardening. I just know my left from my right 😐. I do have fruit trees and smelly flowers that do there thing. I just water them and enjoy there beauty and taste. So does my daughter. EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY!

castle dove

What time of the year do you start you seeds for your gardening season?

Jeff Cook

4y↑1

Hello, I've just found your channel. Just wanted to say " hey " from a similar gardener guy from South Carolina. Jeff

R. J. Denicola

Beautiful peppers gonna start mine way earlier next year lol

Sr. Dylan Quality-Grey

what would be good to plant in late summer in the PNW?

raiderrob672

You can keep the bird's out by tieing reflective ribbon on the plant's or the top of the fence.

Andy

8y↑2

+Dave Casey (dgcasey)
You are right. It doesn't stop it completely but drastically reduces the birds pecking fruit.

I don't even use a birdbath. I use a combination of planting pots, a pail, and a dog bowl I no longer use inside. All just placed on the ground between my rows.

I think giving the birds water would certainly work best with Ray's philosophy than trying to chase them off.

Dave Casey

8y↑3

He can also keep them away from the tomatoes by putting a deep bird bath in there and keeping it filled with water. Put a couple of rocks in it to give the birds someplace to stand. He hand waters that garden, so it wouldn't be anything to spray out the bird bath each time and fill it with fresh water. Because when it comes right down to it, the water in the tomatoes is what the birds are after. If they were after the meat of the tomato they would eat a lot more of it when they get through the skin.

Dallas_Red

Happy Birthday hon....wanted to be sure to tell you this here as well as FB...have a wonderful day....

rainguynw

Early in the season, hang a couple of red Christmas balls in the tomato plants. The birds will come and peck them, get nothing and will leave the tomatoes alone when the real fruit ripens. I have done this for years with success.

Fleur696

Hi Ray thanks for the very nice video

jewel harris

beautiful scenery

Alisha Simmons

Ray I am going to make sure that I plant a Rapunzel tomato plant next year. I am going to get my seeds and be ready.

Leroy Remco

thanks for the tip of the sunflower 1plant got 9 little flowers and 1 big one

Garage and Garden

Whew~ I don't think there are storms like what you get in the Midwest!

imabee2010

Yes there is and my dogs woke me up when it came threw this way .
Oh and Ray I roost my Anaheim and peel then in to a baggie they go for the winter. Oh and I peel them too .

Gary H

I have heard that if you put a pan of water out or birdbath they will leave tomatoes alone.

castle dove

Where can I/we get the seeds? Will you be saving seeds to share?

MsValmark

7y↑2

I have to say thank you for the seeds......Rapunzel would be over 6' tall if I didn't top her off and I've had to top her off twice since last week. So yeah I have my ladder and pruners. She is in growing mode and starting to put out her tresses. Mind you, I am growing her on our screened in patio. My goodness this plant is something else. So next year, I may not plant her there. Last week my daughter and Rapunzel stood eye to eye...daughter is 5'7". I'm so ready for those tomatoes!! The humidity is crazy here and neem oil/liquid dish soap has become my best friend for the fungus gnats and aphids. Trying to make sure not to attract those dreaded ants. The resident lizard and frog are running pest control for me though. Ask me how they found their way in, I couldn't tell you but i'm glad they are there. Stay tuned!!!

Leggo my Creggo

MsValmark you sound like an awesome lady. Hope your gardening season was plentiful

Jessaye

what kind of diet do your chickens have? I was wondering, because i want to get chickens

Praxxus55712

They free range during the warm months. During winter they receive a mix of cracked corn, scratch grains, black oil sunflower seeds.

Rubaia Urmi

8y↑1

Beautiful place! Where do you live? I'm loving your videos.

Praxxus55712

I live in western Iowa. It's rolling hills of farmland. Absolutely beautiful. :)

Cherry Downs

Is that a Juliet grape tomato? Mine got tall like that. They are massive producers and taste wonderful!

Patrice's Projects

So glad the storm did so little damage. Negligible. You must have very good native soil, because your garden does so much better than most others I have seen posted. I know your compost is very nutrient rich, but others amend heavily with good compost and don't have the outcomes that you do, at least with tomatoes and peppers.

Praxxus55712

Along with the compost I practice a method that promotes suckering, whereas most gardeners discourage suckers. I also plant the tomato deep in the pot and cover the suckers with soil as it grow up inside the pot. This promotes massive root systems which fuel the extra suckers.....equating to massive harvests. :) It's a fun, simple and very effective method Patrice. :)

K. Fuentes

Honeycrisp apples are the best. $3.99 a pound here in southern Ca. and there you are with a tree loaded with them. How lucky are you.

Robert Crowe IV

Those peppers look like my Orange Sickle peppers but Ray's are larger. I saw in the comments about a bird bath, will have to try that. Now to figure out what to do about my rat & moles problems.

dragonflyneb

What was the name of the beans you planted this year I could not find the video, I thought it was a purple bean.

Wk F

Wow. This is a nice video you put up. Thk you, I really enjoy it.

T K

Nice vid Ray! Thanx.

Guy Canada

Hey Ray. The reason everything does better after the rain is because the air is made of up to 70% nitrogen so when the rain falls through the air it lightly scrubs nitrogen out of the air but just very lightly. This is why everything gets greener after a rainstorm

Jesse Kuil

good video, thanks.

Peter Menningen

If the robins were after moisture Maybe the solution is a bird bath away from the garden during dry times The rapunzel sounds a lot like the miniature PotBellied pigs of the 80's or goldfish when given space and plenty of food

LaoSoftware

Ray, what happen to all your Cannibis plants?

ollerpops

I've missed a bunch of your videos Ray. Whatever happened with your kittens or cats (by now?)

Dave Carr

to keep the birds off, just hang red Christmas balls on the top of your tomato plants ray... the birds will peck at them for a week or so then Assume all the others are fake too.

Cherry Downs

Lots of lightening means lots of nitrogen in the rain. Yes, lightening makes nitrogen! Isn't nature wonderful? Ever notice how green your plants, etc, get after a lightening storm? There's your proof.

Newton's Third Law

how many tomato plants do you grow per season?

Newton's Third Law

Hm... I've tried growing tomatoes for 3 years now without very much luck. I get maybe a dozen or two dozen tomatoes (beefsteak) out of 3 or 4 plants, this year in particular the heat and blossom end rot just obliterated my plants. I was just wondering what sort of productivity i should be expecting out of my plants ideally.

Praxxus55712

I grow one cherry tomato plant and one beefsteak-type tomato plant. This gives me far more tomatoes than I can eat during the summer and a ton for freezing and canning for the entire winter. The oddball and cracked ones go to the chickens and turkeys all summer for treats. :)

Antonio Pachowko

Ray why don't you make a camomile lawn if you like the smell of them.

Cindys cross stitch

8y↑1

Rapunzel is so big. glad the storm didn't do any damage. good to see you and the gang.

Badá Rock

She is going to take over everything! Let run to the hills!

GEMINI GEM

Did I see some basil in yr garden? Thx for the nice video, fun to see country living!!!!

Jedidragoon Makes

I want to see you grow Gardener’s delight tomato.

Aviem Ben David

8y↑1

Nobody use scarecrows anymore :(

Melonie Lang

now I want to grow one. And my husband band me from Amazon or anything else over the internet that I can buy right now because that's how I shop because I'm disabled and can't get to the stores

Jeffrey Moody

Put pinwheels on your fence and birds stay away.

Kim120onepawsh

your roof looks great, BTW :)

isabel hightower

can you tell me the size of the pot you put the rapunzel tomato plant in

tblbaby

Hellacious storm O_O not a fit knight out for man ner beast. I've got 4 Anaheim peppers, really nice big peppers and a bunch of em. I'm trying to figure out releno so I did some jalapeno poppers, ugly, but I think they'll be good except they hot man. Left seeds in so it would be hotter because the peppers seemed mild, and holy smokes. I grew red and gold marazanos too, and sweet banana peppers, a flavor favorite of mine, and of course the Jalapenos. Some tiny thai peppers for heat too. Your tomato is killing it, all mine turned out to be cherrys except a kosovo Russian beef heart tomato which didn't like the heat , finally getting a few green ones. Hell of a tomato that Rapunzel, it's a beast. I have some beasty current tomatoes, but they are current berry sized. Golden current tomatoes, I hear the white ones are sweeter.

Seniye Shepherd

Hi Ray, can you help me? I would like to plant Rapunzel tomato but I can't find it at my local nursery, Lowes or Home Depot. Where did you get your seeds?