Paul Morley wrote in the NME : "It was no surprise that "Hong Kong Garden" should spiral into the charts just weeks after the group became Polydor people. The mystery and enigma of the single, coupled with the similarly seductive reputation of the group itself immediately landed it with plays on the radio. Its oriental 'authenticity', its flickering eroticism, its simple beauty pushed it deep into the charts."
Hong Kong Garden
Siouxsie and the Banshees Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Symbols clashing everywhere
Reaps the fields of rice and reeds
While the population feeds
Junk floats on polluted water
An old custom to sell your daughter
Would you like number twenty three?
Leave your yens on the counter please
Ho-oh, ho-oh-oh-oh
Hong Kong Garden
Ho-oh, ho-oh-oh-oh
Hong Kong Garden
Oh oh, oh oh
Tourists swarm to see your face
Confucius has a puzzling grace
Disoriented you enter in
Unleashing scent of wild jasmine
Slanted eyes meet a new sunrise
A race of bodies small in size
Chicken Chow Mein and Chop Suey
Hong Kong Garden takeaway
La la la, la la la la la
Ho-oh, ho-oh-oh-oh
Hong Kong Garden
Ho-oh, ho-oh-oh-oh
The lyrics to Siouxsie and the Banshees' song "Hong Kong Garden" captures the contradictions and complexities of modern-day Hong Kong. The song portrays the harmful elements in the air and the symbols that clash everywhere present in Hong Kong. The line "Reaps the fields of rice and reeds while the population feeds" references the rapid modernization of Hong Kong, where the environment and resources suffer while the people are trying to survive.
The culture of selling daughters in Hong Kong is criticized in the line "An old custom to sell your daughter, would you like number twenty-three? Leave your yens on the counter, please." This line portrays the commodification of women and emphasizes that the practice existed even in modern times. In contrast to the dark lyrics, the chorus "Hong Kong Garden" conveys a sense of a beautiful yet distorted representation of Hong Kong, contrasting the bright touristy face of Hong Kong with its hidden underbelly.
Overall, the lyrics reflect the complexities of Hong Kong, where East and West meet, modernity and tradition conflict, and beauty is mixed with pollution.
Line by Line Meaning
Harmful elements in the air
The air is polluted with dangerous substances.
Symbols clashing everywhere
Different cultures and beliefs are colliding and causing conflict.
Reaps the fields of rice and reeds
The agriculture of the region is fruitful due to the resources available in the area.
While the population feeds
The people are able to sustain themselves through the crops they harvest.
Junk floats on polluted water
There is literal garbage floating in contaminated water bodies.
An old custom to sell your daughter
There used to be a tradition in the culture where girls were sold off by their families.
Would you like number twenty three?
A restaurant menu item is being offered.
Leave your yens on the counter please
Payment is expected for the food ordered.
Tourists swarm to see your face
People from other countries come to experience the culture and see the people of the region.
Confucius has a puzzling grace
The philosophy of Confucianism can be difficult to understand and interpret.
Disoriented you enter in
Foreigners may feel out of place or confused when navigating the area.
Unleashing scent of wild jasmine
The aroma of flowers is present in the environment.
Slanted eyes meet a new sunrise
The people of the region differ from those of other regions in terms of their physical features.
A race of bodies small in size
The people of the region are generally shorter in stature compared to other populations.
Chicken Chow Mein and Chop Suey
Chinese dishes are mentioned.
Hong Kong Garden takeaway
Food can be ordered for takeaway from the Hong Kong Garden restaurant.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management
Written by: MORRIS KENNETH IAN, JOHN GARETH MCKAY, SIOUXSIE SIOUX, STEVEN SEVERIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RosePetal17
Love that they are playing LIVE!!!
@wescooley34
One of the best live bands i ever have ever seen
@henrym6411
Love Siouxsie! She and the band kick so much ass.
@deboraferreira393
Adoooroooo..... Siouxsie!!!! And the Banches também!!!! Amante de Depeche Mode ama muito Siouxsie and the Banches também!!!!❤️💖👌👍
@clayjackson2833
Love this live version.
@ResidentMich
Stunning and live too!!! This tune never ages and though many of our parents may remember it "fondly" it really is a seriously great tune. I did however play Voices very loud to clear the house!!!!!! LOL
@stevencarr5601
Surely I can't have been the only young man of that time who thought she was absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.
@dryliner65
+Steven Carr she was gorgeous then and probably still is .
@paulmetzger5005
Steven Carr No, you weren't. I still think she's gorgeous.
@Oni-Ryu8
Steven Carr she was one gorgeous horny lass