An excerpt from a Nettwerk Records press release, July 1996:
The roots of The Tear Garden extend back to 1983 when Cevin Key, on the verge of forming Skinny Puppy, struck up a trans-Atlantic correspondence with Edward Ka-Spel, the lead vocalist and driving force behind The Legendary Pink Dots. Three years later, Ka-Spel visited Vancouver for a series of three live performances with Key as sound technician, and during his visit, they recorded The Tear Garden's self-titled debut EP.
In 1987, Ka-Spel returned to open for Skinny Puppy on their North American tour, after which the duo retreated to the studio for two weeks to produce the now classic electronic-psychedelic album, Tired Eyes Slowly Burning. It was during these sessions that the project's ranks began to expand, with guest appearances by Key's fellow Puppies Dwayne Goettel and Nivek Ogre.
Four years later, the Garden bloomed again, this time growing well beyond the Key/Ka-Spel partnership to include not only Goettel, but a wide assortment of friends, including most of the Pink Dots. This fruitful month-long collaboration spawned two releases: an album called The Last Man To Fly, and a (very long) EP called Sheila Liked The Rodeo.
Another four years passed. Four years that saw literal and figurative deaths (the departure of both Skinny Puppy and LPD from their long-time labels; the subsequent break-up of SP; the tragic passing of Dwayne Goettel) and births (Edward's son, Calyxx; Download; Key's return to Nettwerk).
In late December, 1995, in the midst of this turbulence, The Tear Garden gathered once more, perhaps to attempt to trigger the dawn of a tranquil new era. The result was To Be An Angel Blind, The Crippled Soul Divide, an album of fragile and powerful beauty that digs even deeper into the psychedelic underground than its predecessors, adding a range of influences from dub bass to country slide guitar, all the while retaining the dark electronic melancholy that has become the project's signature.
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Four more years passed. Tear Garden got back together in 1999 and in 2000, Crystal Mass was released. In 2001, a "best of" collection was issued by the Russian label Brudenia, Для Тех, Ҡто Прогулялся Бьі С Богами (which translates to "For Those Who Would Walk with the Gods") as well as an "outtakes" collection released by Cevin Key's Subconscious Communications label, Eye Spy with My Little Eye.
2007 saw the release of The Secret Experiment, once again on Subconscious Communications. This is from the "Vault 2" series but features new music.
Currently, Edward and cEvin wrapped up their sessions of 13 tracks, compiled into a brand new upcoming TG release, available through Subcon.
Discography
* Tired Eyes Slowly Burning (1987)
* Last Man to Fly (1992)
* Sheila Liked The Rodeo (1993)
* Bouquet of Black Orchids (1993)
* To Be an Angel Blind, The Crippled Soul Divide (1996)
* Crystal Mass (2000)
* Eye Spy With My Little Eye (2002)
* The Secret Experiment (2007)
http://brainwashed.com/teargarden/
In Search of My Rose
The Tear Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A hangman's knot around your feet and praying for the spell
to be shattered. May I be the one to rip the shackles clean away
and lead you to a place where loneliness is tackled with a kiss?
A kiss that has no ropes, no strings... no obligations.
I don't owe you; be quite sure you don't owe me.
The Tear Garden's song “In Search of My Rose” is a haunting and enigmatic piece of music that leaves much to interpretation. The lyrics depict a scene where the singer finds someone crying outside on the wall of Devil's Well, with a hangman's knot around their feet. The singer seems to want to help this person escape their loneliness by leading them to a place where they can be free of obligations and expectations. The mention of “shackles” and “ripping them clean away” suggests that the person is trapped in some kind of emotional or psychological captivity, and the singer wants to offer them a chance at a new life.
The idea of tackling loneliness with a kiss is a romantic notion that suggests that the singer is deeply empathetic and understands the pain of being alone. However, the mention of “no obligations” and “you don't owe me” suggests that this is not a typical romantic or sexual encounter. It is more of a platonic or compassionate bond. The song asks important questions about the nature of human connection and what it means to truly help someone in need. Is the singer offering a fleeting escape from reality or a real chance at a better life? The interpretation is left up to the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
I found you crying outside on the wall of Devil's Well...
I came across you in a state of emotional distress outside of a location known as Devil's Well.
A hangman's knot around your feet and praying for the spell
You were physically bound by a hangman's knot and pleading for relief from some kind of enchantment.
to be shattered. May I be the one to rip the shackles clean away
You hoped for the spell to be broken and I offered to be the one to free you from your bondage.
and lead you to a place where loneliness is tackled with a kiss?
I promised to take you someplace where a simple kiss could alleviate feelings of isolation and despair.
A kiss that has no ropes, no strings... no obligations.
This kiss would be given freely and without any expectations or attachments from either party.
I don't owe you; be quite sure you don't owe me.
There is no debt or obligation between us, and we should both be aware of that fact.
Contributed by Amelia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.