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.
-------
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/
Love Notes & Carnations
The Tear Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder what you're doing
Who you're with
If you're thinking of me now
Was I just a passing phase?
Did we ever really share?
Did we just soliloquise -
Was I ever really there?
Will anything be there?
Disinfected, disconnected
Waiting in my cage for you to call
Am I living in a cage
With all the comforts I created
When I want you here
All you do is close the blinds
And leave me crying to a shadow
Locked behind a glass
That shuts me out
That cuts me down
Memories are fading
Surely something slowly burns
Don't you yearn for just a replay for a day?
The Tear Garden's song "Love Notes & Carnations" portrays a sense of longing and regret for a lost love. The lyrics express the contemplations of the singer as they ponder over memories of a past relationship and wonder if they had ever shared a true connection or merely lived in illusions of love. The song begins with the singer watching their lover's silhouette and yearning to know their whereabouts and thoughts. They question the depth of their intimacy and whether they were just a fleeting affair.
The lyrics suggest a sense of entrapment, creating an analogy between the singer's sheltered space and a cage. They question their own existence and whether they are living in a self-created comfort zone or ever truly experienced love. The singer's desperate attempts to connect with their lover are futile, as the lover remains disinterested and unresponsive, leaving them crying to a shadow. The song's theme seems to be a combination of an unfulfilled longing for romance and a lack of purpose, thus creating a mood of melancholy and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
I sit and watch your silhouette,
I am observing your outline and thinking about what you are up to.
I wonder what you're doing
I am curious about your current actions.
Who you're with
I am wondering about the company you are keeping.
If you're thinking of me now
I am considering if you are thinking about me at this moment.
Was I just a passing phase?
I am questioning if our time together was just temporary.
Did we ever really share?
I am reflecting on if we truly had a connection.
Did we just soliloquize -
I am thinking about if we only spoke to ourselves during our time together.
Was I ever really there?
I am doubting if I truly existed in your life.
If I leave this sheltered space
I am considering the idea of leaving my safe haven.
Will anything be there?
I am questioning if there will be anything for me outside of my protected space.
Disinfected, disconnected
I am feeling isolated and detached.
Waiting in my cage for you to call
I am waiting for you to contact me while feeling trapped.
Am I living in a cage
I am questioning if I am actually living or just existing.
With all the comforts I created
I am surrounded by luxuries that I built.
When I want you here
I am expressing my desire to have you near me.
All you do is close the blinds
You are shutting me out and giving me no view beyond myself.
And leave me crying to a shadow
You are abandoning me to despair that haunts me continually.
Locked behind a glass
I am enclosed in a transparent barrier.
That shuts me out
It prevents me from connecting with you.
That cuts me down
It reduces me to a lesser state.
Memories are fading
My recollections of us are becoming vague.
Surely something slowly burns
There is still some emotion stirring inside of me.
Don't you yearn for just a replay for a day?
Do you not long for the chance to relive a moment in time with me?
Contributed by David B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lucero Monze
My favorite song from Tear Garden! Thanks!!
MeroveeG
Une Oeuvre superbe, elle devrait durer encore 5 min de plus!
Portal Complex
Absolutely brilliant Edward
Chyna Wyatt
They are killing it on the tambourine!!!
electroplate
This should have been a major hit.
Michael M.
Amazing
Zorniod
Ha! I LOVE the Time Lord symbol - nice!
auxemoron87
I own most of the TG albums, and this song breaks me in half... i
Active Britch Faece
I remember that image from Litany back in the day, that would rotate either direction based on perception
Troy Nachtigall
Ahhh Cornavirus......