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/
Six of One
The Tear Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take me on a joyride in a plastic capsule
Wash it down and wish the day away
The fear of flying's creeping slow
Can feel that paranoia seeping through these palms
Two lifelines winding somewhere out in space
And now I'm choking in this seat, A-33
But please believe me,
A touch is all I need
But I'm alone, your picture bleeds for me
What exactly do you see in me?
Or I in you? Or I in you?
In our dreams we can connect
In our dreams it all seems perfect
But when morning comes, there comes the dive,I'm half alive, just half alive
And I divide ...I'll shout into the chasm of your despair
Your pleas will be answered with echoes
Me, mocking, mimicking
I don't forgive
I can't forgive you for clinging onto my coattails
Pulling me down into clinging mudInto your pit
Into your past
Into this half-world
And if I could, I'd cast you aside
But I carry your pity
You infect me, you live inside me
Squat on my shoulders, press me down
So stand up, fight me if you dare
Be a man, divide
I said, be a man, divide
The Tear Garden's song Six of One appears to be about a sense of longing and yearning for connection, and the struggle to find it. The lyrics suggest a desire to escape into a different reality or state of mind, perhaps through substance abuse or other means of altering consciousness. The reference to a "plastic capsule" and "washing it down" implies drinking or taking drugs to push away the feeling of fear and paranoia that the singer is experiencing.
The song seems to be addressed to someone who is not present, someone who could make the singer feel safe and whole. The mention of a "picture" bleeding for the singer perhaps suggests a longing for someone who is far away or who has passed on. The singer questions what this distant person sees in them, or what they see in the other person, suggesting a feeling of inadequacy or uncertainty in their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me to the other side
Bring me to a different place or perspective
Take me on a joyride in a plastic capsule
Take me on a thrilling journey, even if it's not entirely authentic
Wash it down and wish the day away
Drink to forget and hope the day passes quickly
The fear of flying's creeping slow
Slowly becoming more afraid of taking risks and trying new things
Can feel that paranoia seeping through these palms
Feeling nervous or uncertain about what lies ahead
Two lifelines winding somewhere out in space
Two people's paths or destinies intertwining in the vast unknown
And now I'm choking in this seat, A-33
Feeling trapped and suffocated in a certain situation
But please believe me, It could be a throne if you were here with me
If you were here, any situation could be enjoyable or comfortable
A touch is all I need
Physical intimacy or emotional support is what I crave
But I'm alone, your picture bleeds for me
I am by myself and the memory of you is painful and constant
What exactly do you see in me?
I am curious about what qualities or traits you find attractive in me
Or I in you? Or I in you?
I am also questioning what I see in you
In our dreams we can connect
We only seem to have a connection in our fantasies
In our dreams it all seems perfect
In our imaginations, everything works out flawlessly
But when morning comes, there comes the dive, I'm half alive, just half alive
When reality sets in, I feel drained and emotionally numb
And I divide ...I'll shout into the chasm of your despair
I am separating myself from you, but still want to express my frustrations with your sadness
Your pleas will be answered with echoes
You will be met with silence or a repetitive response
Me, mocking, mimicking
I am teasing or copying you
I don't forgive
I am incapable of letting go of negative feelings or resentment
I can't forgive you for clinging onto my coattails
I blame you for holding me back or hindering my progress
Pulling me down into clinging mud, Into your pit, Into your past, Into this half-world
You are dragging me into a negative or stagnant environment or mindset
And if I could, I'd cast you aside
If it were possible, I would cut you out of my life completely
But I carry your pity, You infect me, you live inside me, Squat on my shoulders, press me down
You have left a mark on me and I am unable to escape your influence, even if it is negative
So stand up, fight me if you dare, Be a man, divide
I am daring you to face me and end our connection, if you have the courage
I said, be a man, divide
I am repeating my challenge to you
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
zincink
thanks for the visuals Virgil, cool stuff as always
Freek Rupert
Take me to the other side
Take me on a joyride in a plastic capsule
Wash it down and wish the day away
The fear of flying's creeping slow
Can feel that paranoia seeping through these palms
Two lifelines winding somewhere out in space
And now I'm choking in this seat, A-33
But please believe me
It could be a throne if you were here with me
A touch is all I need
But I'm alone, your picture bleeds for me
What exactly do you see in me?
Or I in you? Or I in you?
In our dreams we can connect
In our dreams it all seems perfect
But when morning comes, there comes the dive,
I'm half alive, just half alive
And I divide ...
I'll shout into the chasm of your despair
Your pleas will be answered with echoes
Me, mocking, mimicking
I don't forgive
I can't forgive you for clinging onto my coattails
Pulling me down into clinging mud
Into your pit
Into your past
Into this half-world
And if I could, I'd cast you aside
But I carry your pity
You infect me, you live inside me
Squat on my shoulders, press me down
So stand up, fight me if you dare
Be a man, divide
I said, be a man, divide