In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Can you see like a child?
Can you see what I want?
I wanna run through your wicked garden
That's the place to find you
'Cause I'm alive, so alive now
I know the darkness blinds you
Can you see without eyes?
Can you speak without lies?
I wanna drink from your naked fountain
I can drown your sorrows
I'm gonna burn, burn you to life now
Out of the chains that bind you
Can you see just like a child?
Can you see just what I want?
Can I bring you back to life?
Are you still alive?
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden to the ground, yeah
Can you feel pain inside?
Can you love?
Can you cry?
I wanna run through your wicked garden
That's the place to find ya
'Cause I'm alive, so alive now
I know the darkness blinds you
Can you see just like a child?
Can you see just what I want?
Can I bring you back to life?
Are you still alive?
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden to the ground, yeah
Can you see what I want?
I wanna run through your wicked garden
That's the place to find you
'Cause I'm alive, so alive now
I know the darkness blinds you
Can you see without eyes?
Can you speak without lies?
I wanna drink from your naked fountain
I can drown your sorrows
I'm gonna burn, burn you to life now
Out of the chains that bind you
Can you see just like a child?
Can you see just what I want?
Can I bring you back to life?
Are you still alive?
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden to the ground, yeah
Can you feel pain inside?
Can you love?
Can you cry?
I wanna run through your wicked garden
That's the place to find ya
'Cause I'm alive, so alive now
I know the darkness blinds you
Can you see just like a child?
Can you see just what I want?
Can I bring you back to life?
Are you still alive?
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden down
Burn, burn, burn
Burn your wicked garden to the ground, yeah
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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My interpretation: Can you see like a child? Can you see what I want?:
I wanna run through your wicked garden Heard that's the place to find you cause I'm alive So alive now I know the dark has found you:
He is saying he wants to run through her wicked garden: Basically this is a side of her he wants to see, it' a place to be free. How he says it; he knows that this place exist and he realizes it now. He want's to bring her back to a place of freedom., out of the dark; its a metaphor, for instance: being unaware. like wake up, let it all go.
Can you see without eyes? Can you speak without lies?:
Are you capable of seeing and speaking without judgment, he feels she is damaged, a bit corrputed maybe by todays society, or a past relationship, can you let all that go? He wants the purest part of her, to look beyond what some people cant look past.
I wanna drink from your naked fountain I can drown your sorrows I'm gonna burn,Burn you to life now Out of the chains that bind you:
I want a taste of what is pure. I can help you forget, I'm going to set you free from the problems that haunt you. lets be free together.
Can you see just like a child? Can you see just what I want? Can I bring you back to life? Are you still alive?
*When you see the world through a childs eyes looking at life in general; they are free from bounderies they are innocent, yet too discover the world, lacking inference which most of us base our decisions from. So basically can you look at it this way with out judgement. Can I help you see life in a new way... Are you capable of seeing and living free?
Burn, burn, burn Burn your wicked garden down Burn, burn, burn Burn your wicked garden to the ground, yeah.:
Can you feel pain inside? Can you love? Can you cry?
I wanna run through your wicked garden Heard that's the place to find you Cause I'm alive So alive now I know the dark has found you
Can you see just like a child? Can you see just what I want? can I bring you back to life? Are you scared of life?
Burn, burn, burn Burn your wicked garden down Burn, burn, burn Burn your wicked garden to the ground, yeah.
Last verse: He is saying are you afraid of letting it all go, and living freely, can I help you be free from what you are afraid of. Are you capable of just living that is what I want for you.
nice man! can you give epic reviews like that to their other songs?
I have not listend to all their songs. I'll give it a go.
very interesting intake here on the lyrics lyricfanatic. take a look at my interpetation. i have looked at your other interpretations very impressive! we have very similar tastes in music