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.
I found a little plot of land
In the Garden of Eden
It was dirt and dirt is all the same
I tilled it with my two hands
And I called it my very own
There was no-one to dispute my claim
Well, you'd be shocked
At the state of things
The whole place
Had just cleared right out
It was hotter'n hell
So I laid me by a spring, for a spell
As naked as a trout
The wandering eye that I have caught
Is as hot as a wandering sun
But I will want for nothing more
In my garden
Start again
In my hardening to every heart but one
Meet me in the garden of Eden
Bring a friend
We are going to have ourselves a time
We are gonna have a garden party
It's on me
No, sirree, it's my dime
We broke our hearts
In the war between
St. George and the dragon
But both, in equal parts
Are welcome to come along
I'm inviting everyone
Farewell to loves that I have known
Even muddiest waters run
Tell me, what is meant by sin, or none
In a garden
Seceded from the union
In the year of A.D. 1?
The unending amends you've made
Are enough for one life
Be done
I believe in innocence, little darling
Start again
I believe in everyone
I believe, regardless
I believe in everyone
In the Garden of Eden
It was dirt and dirt is all the same
I tilled it with my two hands
And I called it my very own
There was no-one to dispute my claim
Well, you'd be shocked
At the state of things
The whole place
Had just cleared right out
It was hotter'n hell
So I laid me by a spring, for a spell
As naked as a trout
The wandering eye that I have caught
Is as hot as a wandering sun
But I will want for nothing more
In my garden
Start again
In my hardening to every heart but one
Meet me in the garden of Eden
Bring a friend
We are going to have ourselves a time
We are gonna have a garden party
It's on me
No, sirree, it's my dime
We broke our hearts
In the war between
St. George and the dragon
But both, in equal parts
Are welcome to come along
I'm inviting everyone
Farewell to loves that I have known
Even muddiest waters run
Tell me, what is meant by sin, or none
In a garden
Seceded from the union
In the year of A.D. 1?
The unending amends you've made
Are enough for one life
Be done
I believe in innocence, little darling
Start again
I believe in everyone
I believe, regardless
I believe in everyone
Lyrics submitted by kitteh, edited by sethbrown, random_monkey, Spiderland
'81 Lyrics as written by Joanna Newsom
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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hate to break it to yall, but the name of the song is, of course, "81" however, in the lyrics it is not 81 it's "A.D. 1" I just bought the new album instead of downloading it and that is the correct form of the word in the lyrics enclosed. this changes the meaning of the song entirely, and if all of us newsom fans realy think, should not be a suprise that it's "A.D. 1" and not, 81. get it, goes with the whole garden of eden thing.
The year AD 1 is not a reference to the garden of Eden. The year AD 1 is around the time that Jesus is supposed to have been born, although it is thought that he was actually born 2-3 BC. The line in the song, 'what is meant by sin, or none, in a garden seceded from the union in the year of A.D. 1' most likely refers to the hope that came with the birth of the Messiah. <br /> Looking at the rest of the song, 'dirt' in the garden, is probably a reference to Adam being made from the dust of the Earth. The imagery of working in the garden and tilling the land reminds me of life's struggle to create your own meaningful existence.<br /> The rest of the song is the story of redemption. After being created, the world became 'hotter than hell'. But in the year AD 1 the garden (paradise) seceded from the rest of the world.<br /> Joanna seems to be talking about the redemption story as a way of calling people to action. In the last chorus, she asks the listener to stop worrying about their past mistakes and to start again by accepting the salvation which is already available. And this salvation is for everyone. <br /> The part about St. George and the dragon is an obvious allusion to good triumphing over evil, but Joanna makes it clear that both are welcome in her garden. Possibly this is because they are both inevitable to life, but I think that she believes that together they make life meaningful. <br /> <br /> whether or not this is a full analysis, or even correct at all, this song is inspiring