Lyric discussion by loobiieloo 

Cover art for Gates to the Garden lyrics by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

I think it is about a cemetery ( Garden as a euphemism )

"Fugitive fathers, sickly infants, decent mothers Runaways and suicidal lovers Assorted boxes of ordinary bones Of aborted plans and sudden shattered hopes In unlucky rows, up to the gates of the garden In unhappy rows, up to the gates of the garden In unlucky rows, up to the gates of the garden "

Sounds pretty clear here .. either that or I am creepily depressed :P