My original interpretation of the lyrics was loss of love, the evolution of his understanding of the true nature of the relationship over time, and his change in perspective.
The sacrifice could refer to independence, freedom, bachelorhood. "It was not an easy undertaking"-- "it" referring to the relationship itself, perhaps to the process of his getting to the poiunt of agreeing to take the relationship to the next level, or perhaps to the sacrifices he made to committ to the relationship. That's why the "roots" of the love, symbolized by the "weed," "flower," and "baby's breath" "gripped" him and were like a "living grave." The cutting of a "clearing in the land" conjured images of homesteading. Then the bed, perhaps a domestic nest, for her to "cry comfortable" in. This is a contradiction, and perhaps the first signs that the relationship is doomed-- he made a homestead and a comfortable bed/nest/home with good intentions not realizing how his absence (physically or emotionally) is causing her pain and sadness. He looks "out across the lawn"-- his kingdom, his homestead, and regonizes that something is gone or missing from the picture but doesn't know what. Until he realizes that he is the missing piece. His running (either avoidance of emotional intimacy or physical running by touring) resulted in loss. And he finally realizes this and accepts it by agreeing that it was he who pulled out the baby's breath/flower. "I am on my knees gardening; It was not a weed it was a flower." The identification of himself as a gardener could be an extension of the flower metaphor-- a gardener should know the difference between a weed and a flower, and should be caring for and nurturing the flowers. The act of gardening could also refer to the process he is now engaging in: of reflecting back on the relationship, or examining his own emotional state or capabilities and realizing that it was he who was either lacking, or responsible for the demise of the relationship, the misidentification of the flower as a weed. "Now you must reap what you sow, or sing." Perhaps instead of wallowing in despair or perhaps not wanting to take responsibility, he chooses instead to sing, to avoid the sadness or simply to move past it.
Of course, I am partial to this interpretation because it speaks to my past-- ending a relationship that seemed like a weed and then realizing it was actually a flower.
The interpretation of the song being about abortion is interesting and could also work. My only hang-up with this is that I feel like the use of "baby's breath" is a bit too obvious-- but that's my own personal opinion.
My original interpretation of the lyrics was loss of love, the evolution of his understanding of the true nature of the relationship over time, and his change in perspective.
The sacrifice could refer to independence, freedom, bachelorhood. "It was not an easy undertaking"-- "it" referring to the relationship itself, perhaps to the process of his getting to the poiunt of agreeing to take the relationship to the next level, or perhaps to the sacrifices he made to committ to the relationship. That's why the "roots" of the love, symbolized by the "weed," "flower," and "baby's breath" "gripped" him and were like a "living grave." The cutting of a "clearing in the land" conjured images of homesteading. Then the bed, perhaps a domestic nest, for her to "cry comfortable" in. This is a contradiction, and perhaps the first signs that the relationship is doomed-- he made a homestead and a comfortable bed/nest/home with good intentions not realizing how his absence (physically or emotionally) is causing her pain and sadness. He looks "out across the lawn"-- his kingdom, his homestead, and regonizes that something is gone or missing from the picture but doesn't know what. Until he realizes that he is the missing piece. His running (either avoidance of emotional intimacy or physical running by touring) resulted in loss. And he finally realizes this and accepts it by agreeing that it was he who pulled out the baby's breath/flower. "I am on my knees gardening; It was not a weed it was a flower." The identification of himself as a gardener could be an extension of the flower metaphor-- a gardener should know the difference between a weed and a flower, and should be caring for and nurturing the flowers. The act of gardening could also refer to the process he is now engaging in: of reflecting back on the relationship, or examining his own emotional state or capabilities and realizing that it was he who was either lacking, or responsible for the demise of the relationship, the misidentification of the flower as a weed. "Now you must reap what you sow, or sing." Perhaps instead of wallowing in despair or perhaps not wanting to take responsibility, he chooses instead to sing, to avoid the sadness or simply to move past it.
Of course, I am partial to this interpretation because it speaks to my past-- ending a relationship that seemed like a weed and then realizing it was actually a flower.
The interpretation of the song being about abortion is interesting and could also work. My only hang-up with this is that I feel like the use of "baby's breath" is a bit too obvious-- but that's my own personal opinion.