Gardens: May 24, 2011

With spring in full effect, Variations on a Theme continues its run of spring themes with a theme of Gardens. Get out there and plant something!

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We start with an old-fashioned murder ballad from a new band.

Zeus - "The River by the Garden" - Say Us (2010)

The Minus 5 - "The Family Gardener" - Down with Wilco (2003)

Gardens are often used as political metaphors as well, addressing issues like climate change and war.

Hayley Sales - "Not in His Garden (feat. Donavon Frankenreiter)" - When the Bird Became a Book (2010)

Neil Young - "After the Garden" - Living with War (2006)

The Dresden Dolls - "The Gardener" - No, Virginia... (2008)

We continue in the vein of gardens being dark, ominous places where trouble is taking place.

PJ Harvey - "The Garden" - Is This Desire? (1998)

Pearl Jam - "Garden" - Ten (1991)

We keep on rocking but take it in a punk direction.

SNFU - "Better Homes and Gardens" - If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish (1986)

Bad Religion - "Atomic Garden" - Generator (1992)

We travel back in time to the late '60s to discover that gardens can also be happy, fun, carefree places—even if they're underwater.

The Beatles - "Octopus's Garden" - Abbey Road (1969)

The Byrds - "Mind Gardens" - Younger Than Yesterday (1967)

The Guess Who - "A Wednesday in Your Garden" - Wheatfield Soul (1968)

We conclude with a Southern rock epic from an up-and-coming indie group.

The Bright Light Social Hour - "Garden of the Gods" - The Bright Light Social Hour (2010)