Garden Song, Phoebe Bridgers- Song & Poetry Analysis.

"Garden Song" is the lead single on Phoebe Bridgers’ sophomore album, Punisher (2020.) The song carries an atmospheric and dreamy quality and focuses on themes of growth, self-reflection, and the passage of time. Using vivid imagery and metaphors of nature- particularly a garden- "Garden Song" creates an ethereal time-capsule of the challenges faced and overcome whilst growing older.

Phoebe Bridgers is a 29-year-old musician and lyricist from California, United States. Bridgers is known for her blend of indie, folk, and rock, which she uses as a tool to create melancholic and haunting undertones for songs that are best described as confessional and introspective, tackling themes such as heartbreak, existentialism, and personal struggles. Bridgers has been a songwriter since the age of fourteen, she exhibits excellent storytelling and a talent for the technicalities of composition, so it is no surprise that she is also a member of the epic and innovated super-group, Boygenius, and Better Oblivion Community Center. Many have praised Bridgers for the poetic quality of her lyricism and her ability to resonate with the listener.

"Garden Song" tells the journey of building a healthy, hopeful, and happy headspace atop of both the positive and negative parts of one’s self.

[Verse 1]

Someday, I'm gonna live

In your house up on the hill

And when your skinhead neighbor goes missing

I'll plant a garden in the yard, then

They're gluing roses on a flatbed

You should see it, I mean thousands

I grew up here 'til it all went up in flames

Except the notches in the door frame

[Chorus]

I don't know when you got taller

See our reflection in the water

Off a bridge at the Huntington

I hopped the fence when I was seventeen

Then I knew what I wanted

[Verse 2]

And when I grow up, I'm gonna look up

From my phone and see my life

And it's gonna be just like my recurring dream

I'm at the movies, I don't remember what I'm seeing

The screen turns into a tidal wave

Then it's a dorm room, like a hedge maze

And when I find you

You touch my leg and I insist

But I wake up before we do it

[Chorus]

I don't know how, but I'm taller

It must be something in the water

Everything's growing in our garden

You don't have to know that it's haunted

The doctor put her hands over my liver

She told me my resentment's getting smaller

No, I'm not afraid of hard work

I get everything I want

I have everything I wanted

In contextual summary, the writer tells us that she has a plan to live in the house atop a hill in her hometown. She schemes about killing a villainous neighbour, and burying him in the backyard of the house on the hill with the intention of planting a garden atop of his decomposing corpse.

The writer speaks of her hometown, referencing that the house she grew up in has burned down in a fire, but her existence remains as proof that she once resided here.

Reconnecting with someone important from her childhood, they return to the Huntington Bridge and writer notices how much the person standing beside her has grown.

The writer talks about seeing herself in the future, realizing she has been glued to her phone and as a result has been living blindly.

She then reminisces about a time in her past which she spent with a significant other and she expresses a feeling of searching for contact and lacking control.

The writer returns to ponder about the Huntington bridge and now acknowledges the surprise in how much she has also grown.

Writer informs us that the garden she has been growing atop the corpse is thriving, and she reminds the reader not to think too hard about the reason why the garden is flourishing, and to instead simply appreciate and enjoy the flourish of nature.

The writer speaks of visiting a doctor, the doctor tells her that her liver is healing and her resentment is thinking.

Writer concludes that she is satisfied with her self-improvement so far, and is unafraid of working hard to continue achieving the lifestyle and the dreams she desires.

In the first stanza,

“...I’ll plant a garden in the yard...”

Bridgers intends to grow a garden atop a corpse, emphasising that a garden is able to grow because of the death of another organism. In this case, she uses the imagery of a corpse- something deemed negative- to express that good things can grow from previously unhealthy habits, lifestyles, and mindsets.

“...They're glueing roses on a flatbed...”

The following line references an inorganic way of displaying a bouquet of roses, implying that real growth can only occur through natural care, patience, and time. Because these flowers have been snipped and attached to an artificial base, they have no chance to evolve or expand. These flowers are left in limbo until they wither, similar to if one were to attempt to grow without building a stable and malleable base, such as leaving prior issues and habits unresolved instead of trying to correct some of the physical and emotional turmoil that has prevented the natural progression of growth. As Bridgers is making a direct reference to the flower festival that occurs annually in her hometown of Pasadena, it further solidifies her connection to the restricted roses on display.

“...I grew up there until it all went up in flames / except the notches in the doorframe…”

Bridgers speaks of her childhood home burning down, using the word ‘grew’, affirming that her primary developmental phase can no longer be linked to the home she once resided. ‘Grew’ also implies that her current growth is restricted or paused because of the destruction of the fire. In Bridgers’ mind, this fire has removed the feeling of permanence, tainted her memories of youth, and hindered her from connection with her prior self. Without said connection, Bridgers finds it hard to acknowledge her own growth and this detached feeling leaves her stuck in a mindset incapable of effectively mending parts of her adolescence. However, the confirmation that the notches, or marks, etched on the frame of a door in her childhood home, reinforces that Bridgers will always be attached to her hometown, and in turn, her childhood.

“...see our reflection in the water...”

Bridges uses the visual of water to emphasise the growth she and her family or friends have experienced. It is suggested that this particular body of water is a permanent fixture of her hometown and subsequently remains a stable landmark for her to reminisce and acknowledge her past. Using water as a symbol of reevaluation, she compares the reflection she sees of herself in the water to the same reflection she would see in the mirror. Furthermore, in the second stanza, Bridgers references,

“...the screen turns into a tidal wave...”

which exposes the sudden change in the water's tranquillity, becoming a natural disaster that sweeps the writer up and disorients her- this can indicate the difficulty Bridgers faces when trying to confront her inner conflict, finding it hard to create enough stillness to properly observe and alter her past and current behaviour. In the third stanza, Bridgers repeats her amazement and surprise that she has grown so greatly, stating,

“...it must be something in the water...”

which credits the idea that the water contains the magical key to growth and progression, implying that a person simply grows from the human need to rehydrate.

In essence, Bridgers believes that her growth is inevitable, something constant and evolving, sometimes slow and peaceful, other times choppy and urgent. Bridgers cannot really explain the method in which she developed and grew, instead comparing it to the permanence of a body of water.

The fourth and final stanza results in Bridgers stating,

“...everything’s growing in our garden. / You don’t have to know that it’s haunted...”

Bridgers is reaping the rewards of creating her garden atop the corpse of the neighbour, attentively building and nurturing the garden, or her relationship with both herself and others. In turn, she concludes that healthy reparation and future growth can result in positive outcomes and progression as long as one is willing to put in the work routinely as a means of ensuring the best chance of the garden, or yourself, evolving and maturing.

The lyrics in "Garden Song" often emphasise the impermanence of life and relationships. The imagery of an "overgrown" garden and weeds encroaching on the narrator's space conveys a sense of decay and change. This metaphorical use of nature underscores the bittersweet aspect of life- moments of beauty and growth are often accompanied by the inevitability of loss and change, which can evoke deep emotional responses.

Bridgers incorporates references to changing seasons, such as the rose parade. This connection between the changing of seasons and the passage of time in a person's life is a poignant metaphor. It taps into the emotions associated with nostalgia, reflection, and the awareness of the transient nature of life.

The act of gardening in the song serves as a metaphor for self-reflection and emotional growth. The lyrics delve into personal struggles, insecurities, and the need for self-care. By using nature as a backdrop for these introspective themes, the song becomes relatable to listeners who have grappled with similar emotions. The act of nurturing a garden becomes a metaphor for nurturing one's own well-being and emotional health.

"Garden Song" connects the cycle of nature to that of the human experience by divulging into the impermanence, renewal, interconnectedness, harmony, balance, and adaptiveness that is the life cycle of natural elements. Bridgers relates the similarity in cycles connected to the human experience by noting that humans experience the same challenges as nature when exposed to the challenges of external hindrance or damage- just as a body of water is prone to change from calm to violent when disrupted by weather, tremors, destructions or environmental changes, a human is also offered a change in the face of diversity, perhaps relating to a career, relationship dynamic, financial or emotional turmoil. A human can only experience growth through the act of their external stimulation uprooting or evolving, just as a plant will grow back stronger, and larger after struggling through elemental challenges like being trampled or damaged by something greater than.

The use of natural imagery allows Bridgers to explore complex emotions. For instance, the line "The doctor put her hands over my liver / She told me my resentment's getting smaller" is a unique and somewhat dark metaphor. The emotional impact comes from the juxtaposition of medical imagery with emotional healing. It suggests that even in the midst of pain and resentment, there is a chance for growth and recovery.

The song's nature metaphors create an air of ambiguity and vulnerability.

The contrast between beauty and decay in the garden, and the irony of the doctor's diagnosis, adds depth to the emotional impact. It highlights the complexity of human emotions and experiences. The emotional resonance is derived from the recognition that life is filled with contradictions and unexpected turns. This is further enhanced because the themes in "Garden Song" are universal. The song touches on themes of love, loss, time, and the passage of life, all of which are deeply emotional and relatable to a wide audience.

The song opens with the lines "Someday I'm gonna live / In your house up on the hill," setting the stage for an eerie and somewhat surreal atmosphere. This sense of longing and yearning is enhanced by the mention of the house on the hill, which becomes an important visual anchor throughout the song.

The nature imagery in "Garden Song" often contrasts beauty with decay and growth with stagnation. This creates a sense of irony and duality in the song's mood. For example, the line "The doctor put her hands over my liver / She told me my resentment's getting smaller" juxtaposes a medical image with emotional struggle, creating a complex emotional atmosphere.

The nature imagery in "Garden Song" is not straightforward; it's open to interpretation. This ambiguity adds depth and complexity to the song's atmosphere, allowing listeners to find their own meaning in the lyrics.

Bridgers' use of nature imagery in "Garden Song" contributes to an atmosphere that is haunting, introspective, and emotionally charged. It creates a rich and textured backdrop for the song's exploration of themes related to memory, longing, and the passage of time.

Bridgers style of writing, imagery, and astute technicality is reminiscent of other artists, some of which are referenced below,

Joni Mitchell's songwriting is deeply rooted in nature imagery. She often uses landscapes and elements of the natural world to explore personal and societal issues. Songs like "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Woodstock" are excellent examples of this.

Van Morrison frequently incorporates nature into his lyrics to create vivid imagery. Tracks like "Moondance" and "Into the Mystic" showcase his ability to use the natural world to evoke feelings of romance and mysticism.

Sufjan Stevens' music often references the natural world to explore themes of identity, spirituality, and personal growth. Albums like "Seven Swans" and "Illinois" contain rich nature-inspired metaphors.

Hozier draws many comparisons to entities of nature such as in “Like Real People Do”, “Work Song”, in which he uses the concept of gardening and nature as a means of projecting the trials and errors, as well as unconditional and endless love.

Bridgers draws inspiration from the Folk and Indie Rock genre, admiring artists such as Elliott Smith and Joni Mitchell for their vivid visuals, storytelling ability, and emotional vulnerability. "Garden Song" also resonates with songs like, "Holocene" by Bon Iver which ethereally explores themes of nature as well as "Lua" by Bright Eyes, whose lead singer Conor Oberest has also been a co-worker and creative inspiration for Bridgers.

Nature is a universally understood and appreciated concept. Many people can relate to the act of gardening or the changing of seasons, and this relatability enhances the song's emotional resonance. The use of nature as a metaphor makes the song's themes feel accessible and relatable to a wide audience.

As Bridgers struggles to understand how and why she has grown as a person, she uses the parallel of the ever-changing and permanent cycle of nature. Natural entities such as trees, flowers, and water are cyclical to maintain survival and evolution.

We as a collective aren’t particularly connected to the process of natural growth and decay which assists in emphasizing that Bridgers views the process of growing as a human in the same manner that a plant might- the plant needs to adapt to survive, just as a human must, in a more mentally complex manner.

The significance of selecting nature as a metaphor for humanity guarantees the reader that Bridgers understands that she may never fully connect with her past self, but she knows that tending to it- whether through attention, nurturance, or understanding- is the only way to ensure that this growth results in a healthy, stable sense of self.

Bridgers has a gift for crafting introspective and visually engaging songs, using her skill of vulnerability and emotional openness to seamlessly weave together the natural world and the emotional landscape, making the emotions she conveys feel vivid and tangible. This invites listeners to connect their own experiences with the metaphor, intensifying the emotional resonance.

Phoebe Bridgers uses nature as a metaphor in "Garden Song" to create a rich and layered emotional landscape. This enhances the emotional impact and resonance of the lyrics by drawing parallels between the natural world and the complexities of human emotion, and allows listeners to connect on a deep and introspective level, making the song emotionally impactful and thought-provoking.

Overall, "Garden Song" masterfully uses nature as a metaphor to enhance the emotional impact of the lyrics. It taps into universal experiences of growth, change, impermanence, and self-discovery, making the song's themes deeply resonant and allowing listeners to reflect on their own lives and emotions. The metaphorical connection to nature adds layers of depth to the song's emotional resonance, making it a powerful and evocative piece of music.