“Garden of Love” by Quiet Hollers – A Song Feature

 

     “Garden of Love” spotlights the power of an intro and its ability to draw a listener into a song. At the start, the intro features the piano, with fast-paced right-hand play and slower, more melodic left-hand play. By itself, the piano is sufficient in attracting the listener’s attention. But after a short fade, percussion becomes the focus. The drums and piano (with some guitar help) carry the song to a somewhat whimsical sound at 0:52, and then the vocals. It’s not immediately clear what instrument is the source of the “whimsy,” until two notes enter shortly into the vocals to reveal the source as a guitar (and not a violin, for example).  
 
     The body of the song from Quiet Hollers doesn’t disappoint after the mastery of the intro. “Garden of Love” is a song of devotion, but with intelligent lyrics that sometimes have a darkness. The devotion isn’t entirely mutual. The voice of Shadwick Wilde is resonant, vulnerable, and committed to the message.
 
      Quiet Hollers is based in Louisville, Kentucky. “Garden of Love” is a single from the band’s recently released album “Forever Chemicals.” The Spotify stream of the album is included in this post. The press materials regarding the album explain:
  Building upon the band's anything-goes ethos, “Forever Chemicals” indulges elements of doo wop, post punk, and arena rock to deliver their cheekiest and most vulnerable songs to date. Wilde handled the majority of instruments along with producer / drummer Dave Chale. Shelley Anderson (QH bassist and world-class mastering engineer) mastered the album.
  Scott Carney of experimental/theatrical rock band Wax Fang contributed Theremin tracks to a song, “Addicted (Relapse)” and also directed its music video, a nightmare trip through an occult variety show.
    
     “Garden of Love” by Quiet Hollers

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QuietHollers
Website: http://www.quiethollers.com/
Bandcamp: https://quiethollers.bandcamp.com/

Lyrics of “Garden of Love” by Quiet Hollers (some “best guesses”)
I cannot lie
I wanna be born again into
The pool of warm blood of your love
I wanna be straight and true
I wanna grow gardens that bloom of your love
 
There was never anybody else
I would have let inside
They never held a candle up to you
I only wish you knew
That there was never anybody else
 
In the garden of love
There was never anybody else
In the garden of pain
That you built around yourself
But I'm climbing the walls
Though they are rambled and high
And you're cutting me down
But you won't tell me why
 
I cannot lie
So why do you make me?
I wanna be born again but you
How you do me so wrong with your love
I wanna be straight and true
Ain’t there nothing I can do for your love?
 
There was never anybody else
I would have let inside
They never held a candle up to you
I only wish you knew
That there was never anybody else
 
In the garden of love
There was never anybody else
In the garden of pain
That you built around yourself
But I'm climbing the walls
Though they are rambled and high
And you're cutting me down
But you won't tell me why
 
We compress those in our vacant home (?)
Watch it fall apart
We can draw out all our grand desires
And never make a start
I'd still want to know the little things
That weigh upon your heart
 
In the garden of love
There was never anybody else
In the garden of pain
That you built around yourself
But I'm climbing the walls
And they are rambled and high
And you're cutting me down
But you won't tell me why