By Kiki Arochas
After the tragic shooting of Beatles legend and music icon John Lennon, a reeling world was left with nothing but memories of the all-time great musician. Elton John, an icon in his own right, was good friends with Lennon, even being named godfather to his son, Sean. After Lennon’s death, Elton, who is no stranger to tribute songs, was at first reluctant to produce one for Lennon, fearing it would be inadequate. That was until his brilliant lyricist, Bernie Taupin, sent him the lyrics for this gem – “Empty Garden.”
John opens the song by describing the setting of the event.
“What happened here, As the New York sunset disappeared
I found an empty garden, among the flagstones there”
The “Empty Garden” will be the primary recurring motif of the song. John Lennon is metaphorically referred to as a “Gardener, ” as he tends to his ‘garden’–the music world and actual world- with as much care and tenderness as a gardener does to his garden. Without his presence, then, the world is now an “Empty Garden”- without him to care for it.
Alternatively, Elton himself said at a live 2007 performance in Madison Square Garden that the “Garden” was in reference to MSG itself– the very place he and Lennon performed multiple times. Without Lennon, MSG is an empty garden, and not the same without his presence.
Who lived here? He must have been a gardener that cared a lot, Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
Consistent with the Garden metaphor taken literally, Lennon “weeded” through difficult times and ‘grew a good crop’–perhaps produced good music, or positively impacted the world.
And now it all looks strange
It’s funny how one insect can damage so much grain
The “insect” refers to Mark David Chapman, Lennon’s murderer. The grain are those impacted– Lennon’s friends and family, the music world, and the world at large-all those who Lennon cared for and cultivated have been damaged by Chapman, the same way an insect ‘damages’ a gardener’s work through attacking grain.
And what’s it for
This little empty garden by the brownstone door
And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more
I took this to be in reference to the great expanse of Lennon’s influence-even in places where grass does not normally grow, Lennon’s influence has permeated. Now, however, these distant places have no more grass growing.
And we are so amazed, we’re crippled and we’re dazed
A gardener like that one no one can replace
And I’ve been knocking but no one answers
And I’ve been knocking most of the day
Oh and I’ve been calling, oh hey hey Johnny
Can’t you come out to play
Elton has been ‘knocking’ on Lennon’s door, begging him to come back, but to no avail. “Come out to play” has a twofold meaning here–in sticking within the garden metaphor, “play” could refer to playing in the fields, or in the more literal Madison Square Garden sense, “play” as in play and perform with Elton on stage.
I didn’t catch this, but this is also a reference to Lennon’s song “Dear Prudence,” a song which opens: “Dear Prudence, won’t you come out to play?”
And through their tears
Some say he farmed his best in younger years
But he’d have said that roots grow stronger, if only he could hear
Through the hardship, while recalling him, some say Lennon performed better when he was younger, that his old music was better than his more recent songs and performances. He, though, would have said that his roots-his formative experiences-shaped who he is today. Additionally, ‘roots’ stick within the garden theme, with another plant-based reference.
Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls
We hear, we hear your name
Now we pray for the next gardener-the next artist that can tend to the music world in the same way rain grows gardens. But, with every drop that falls, with every new icon that comes and goes-we hear your name. We will never forget the one who originated it all-who inspired all who came after, all who never will quite be able to tend to the garden the same way Lennon did.
And I’ve been knocking but no one answers
And I’ve been knocking most all the day
Oh and I’ve been calling, oh hey hey Johnny
Can’t you come out, can you come out to play, Johnny
The rest of the song sees Elton begging Lennon to come back, with increasing desperation.
Can’t you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can’t you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can’t you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can’t you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can’t you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny
Can’t you come out to play in your empty garden, Johnny…