I still prefer the original, mostly because I don't like the grating instrumental (at 2:10 and at the end), but voice-wise this is a great cover. My interpretation of the song is that the poet feels that here is a garden in his mind dedicated to the memory of one Jane Delawney, a person he cared about deeply but who is now gone. I believe Jane struggled with mental illness and the garden reflects her fragility, but he cared about her and wished he could help her.
I had only ever heard this sung by Jeff Buckley and Elkie Brooks, then heard this version for the first time last night. Wonderful. Thank you to #BecomeUngovernable Radio, which I, coincidentally, also listened to for the first time last night. Also wonderful.
this is my favourite version of this song. But heard a man sing it today at a funeral and it was lovely with a fabulous pianist. June Tabor's version is enhanced by the cello
This is an absolute treasure ( forgive the pun!😅) just listening to it here sat in a Victorian house, on a wet & cold autumn Saturday afternoon with a small black cat curled up next to me. RU-vid is invaluable, we would never find such treats so easily I feel. Great post 😊👍
"The memory of past bliss is the anguish of today, and the agonies which are have their origin in the ectasies which might have been" AND THIS IS WHY WHEN I READ POE I DRINK.
She reminds me of someone I may have met on the road at a gas stop. An exchange of pleasantries and then, each to resume our journeys to wherever we ended up.
I found this as a possible interpretation of that scene hope it helps : "This scene is a point of climax in the story -- it is the point where Laura can't go back to her sweet innocence, and yet she is not scarred or cynical as a result of her moments with the dead man. The narrator, in relating Laura's thoughts, uses all of the language of sleep to talk about the death. The dead man's sister says "'e looks a picture" and that is exactly what Laura sees -- but it is not a negative or morbid picture, it is a picture of sleeping. She notes that he looks fast asleep and far away from the people in this room, and this world for that matter. She imagines he is dreaming and would hate to see him awakened because he in his dream/death he is far from the frivolousness of life and the hardships of life. She says his death is a marvel -- something to be inspire wonder and awe. Her reaction is so unexpected to us as readers that we are left rethinking what think we know about death. Her inability to express a complete statement about the meaning of life when she talks to her brother in the end represents that as well. What words make logical sense to convey what she understands now?"
Unfortunately as far as I am aware (I remember researching it at the time Kirsty's compilation triple album came out and did a quick search again just now) "Jack Rooney: In Person" was never staged which is such a shame as I am sure it would have been great if this song by Philip Chevron (of The Pogues) is anything to go by.
