Well, everyone has said it so well, but I may as well put my two cents worth in too. I agree that the "ghostly gardens" in Nathan LaFraneer refer to the urban decay of NYC that Joni, or the character singing in the song, is abandoning in the song. The album, like BSN, and, to some extent, HOSL, is a song cycle..."Out of the city and down to the seaside". The young woman narrating has packed up her life, and is fleeing the artificial garden for the beauty of Sisotowbell Lane. The song has some biblical resonance for me, hands full of silver, dreams betrayed, what have you... At the moment, my copy of the CD, and of LOTC, are being held hostage by my 19 year old nephew. So heartening to pass the music down to the next generation, although eventually I would like them back! Maybe I'll replace them with HDCD copies. Sometimes I wish Joni would authorize a boxed set if just for uniform sound quality. I can't count how many copies I have bought over the years.... Cheers, Patrick Vancouver
