Wicked Garden

Album: Core (1992)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song about innocence lost could be seen as a general sentiment, but it could also relate to drug use, describing the temptations, along with the highs and lows, that come from drug abuse. The song was written before lead singer Scott Weiland made the tragic decision to try heroin.
  • A band composition, Scott Weiland came up with the idea for this song before the band got a record deal. At the time, they were known as Mighty Joe Young, and they still had day jobs: Weiland worked for a modeling agency as a driver.

Comments: 15

  • Lone Wolf from NyIt’s cool to have your own interpretations. Sometimes meanings get in the way.
  • Brandon from IowaI think it is about sex but could be heroine or both…..
  • Anonymous from GeorgiaWhen I first heard Wicked GARDEN, I thought that sounds an awful like Ted Nugent- Stranglehold. Strange thing is that kids these days think that what they hear is original. Alot is reproduced and claimed their own.
  • AnonymousI think the best or instruments sound oddly similar to stranglehold by Ted Nugent personally. I’m surprised if they didn’t get sued
  • Jack from UsaThis song is about Drugs. His own Drug use.
    The person Scott is finding is named Heroine.

    Can you feel like a child?
    Can you see what I want?

    He is just telling the world he wants to see the world as an innocent child.

    I wanna run through your wicked garden
    Heard that's the place to find ya

    He desires Heroine. However, to get to her, you have to do some harmful wicked s--t to yourself to get to her playground, hence, 'wicked garden'.

    But I'm alive
    So alive now
    I know the darkness blinds you

    He is fooling himself here and thinking that he is all sensible and sober and can journey into her garden without any problems.

    Can you see without eyes?
    Can you speak without lies?

    I wanna drink from you naked fountain
    I can drown your sorrows

    He wants a drink from Heroine. After drinking Scott things he can drown his own sorrow as well as anyone else. The "your" in this case refers to anyone in general.

    I'm gonna burn, burn you to life now
    Out of the chains that bind you

    You Burn Heroine with a spoon to get it out of its chains.


    Can you see just like a child?
    Can you see just what I want?

    Pleading to the world to see Scott's point of view.

    Can I bring you back to life?
    Are you scared of life?

    Self questioning as he is getting high. This is him talking to himself from a 3rd person POV.

    Burn, burn, burn
    Burn your wicked garden down
    Burn, burn, burn
    Burn your wicked garden to the ground

    Burning Heroine out of her wicked garden. This just means the act of burning the drug.


    Can you feel pain inside?
    Can you love?
    Can you cry?

    Some more Self Questioning. Its vague, but could also probably be throwing the questions back to Heroine.














  • Breanna from Salem, OhOk. Well, I think its about sex. Poetically a garden refers to a women's umm well u know v. And he wants to drink from it, oral stimulation and running through it is sex. Burning is well burning with passion which normally is symbolized by fire or burning. The darkness can refer to the act of sex itself its consumed with lust. Honestly that's why I feel in love with this song, I thought it was like a poetic love song. It was like it made sex sound magical. LOL if I'm wrong then I'm just creative.
  • Will from Mcallen, TxThis song is actually about a pedophile talking to a little girl. The little girl has a terrible life and he wants to steal her away for himself, so he can take her virginity.
  • Nick from Cleveland, OhJust a straight-forward rocker, the drums kick ass in this song.
  • Cel from Philadelphia, PaGreat song. Been stuck in my head for the last several days.
  • Seth from Hebron, KyMy favorite STP song.
  • Jacob from Lafayette, TnI also think that this song is about a drug problem of Scott's friend. But, I think that it's about Scott wanting to try it for himself at the beginning. "I wanna' run through your wicked garden, 'cause that's the place to find you" I think that's saying he wants to try this drug that his friend is doing, and enjoy it with him. But, later in the song he's wanting to "burn the wicked garden" because he doesn't like this new drug or the addiction to it. Just my two cents.
  • Aron Queen from Lucasville, OhIt doesn't sound anything like Alice in Chains.....if anything it is structured like Nirvanas "In Bloom".
  • Darel from Kosciusko, MsThis song is about Scott Weiland's girlfriend not wanting to shave her vaginal area... He wants "to drink from your naked fountain"...Can't you see what he wants?
  • Nathan from Memphis, TnMy ass. I'm a pretty big Alice in Chains fan, and I know this song is no rip at all.
  • Elliot from St. Louis, MoA good and catchty song, though a little bit of ripping of Alice in Chains. Great song, though.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"

Mike Scott of The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues"They're Playing My Song

Armed with a childhood spent devouring books, Mike Scott's heart was stolen by the punk rock scene of 1977. Not surprisingly, he would go on to become the most literate of rockers.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.