Gardening at Night

Album: Eponymous (1982)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck explained to Q magazine in 1992: "There was an old guy in my neighborhood who would be out gardening at 2 a.m. in his suit and tie. I'd see him when I was out trying to get a beer at the Magic Mart or somewhere. It's basically a metaphor for the uselessness of everything."
  • Drummer Bill Berry remembers this as being the band's first layered guitar track. He recalled in the liner notes for Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982-2011: "We were novices to the studio and overdubbing capabilities of multi-track tape. Despite his youth at the time, [producer] Mitch Easter had managed to assemble a fine collection of guitars. Pete seemed to be having a blast adding guitar tracks with various 6-stringed instruments and for good reason. It sounded cool. Listen for his psychedelic touch on electric sitar during the two quiet breakdowns."
  • Michael Stipe noted this as "our first real song, all the ones before it were us counting to ten, back and forth."
  • In the 2006 compilation And I Feel Fine... The Best of the I.R.S Years 1982-1987, Berry recalled how he first heard the title phrase: "We were driving at night after a show (I don't remember where), and I was at the wheel of our old car, with a rental trailer in tow. One of my three passengers aimed a directive at me. Rather than inform me of his desire to evacuate his bladder, he instead suggested that I pull over so that he might engage in the task of roadside 'night gardening.' To four guys in their early twenties this was a glaring catalyst for a new song."

Comments: 2

  • Stephen Edward from St. PetersburgIf it weren’t for Michael and Morrissey, as a confused religiously raised, often moving, as a family, confused young man going to hair school while they built a new freeway, they saved my life. God bless you for keeping this, now old man, reminiscing over the lyrics that made me feel relevant
  • Bill from Austin, TxAt an after show party in 1983, Mike Mills told me that gardening at night was an euphemism for taking a roadside piss, so I can confirm Berry's origin story for the song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

dUg Pinnick of King's X

dUg Pinnick of King's XSongwriter Interviews

dUg dIgs into his King's X metal classics and his many side projects, including the one with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.