The Garden

PJ Harvey · Is This Desire? [1998]

and he was walking in the garden

and he was walking in the night

and he was singing a sad love song

and he was praying for his life

and the stars came out around him

he was thinking of his sins

and he's looking at his song-bird

and he's looking at his wings

there inside the garden

came another with his lips

said, 'Won't you come and be my lover?'

'Let me give you a little kiss?'

and he came, knelt down before him



and fell upon his knees

said, 'I will give you gold and mountains

if you stay a while with me...'

and there was trouble taking place...

there inside the garden

they kissed, and the sun rose

and he walked a little further

and he found he was alone

and the wind, it gathered round him

he was thinking of his sins

he was looking at his song-bird

and he was looking at his wings

and there was trouble taking place...

The Garden

PJ Harvey's "The Garden" appears on the 1998 album *Is This Desire?*, marking a pivotal moment in her discography where she fully embraced her signature gothic rock and art rock sensibilities. The track exemplifies her ability to weave atmospheric textures with raw, emotive vocals, creating a soundscape that balances haunting beauty with underlying tension. Released during a period of intense creative exploration, the recording reflects her deep engagement with themes of desire, isolation, and the complexities of human connection. As a cornerstone of her late-90s work, the song stands as a testament to her unique voice, influencing countless artists who followed in her wake and cementing her status as a formidable force in alternative music.