Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) Lyrics
As the New York sunset disappeared
I found an empty garden among the flagstones there
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And now it all looks strange
It's funny how one insect can damage so much grain
This little empty garden by the brownstone door
And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more
Who lived here
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
And we are so amazed we're crippled and we're dazed
A gardener like that one no one can replace
And I've been knocking most all the day
Oh and I've been calling oh hey hey Johnny
Can't you come out to play
Some say he farmed his best in younger years
But he'd have said that roots grow stronger if only he could hear
Who lived there
He must have been a gardener that cared a lot
Who weeded out the tears and grew a good crop
Now we pray for rain, and with every drop that falls
We hear, we hear your name
Such a beautiful song. I think it's so sweet at the end where he is asking Johnny to "come out to play" in such a innocent childlike way and he sort of can't understand what has happened.
As the song begins we are coming upon the Dakota where John Lennon lived in N.Y. city. The garden (John's that he told Elton he wanted to start but never did) is nonexistent, only the flagstones or walkway.
- Who lived here? (We are asked to contemplate who John was.) -He must have been a gardener who cared a lot. -Who Weeded out the tares (not tears) or weeds into a good crop. (Yes John was a person who cared a lot about mankind.) -And now it all looks strange -Its funny how one insect can damage so much grain (His murderer)
-And whats it for -The little empty garden by the brownstone door -And in the cracks along the sidewalk nothing grows no more (The Dakota)
- we're crippled and we're dazed (after John was shot)
- a gardener like that one no one can replace (Lennon, irreplaceable)
-Ive been knockin but no one answers (Elton visited John at the Dakota many times in happier days)
-and through their tears -some say he farmed his best in younger years (John's work with the Beatles) -but he'd say the roots grow stronger (ones abilities during their lifetime - possibly)
- if only he could hear
-now we pray for rain and with every drop that falls
- we hear his name (gotta leave something open for interpretation) (OK, after the farmer's work is done all he can do is pray for rain) (we as the one become the many)
Thank you. Ever since the first time I heard this song - possibly his best, certainly one of his best - I was moved by it. It is only now, so many years later, that it finally nagged at me enough to investigate what it meant. This was beautifully written and clear eyed - just what it needed.
Thank you. Ever since the first time I heard this song - possibly his best, certainly one of his best - I was moved by it. It is only now, so many years later, that it finally nagged at me enough to investigate what it meant. This was beautifully written and clear eyed - just what it needed.
@VolumePlse Its funny how one insect can damage so much grain (His murderer) -> this part is brilliant!
@VolumePlse Its funny how one insect can damage so much grain (His murderer) -> this part is brilliant!
This is such a touching tribute to John Lennon. Whatever will we do when Elton John is no longer around to memorialize our cultural icons? Such a pretty song.
Elton's has many great contributions to music, but this is by far his best....Just a phenomenal and beautiful song....
I agree with bluelady that the ending is both beautiful and sweet, and I never tire of hearing that part of this song. But to me, the line that grips me shall forever be "we're crippled and we're dazed". Every song about the loss of someone dear to us is filled with sadness and fond memories, but this powerful line underscores just how tragic this murder was, and how grevious a loss it was for all of us.
Beautiful song, I totally agree with PhoebeQ.
Beautiful song, I totally agree with PhoebeQ.
Some trivia Elton John rarely plays this at his concerts since the emotions behind it are so intense. However, he performed this at a sold-out Madison Square Garden show in August 1982, and was joined onstage by Lennon's wife Yoko Ono and his son Sean Lennon.
Also the Garden being refered to is Madison Square Garden
Also, Elton John is actually Sean Lennon's godfather.