"The Hanging Garden" by The Cure depicts a mysterious and atmospheric scene in a hanging garden, where creatures engage in secret encounters and masks are worn. The lyrics evoke a sense of darkness and secrecy, with references to creatures kissing in the rain and the animals crying and dying.

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Meaning of "The Hanging Garden" by The Cure


The lyrics of "The Hanging Garden" are open to interpretation, but they predominantly create a cryptic and dreamlike atmosphere. The hanging garden serves as a metaphorical space where unrestrained desires and forbidden encounters take place. The reference to creatures kissing in the rain suggests a sense of freedom and abandon, while the mention of shapelessness and masks implies a desire to escape personal identity or societal norms. The repetition of the phrase "fall into the walls" and the line "jump out of time" evoke a wish to transcend the limitations of reality and experience a different dimension. The animals screaming, crying, and dying can be seen as representative of the baser, more primal aspects of human nature being suppressed or repressed. The hanging garden, therefore, becomes a space where these repressed desires and emotions are able to manifest and be explored. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of longing for escape, a rejection of societal constraints, and a fascination with the darker aspects of human nature.