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My Gen X Playlist: Gardening at Night – REM

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I was reading Shelly’s blog about her garden. She confesses not to have a green thumb, but you could have fooled me by the sight of her beautiful tomatoes. It turns out, we both share a love of tomato sandwiches. I’d probably eat one a day if I had her garden. And even though I’ve given up bacon, I’d have to make a rare exception for a delicious BLT.

Growing up, my parents grew fresh vegetables in our backyard. Cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant and bell peppers were the staples. Occasionally they’d grow corn, strawberries and tomatoes. The strawberries never made it into the house. Us kids would just pick them straight off the plant and pop them in our mouths as we wandered by.

What I remember most about the tomatoes were those big, thick, green, ugly tomato worms. They used to gross me out. I still think about them when I buy tomatoes at the market. These days I’d endure those gross critters if I had a garden that produced a crop of tomatoes like Shelly’s.

A coworker let out a big Ewww when I told her I ate tomato sandwiches. It didn’t bother me in the least. She doesn’t know what she’s missing. My favorite is tomatoes on toasted sourdough, with slices of avacado for a little personality, thinly sliced cucumbers for a little crunch, a dab of mayo, with a pinch of salt and pepper. Damn, that’s good!

I started searching for tomato songs, but the list was uninspiring and I shifted gears. I thought for sure I’d already added REM’s Gardening at Night because it’s on my list of favorite songs by them. I was pleasantly surprised it hadn’t made the playlist yet.

R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck explained to Qmagazine 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.”

Songfacts

It’s odd what people do in the middle of the night. I’m not sure gardening at 2 am would be on my list. But a tomato sandwich? Hell yes. At that hour, I may improvise and add a thin layer of scrambled egg to keep the tomato and avacado company. So good to eat at any hour. And not in a suit and tie!

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I see your money on the floor I felt the pocket change
Though all the feelings that broke through that door
Just didn't seem to be too real
The yard is nothing but a fence the sun just hurts my eyes
Somewhere it must be time for penitence
Gardening at night, it's never worth

Gardening at night
Gardening at night
Gardening at night

The neighbors go to bed at ten
Call the prayer line for a change
The charge is changing every month
They said it couldn't be arranged

We ankled up the garbage sound, but they were busy in the rows
We fell up, not to see the sun, gardening at night just didn't grow
I see your money on the floor, I felt the pocket change
Though all the feelings that broke through that door
Just didn't seem to be too real

Gardening at night
Gardening at night
Gardening at night

Your sister said that you're too young
They should know they've been there twice
The call was two and fifty one
They said it couldn't be arranged

I see your money on the floor, I felt the pocket change
Though all the feelings that broke through that door
Just didn't seem to be too real
We echoed up the garbage sound, but they were busy in the rows
We fell up not to see the sun, gardening at night just didn't grow

Gardening at night
Gardening at night
Gardening at night

20 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Gardening at Night – REM”

  1. This REM song is one of my favorites, too. My current uke teacher recorded a haunting rendition of Everybody Hurts that could make me cry sitting out at this picnic table

    This past summer’s tomato vines were magical, no doubt about it. Next summer will be my second summer of gardening ever, so that will tell the tale.

    Long live the tomato sandwich!!

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  3. I honestly think people who don’t appreciate the tomato as the sweet, delicious fruit/vegetable that it is, have only eaten those tasteless red tennis balls in the produce section of the supermarket. I grew up on fresh homegrown tomato salad for dinner on summer Friday nights. Sliced tomato, copious amounts of garlic, some salt, and extra virgin olive oil–tossed together and eaten with freshly baked Italian bread, making sure there was a piece available to sop up the delicious juice on the bottom of the bowl. Heaven!

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  4. I can’t imagine anyone objecting to something as innocuous as a tomato sandwich. I personally am not overly fond of sandwiches of any kind but a tomato warm from the garden, eaten out of hand is quite nice.

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  8. I like the sound of the tomato n avocado on sourdough!
    I grew up in an area where everyone had a garden at the back of their house and grew their own produce. Everything we ate year round was based upon what was in season. Cutting cabbages in the winter whilst trying to avoid the caterpillars brings back memories that remind me of why I don’t like these creepy little creatures although maggots are my real anathema!

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