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A Garden In The Garden State

from State Songs, Vol. 1 by David Dondero

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    These are the test pressings used to evaluate vinyl quality before the main run is pressed. There are only 5 in existence. These will be hand numbered. They come in a paper sleeve

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    State Songs, Vol. 1 is the first in a series of 7"'s containing songs written for states in which David Dondero has lived. This is a PRE-ORDER. 7" will be delivered in Summer 2023

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about

My mother and step father moved my sister and I to New Jersey from Minnesota in 1976. I was 7 years old. I spent many formative years in the Garden State. We lived in Caldwell, Denville and Hackettstown. I remember driving in on route 80 through the Delaware Water Gap in my Mom’s Ford Ltd. I asked my stepfather, “Where’s the garden in the Garden State? Why is it called the Garden State?” I think he said something like “because it’s paradise kid.” I was playing at a bar called the Saint in Asbury Park and some guy at the bar asked me “What do you know about the Garden State?” As i was spouting off memories of New Jersey in the 80’s. The challenging question led to this song. A song about my 13th birthday at Action Park. The world’s most dangerous water park. Or discovering punk rock for the first time being broadcast from a pirate ship radio off Sandy Hook as my Ma bought bagels in Dover, NJ. Me twisting the radio to the left of the dial. Or seeing the Ramones for the first time on the Uncle Floyd Show. It’s a goofy techno version of chaos and traffic. I remember everybody’s gotta hurry to get to where they’re going in the Garden State. It’s a constant rushing around for no apparent reason. Nonetheless, I found the garden in the Garden State. It is a state I hold dearly in my heart and consider one of my many homes.

lyrics

A Garden In the Garden State
What do I know about the Garden State?
Lemme tell you bout the garden state
You gotta hurry hurry hurry or you’re gonna be late
To get to where you’re going in the garden state
I met New Jersey back in ’76
I was 7 years old just lookin for kicks
Drivin’ my car to the Clam Broth house
On the 280 Hoboken Route
I’d just burned a hole
through the Delaware Water Gap
Took a sonic jet ski to Action Park
Swum alongside a cannonball
Shootin’ out the tunnel in the dark
What do I know about the Garden State?
let me tell you bout the Garden State
You gotta hurry hurry hurry
Or you’re gonna be lat
To get to where you’re goin in the garden state
Couldn’t find a garden in Jersey City
But I found a garden in Weehawken
a rooftop garden just down by the river
With a panoramic view of Manhattan
I couldn’t find a garden in the Madison Square
For there was no vegetation in there
So I took the Lincoln Tunnel to the Jersey side
the landscape opened up wide
What do I know about the garden state?
Lemme tell ya bout the garden state
You gotta hurry hurry hurry or you’re gonna be late
get to where you’re goin’ in the garden state
I was a petroleum transfer technician
at the BP in Denville out on Route 10
I was an aspiring suburban break dancer
with a patented knee to butt spin
I listened to Newcleus and UTFO
But i first heard punk from the pirate ship radio
Broadcasting somewhere off Sandy Hook
I heard the Clash and the sidewalk shook
I couldn’t find a garden in jersey City
I couldn’t find the garden in Newark too
But I found a garden out in Alamuchee
Patty Gilson when I met you
With the sweet smell of chocolate from the M and M factory
Hackettstown just down in the valley
Where the Musconetcong River flows
Just by Waterloo Road
Watching the Uncle Floyd show
finally found a garden in the Garden State
i found a garden in the Garden State
i don't gotta hurry i think i'm gonna stay
cause i finally found a garden in the garden
i found a garden in the Garden State

credits

from State Songs, Vol. 1, released April 3, 2023

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