The Grove of Eglantine

 

The Grove Of Eglantine
Written by Dennis DeYoung
Lead Vocals by Dennis DeYoung

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Hey you there
Cast an eye this way
You with that young lust virgin smile
Don't pretend that you're quickly melting before my eyes
That's a lie

'Cause I see all of you
Quite clearly now
I like our looks your moves you know everything
So when I ring you up in the evening I shall meet you

In the Grove of Eglantine
Just south of man's delight
Close to a soft flowing stream

In the Grove of Eglantine
We will join as lovers might
Between the lines of a dream

Your magic lips
Have made me realize
All of the pleasures man can fantasize
So don't pretend that you're sad to see me say goodbye
That's a lie

You're a wicked wench...ha
But thanks for all the laughs
You and your young lust virgin smile
And when I'm gone for awhile
I'll once more want to meet you

In the Grove of Eglantine
Just south of man's delight
Close to a soft flowing stream

In the Grove of Eglantine
We will join as lovers might
Between the lines of a dream
In the Grove of Eglantine
Just south of man's delight
Close to a soft flowing stream

In the Grove of Eglantine
We will join as lovers might
Between the lines of a dream

In Eglantine...of a dream (fade)

Interpretation

[Excerpted from an interview with Dennis DeYoung on the Jonathan Brandmeyer show on WLUP in 1997]
DDY: ...I have a song on there [The Serpent Is Rising] called The Grove Of Eglantine, you know what that means?
JB: No, I have no idea
DDY: Oh please.
JB: I have no idea
DDY: Well, it's a Victorian reference to a part of the female anatomy
JB: The Grove of Eglantine refers to the vagina?
DDY: Well, yeah.
JB: Get outta here!
DDY: They call it The Grove at Eglantine, but I changed it to The Grove of Eglantine.
[End interview excerpt]

With that in mind, lines like "just south of man's delight", "close to a soft flowing stream" and "we will join as lovers might" take on a whole new meaning...