2025-07-18: Lulu, A Terrific Love Story - The Movie

"A Beautiful Garden" The Tragic Love Story of Lulu, Made for Television 12 Episodes Miniseries.

The story of Luke, a Rastafari young man with dread locks, he sells coconuts at a farm stand on the side of US Highway 1 in Miami Florida. Luke fell from a coconut tree and broke both arms.

Luke's girlfriend has no compassion to care for him during recovery. She packs his suitcase and drops it off at the hospital at the time of his discharge. Luke calls his sister Hope who lives in New Jersey. She flies him over to Newark airport, where is greeted by his sister and auntie. They take him home and care for him.

Luke has too much time to reflect. He desires to take a trip back to his birthplace Jamaica where he believes the real healing needs to begin. An old childhood friend picks him up at the Montego Bay airport.

Luke makes his way to St. Ann to the home he was born in 1979. He makes two stops. His mother's headstone is crowded with weeds, and his father's graveside is overgrown in bushes.

Luke forgets his own pain, he forgets his broken arms in casts, he forgets his broken heart in Florida, he forgets his broken dreams fallen flat under that coconut tree.

All that occupies Luke's thoughts now is the forgotten Love Story of Lulu and Don and the beautiful garden they planted, which neither of his parents got to pick of its floral bounty. Setting in 1971, Ocho Rios, St. Ann, Jamaica. Lulu and Don falls in love.

Album Overview: Beautiful Garden by Donald & Lulu with The Wailers

• Release: 1982 (recorded), 1983 (released in Germany)
• Label: Third World Sound Ltd (LP 98101).
• Artists: Donald Davidson (vocals, acoustic guitar), Kevan "Lulu" Davidson (vocals, acoustic guitar), backed by The Wailers (Aston "Family Man" Barrett on bass, Carlton "Carly" Barrett on drums, Julian "Junior" Marvin on lead guitar, and others)
• Genre: Roots Reggae, Folk, Reggae-Pop
• Context: This rare album, recorded at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, features the husband-and-wife duo Donald and Kevan "Lulu" Davidson, with Lulu being an American artist who took the stage name "Lulu." The album is described as a collection of “Rasta life, love, and love songs from Jamaica”. It includes a booklet with stories, lyrics, and pictures, though this booklet is not widely available online. Tragically, Kevan "Lulu" Davidson was murdered in 1996 near Hampstead, Jamaica, adding a layer of poignancy to the album’s legacy
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•  Tracklist:
  1. Just Cool Runnin’s (3:45)
  2. You’d Better Believe It (3:40)
  3. I Know You’re a Child (5:00)
  4. Lulu, What We Gonna Do (4:54)
  5. Dream of Me (5:51, arranged by Donald and Lulu Davidson, written as Traditional)
  6. Love One Another (5:00)
  7. Marble Stones (4:18)
  8. I Never Wrote a Love Song (3:42)
  9. Destiny (3:26, written by Bruce J. Coleman)
  10. Beautiful Garden (5:23)

1. Just Cool Runnin’s (3:45)
   • Description: Likely an upbeat, laid-back reggae track celebrating a carefree, Rastafari lifestyle. The phrase “cool runnin’s” evokes Jamaican slang for smooth, easygoing vibes, possibly reflecting Donald and Lulu’s joyful moments together.
   • Thematic Tie: Could mirror Don and Lulu’s early romance in 1971 Ocho Rios, full of optimism and rhythm.
2. You’d Better Believe It (3:40)
   • Description: A confident, possibly assertive reggae-pop track, urging belief in love or faith. The title suggests a bold declaration, perhaps about commitment or Rastafari principles.
   • Thematic Tie: May echo Don’s efforts to win Lulu’s heart, convincing her of their shared future.
3. I Know You’re a Child (5:00)
   • Description: A soulful, introspective song, possibly addressing innocence or vulnerability in love. The longer duration suggests a deeper, storytelling vibe, common in roots reggae.
   • Thematic Tie: Could reflect Lulu’s youthful spirit or Don’s protective affection in their 1971 story.
4. Lulu, What We Gonna Do (4:54)
   • Description: A romantic or questioning track, likely a dialogue between Donald and Lulu about their relationship’s future. The title’s direct address to “Lulu” suggests personal intimacy.
   • Thematic Tie: Aligns with a pivotal moment in Don and Lulu’s romance, perhaps facing external challenges (e.g., the Man in a Suit from the miniseries script).
5. Dream of Me (5:51, Traditional)
   • Description: A traditional Jamaican song, arranged by Donald and Lulu, likely a tender ballad with folk-reggae roots. The title suggests longing or nostalgia, possibly about enduring love.
   • Thematic Tie: Could represent Don and Lulu’s dreams for their garden and legacy, resonating with Daniel’s reflections in 2025.
6. Love One Another (5:00)
   • Description: A spiritual, uplifting reggae anthem promoting unity and love, a common theme in Rastafari music. The Wailers’ backing likely adds a rich, soulful sound.
   • Thematic Tie: Reflects the universal love Don and Lulu aimed to cultivate, paralleling Daniel’s mission to honor their legacy.
7. Marble Stones (4:18)
   • Description: A poetic track, possibly about permanence or loss, with “marble stones” evoking gravestones or enduring monuments. The mid-tempo duration suggests emotional depth.
   • Thematic Tie: May connect to Daniel’s visit to his parents’ overgrown graves, symbolizing their lasting but neglected love.
8. I Never Wrote a Love Song (3:42)
   • Description: A reflective, perhaps ironic track about the challenges of expressing love through music. Its shorter length suggests a lighter, reggae-pop style.
   • Thematic Tie: Could depict Don or Lulu’s humility in their love story, contrasting their grand dreams with simple expressions.
9. Destiny (3:26, written by Bruce J. Coleman)
   • Description: A concise, destiny-focused track, likely exploring fate or divine guidance in love. The external writer suggests a different lyrical perspective, possibly more pop-oriented.
   • Thematic Tie: May reflect Don and Lulu’s belief in a fated love, or Daniel’s sense of purpose in restoring their garden.
10. Beautiful Garden (5:23)
    • Description: The title track, likely a heartfelt reggae ballad celebrating love and nature. Its longer runtime suggests a climactic, emotional centerpiece for the album.
    • Thematic Tie: Directly ties to the miniseries’ metaphor of Don and Lulu’s garden as their love and legacy, which Daniel seeks to revive.