Ayle… Read Full Bio ↴Barns Courtney (born Barnaby George Courtney on 17 November 1990 in
Aylesbury, England) is an English singer, songwriter and musician.
Courtney spent a large part of his childhood in Seattle,USA, before returning to home country UK as a 15-year-old. This change of scenery comes across as clearly in his eclectic mix of US blues-rock, hip-hop and grunge with British indie melodic sensibilities, as it does in his hybrid US-British twang.
Playing in various projects and bands growing up whilst developing his sound, Barns incarnation as a solo artist has been an unexpectedly fast paced one. At the end of 2015, his first track ‘Glitter & Gold’, with its rocking gospel-blues and Barns’ honey & sand delivery, soared to #1 on the UK Spotify Viral Chart, #2 on the iTunes Alternative Chart, was added to the BBC Introducing Playlist, clocked hundred of thousands of plays on YouTube, and was featured on the ITV Winter 2015 drama reel, all in the span of two months.
‘Goodbye John Smith’, a poignant piano ballad that channels ageless song-and-voice men such as Johnny Cash and Tom Waits, hit the radars of tastemakers online and further spread the word about Barns, earning him a spot as one of Channel 4’s Future Sounds artists that year.
Barns Courtney released his debut EP, ‘Hands’, a four-track collection, in 2016 on Virgin EMI.
Hard To Be Alone
Barns Courtney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Written in your face
Freckles spread like constellations all over the place
Darling I walked you to the station
Shooting with my heart on my sleeve
Now I'm staring at your photograph
And hoping you ain't made a fool of me
When you're on your own beneath the lonely lights
Oh darling if I ever cross your mind
Won't you let me know?
Oh it's hard
Oh it's hard to be alone
Oh it's hard
Oh it's hard to be alone
Moved to the big city and called it home
Oh what a crowded place to live alone
She was a choir girl when we were young
What have we done?
What have we done?
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ay
So if you're struggling to go to sleep tonight
When you're on your own beneath the lonely lights
Oh darling if I ever cross your mind
Won't you let me know?
Oh it's hard
Oh it's hard to be alone
Oh it's hard
Oh it's hard to be alone
In the first verse of "Hard To Be Alone," Barns Courtney describes the freckles on his lover's face as constellations, painting a vivid picture of her beauty. However, the song quickly takes a turn as he reflects on his own vulnerability in the relationship. He admits to walking her to the station with his heart on his sleeve, hoping that she won't make a fool of him. The chorus then reveals the underlying theme of the song: how difficult it is to be alone. The repeating lines emphasize the struggle of being without someone to share life's ups and downs with.
The second verse adds to the storytelling by outlining the singer's backstory. He moved to the city in search of a new beginning, but living alone in such a bustling place has its challenges. He reminisces about his lover's past, highlighting the remorse he feels over what they may have lost. The final repetition of the chorus is paired with a chant-like "ooh ooh" chorus, adding a sense of a final plea to not be left alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I could see the city
I recognized the hustle and bustle of the busy city life reflected in your face.
Freckles spread like constellations all over the place
Your freckles are like stars, scattered all over your face, shining and guiding my way.
Darling I walked you to the station
I accompanied you to the station, hoping that you would come back someday.
Shooting with my heart on my sleeve
I am expressing my deepest emotions with sincerity and openness to you.
Now I'm staring at your photograph
I am staring at the picture of you, hoping that you still think about me.
And hoping you ain't made a fool of me
I hope that you haven't taken advantage of my love and trust.
So if you're struggling to go to sleep tonight
In case you are having a hard time falling asleep while being alone tonight
When you're on your own beneath the lonely lights
Feeling lonely in the night with only the lights for company
Oh darling if I ever cross your mind
If you ever recall me passing your thoughts
Won't you let me know?
Can you inform me?
Moved to the big city and called it home
Relocated to the hectic metropolis and claimed it as a permanent settlement.
Oh what a crowded place to live alone
It is a crowded place to feel empty and alone.
She was a choir girl when we were young
She was a girl who sang in a choir in our youthful days.
What have we done?
What have we achieved?
Ooh, ooh
Humming sounds expressing nostalgic feelings
Ooh, ooh
Humming sounds expressing nostalgic feelings
Ooh, ooh
Humming sounds expressing nostalgic feelings
Ooh, ay
Humming sounds expressing nostalgic feelings
Oh it's hard
It is difficult
Oh it's hard to be alone
It is challenging to be by oneself
Oh it's hard
It is difficult
Oh it's hard to be alone
It is challenging to be by oneself
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Barnaby Courtney, Jimmy Napes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniela Simões
I could see the city written in your face
Freckles spread like constellations all over the place
Darling, I walked you to the station
Shooting with my heart on my sleeve
Now I'm staring at your photograph
And hoping you ain't made a fool of me
So if you're struggling to go to sleep tonight
When you're on your own beneath the lonely lights
Oh, darling, if I ever cross your mind
Won't you let me know?
Oh, it's hard
Oh, it's hard to be alone
Oh, it's hard
Oh, it's hard to be alone
Moved to the big city and called it home
Oh, what a crowded place to live alone
She was a choir girl when we were young
What have we done, what have we done
So if you're struggling to go to sleep tonight
When you're on your own beneath the lonely lights
Oh, darling, if I ever cross your mind
Won't you let me know?
Oh, it's hard
Oh, it's hard to be alone
Oh, it's hard
Oh, it's hard to be alone
Sarah Kiamie
lyrics:
i can see the city written in your face
freckles spread like constellations all over the place
darling, i walked you to the station
shooting with my heart on my sleeve
now i'm staring at your photograph and hoping you ain't made a fool of me
so if you're struggling to go to sleep tonight
when you're on your own beneath the lonely lights
oh, darling, if i ever cross your mind
won't you let me know?
oh it's hard
oh it's hard to be alone
oh it's hard
oh it's hard to be alone
moved to the big city and called it home
oh, what a crowded place to live alone
she was a choir girl when we were young
what have we done?
what have we done?
ooh, ooh
ooh, ooh
hey, hey
so if you're struggling to go to sleep tonight
when you're on your own beneath the lonely lights
oh, darling, if i ever cross your mind
won't you let me know?
oh it's hard
oh it's hard to be alone
oh it's hard
oh it's hard to be alone
Jacxo _
I swear Barns Courtney songs never disappoint me they are all so good and the fact that hes so under-rated makes me angry.
FazzarFazzar
So true
Derick Plazaola
Fucking facts 😔
Andrea Jane
So true. But I cherish the time that only a few of us know about him. He’s like the best kept secret. One of my favourite obscure bands has gotten a lot of radio play the last few years and she’s becoming quite popular. I am going to miss seeing her in some hole in the wall venue. Lol
Nepheson
It’s because he actually takes time with his songs he never disappoints because he works so hard on every single song and he cares about every single fan he has
Christia Corley
@Andrea Jane exactly. Enjoy them intimately while we can....
Tur1n_Lad1n
I swear, Barns Courtney have one of the best voices I've ever heard, not for his notes, it's for his unique way to sing
Marvel Moose
Agreed
Darkbringer 26
Its very old school kings of leon.
Roy Moreno
Same for Matt Maeson