As a child she was always singing. Edale, in Derbyshire, was the ideal place to nurture this natural ability, with an abundance of communal song. Having played the fiddle a small amount at school, Bella attended a Folkworks Youth Summer School in Durham age 13. Motivated by the number of young people playing folk music, she was inspired to begin working on folk fiddle. She also met many of her great friends and musical companions.
Some of these new friends arranged to meet up again, and on New Year's Day a year later The Pack was formed. Initially The Pack was a way for this group of people to get free tickets to festivals. The spirited performances and complex arrangements of the 12 piece band proved a resounding success, and they went on to play many of the scene's greatest stages, including Cambridge Folk Festival main stage in 2003. In 2002, the only Pack album 12 Little Devils was released, with fRoots calling it "... a genuine feel good album. Get yours now!".
Hardy released her debut solo album Night Visiting in 2007, to critical acclaim. Mojo gave her a 4* 'Brilliant' rating, fRoots wrote "Bella Hardy is more than a new generation folk revivalist... Her potential is massive", and Taplas Magazine noted "...her debut CD solo album is a piece of wondrous beauty and inventive incisiveness". In 2008 she was nominated for the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. She was also nominated for Best Original Song the same year with Three Black Feathers, which Jim Moray went on to record on his 2008 album Low Culture.
Hardy released her second solo album In The Shadow of Mountains in 2009 at the Cambridge Folk Festival. Again it gained critical acclaim. English Dance and Song Magazine wrote "It's astounding and somewhat daunting to realise this is only Bella's second album... Surely no-one has any right to be writing songs with the sophistication of 'Sylvie Sovay', so early in their career..."
One More Day
Bella Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One more day
We're homeward bound tomorrow
One more day
Only one more day, Charlie
Only one more day
Oh rock and roll me over, Charlie
Heave and sight the anchor, Charlie
One more day
Oh heave and sight the anchor
One more day
Only one more day, Charlie
Only one more day
Oh rock and roll me over, Charlie
One more day
I'm bound away to leave you, Charlie
One more day
But I will not deceive you
One more day
Only one more day, Charlie
Only one more day
Oh rock and roll me over, Charlie
One more day
One more day, Charlie
One more day
Oh rock and roll me over, Charlie
One more day
The song "One More Day" by Bella Hardy is a traditional sea shanty that tells the story of a sailor named Charlie and his crew who are about to head back home after a long voyage. The repetitive chorus of "one more day" emphasizes the crew's excitement and anticipation to finally return home. The lyrics also convey a sense of bittersweetness - while the crew is eager to see their loved ones, they are also sad to leave the sea and the companionship of their fellow sailors. The line "I'm bound away to leave you, Charlie, but I will not deceive you" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the singer is saying goodbye to someone they care about deeply.
The song's use of nautical imagery and language is also significant. The commands to "heave and sight the anchor" and "rock and roll me over" are typical of sea shanties and reflect the labor-intensive work of sailing. Additionally, the song's repeated use of the name "Charlie" creates a sense of camaraderie and solidarity among the crew members. Overall, "One More Day" captures the timeless themes of longing, homesickness, and the enduring bond between sailors.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you heard the news, Charlie?
Bella is asking Charlie if he's aware of what's unfolding
We're homeward bound tomorrow
They'll be making their departure soon
Only one more day, Charlie
They're so close to their goal and it's exciting
Oh rock and roll me over, Charlie
An expression of joy and happiness
Heave and sight the anchor, Charlie
They're getting everything ready for their departure
I'm bound away to leave you, Charlie
Bella will be leaving Charlie soon
But I will not deceive you
She's promising to be truthful with him
One more day, Charlie
A reminder that they only have a short amount of time left together
Oh rock and roll me over, Charlie
An expression of joy and happiness
Writer(s): Bella Hardy Copyright: Domino Publishing Co. Ltd.
Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hughie McNeill
Superb song from a great album!