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..."
Sprig of Thyme
Bella Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Traditional. Joseph Taylor sang this to Percy Granger in 1908. I sing it in memory of Lincolnshire folk singer/collector Brian Dawson.
Once I had a sprig of thyme
I watched it by night and by day
Till a false young man came a-courting to me
And he stole all me thyme away
And thyme it will grow on
And time it will bring all things to an end
And so does my time go on
The gardener was standing by
I asked him to choose for me
And he chose me the violet, and the lily, and the pink
Oh, but surely I refused them all three
It's very well a-drinking ale
And it's nice just to have a drop of wine
Oh, but I like sitting by the young man's side
That's stolen this heart of mine
The song "Sprig of Thyme" is a traditional folk song that was originally sung by Joseph Taylor and later recorded by Percy Granger in 1908. Bella Hardy sings this song as a tribute to Brian Dawson, a folk singer and collector from Lincolnshire.
The lyrics tell the story of a young woman who once had a sprig of thyme, which she cherished and tended to day and night. However, a deceitful young man came into her life and stole her thyme away from her. Through the metaphor of the stolen thyme, the song conveys the theme of lost innocence and betrayal in love. The woman mourns the loss of her thyme, recognizing its preciousness and its ability to bring about an end. She acknowledges the passage of time and how it affects all things, including her own journey through life.
In the second verse, the woman seeks advice from a gardener about which flower to choose. The gardener suggests the violet, lily, and pink, but the woman refuses them all, indicating her refusal to move on and accept new love. She longs for the young man who has stolen her heart and sitting by his side, despite his betrayal.
Overall, the song captures the bittersweet emotions of lost love and the complexities of the human heart. It highlights the delicate nature of relationships and the profound impact they can have on one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I had a sprig of thyme
In the past, I possessed a small portion of thyme
I watched it by night and by day
I carefully observed and nurtured it throughout day and night
Till a false young man came a-courting to me
Until a deceitful young man approached me romantically
And he stole all me thyme away
He took away all my precious thyme from me
For thyme it is a precious thing
Thyme holds great value and significance
And thyme it will grow on
Thyme will continue to thrive and flourish
And time it will bring all things to an end
The passing of time eventually concludes all matters
And so does my time go on
Similarly, my own existence moves forward with time
The gardener was standing by
I encountered a gardener nearby
I asked him to choose for me
I requested his assistance in making a selection
And he chose me the violet, and the lily, and the pink
He offered me options such as the violet, lily, and pink flowers
Oh, but surely I refused them all three
However, I declined each of those choices
It's very well a-drinking ale
It may be enjoyable to consume ale
And it's nice just to have a drop of wine
Similarly, indulging in a small amount of wine is pleasant
Oh, but I like sitting by the young man's side
Nevertheless, I derive satisfaction from being in the presence of the young man
That's stolen this heart of mine
Who has captured my heart through his actions
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Mute Song Limited, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Traditional, Bella Hardy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hardcastle & Scott
Such huge fans of this song! Brilliant :) x
cihelmrich
Nice
ZeroPhoenix
Bruh what is this like to view ratio underrated!