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..."
The Only Thing To Do
Bella Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been thinking I've been flying, driving,
Training I've been reading, I've been gazing
I can't see what I've been faking I'm too
Tired and I'm fading projecting and forsaking
I've been drinking wine I've been singing all the time Scared myself
Half blind with the shadows in my mind I've been running running
Running I've been trying to make you rhyme But you won't stand still
Or let the world tear me apart again?
They say the gods will have their way Well
Surely if that's true, the only thing to do is love
I've asked the tall trees,
And the coldest seas I've asked the hot dust
Dragged from short grass by the summer breeze
All the new sounds felt like old sounds Felt like
Kisses in a whisper in a rain of silver birch leaves
I've been drinking wine I've been playing all the time Danced with
Strangers on the run Danced with the shadows in my mind I've been
Writing writing writing different men
In every line But they won't stand still
So should I hide a broken heart?
Or let the world tear me apart again?
They say the gods will have their way Well
Surely if that's true, the only thing to do is
Hide a broken heart And let the world tear me apart again They say
Each dog will have it's day Well surely
If that's true, the only thing to do is love
So I'm sending my love back where your days are ending and mine are
Just beginning I'm sending my love back to the city
Sending my love back to the hills Sending my love home
There's nothing keeping me on track except the tree upon my back
Except the skyline in my heart With every word so neatly placed
With every demon found and faced should ever lesson be unlearnt?
Or should I hide a broken heart?
And let the world tear me apart again?
They say the gods will have their way Well
Surely if that's true, the only thing to do is
Hide a broken heart And let the world tear me apart again They say
Each dog will have it's day Well surely
If that's true, the only thing to do is love
In Bella Hardy's song "The Only Thing to Do", the artist speaks about her journey through life, exploring new places and trying to figure out what she truly wants. She's been travelling, thinking, flying, driving, and training, but she's still unable to see through the facade she's been presenting to the world. She's been drinking wine, singing, writing, dancing with strangers, facing her demons, and chasing after the perfect rhyme - but she's still unable to catch it. In the end, she questions whether she should keep hiding her broken heart and letting the world tear her apart or whether to embrace the love that should be the only thing to do.
A possible interpretation of the lyrics is that the artist has been searching for answers and a sense of purpose in life through various means - travelling, reading, writing, and engaging in different activities. However, she has been unable to see past her own fears and insecurities that have been holding her back. She's scared of love and the vulnerability that comes with it, yet she realizes that it's the only thing that can help her heal her broken heart and find a sense of belonging in the world.
Overall, "The Only Thing to Do" is a poignant reflection on the human condition, the quest for love and meaning, and the struggle to overcome one's inner demons.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been travelling,
I have been journeying to different places.
I've been thinking I've been flying, driving, Training
I have been contemplating and using different modes of transportation such as flying, driving, and taking trains.
I've been reading, I've been gazing
In addition, I have been reading and contemplating things I have seen.
I can't see what I've been faking I'm too Tired and I'm fading projecting and forsaking
I am too exhausted to keep up the facade I've been portraying and letting go of important matters due to my tiredness.
I've been drinking wine I've been singing all the time
Drinking wine and singing has become my routine.
Scared myself Half blind with the shadows in my mind I've been running running Running
The fear of my own thoughts has caused me to run away from them.
I've been trying to make you rhyme But you won't stand still
I have been attempting to make things orderly, but they refuse to be controlled.
So should I hide a broken heart? Or let the world tear me apart again? They say the gods will have their way Well Surely if that's true, the only thing to do is love
I am faced with a decision of whether to hide emotional pain or face it head-on, but regardless of the outcome, love is the only answer.
I've asked the tall trees, And the coldest seas
I have sought answers from nature, including trees and the sea.
I've asked the hot dust Dragged from short grass by the summer breeze
In addition, I have questioned hot dust picked up by summer winds.
All the new sounds felt like old sounds Felt like Kisses in a whisper in a rain of silver birch leaves
New experiences seemed like old ones and created wonderful sensations.
I've been drinking wine I've been playing all the time Danced with Strangers on the run Danced with the shadows in my mind I've been Writing writing writing different men In every line But they won't stand still
Amidst all of this, I have been drinking wine, playing music, and dancing with strangers and shadows in my head. I have also written about different men, but they refuse to be confined to my writing.
So should I hide a broken heart? Or let the world tear me apart again? They say the gods will have their way Well Surely if that's true, the only thing to do is Hide a broken heart And let the world tear me apart again They say Each dog will have it's day Well surely If that's true, the only thing to do is love
Once again, I am faced with a choice - hide my faults or confront them. The idea of fate and inevitable outcomes is present, but no matter what, love is the answer.
So I'm sending my love back where your days are ending and mine are Just beginning I'm sending my love back to the city Sending my love back to the hills Sending my love home
I am sending my love back to where someone's day is ending as mine is beginning. My love is being sent to both the city and the hills, as well as to my home.
There's nothing keeping me on track except the tree upon my back Except the skyline in my heart With every word so neatly placed With every demon found and faced should ever lesson be unlearnt?
I am being kept on my path by my burdens and my own personal desires. The lessons I learn and the demons I face make me wonder if I should regret learning them.
Or should I hide a broken heart? And let the world tear me apart again? They say the gods will have their way Well Surely if that's true, the only thing to do is Hide a broken heart And let the world tear me apart again They say Each dog will have it's day Well surely If that's true, the only thing to do is love
Despite everything, I am still faced with the same dilemma of hiding my pain or facing it. Fate is still uncertain, but love is still the definitive solution.
Writer(s): BELLA HARDY
Contributed by Hudson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
April'sChild
Beautiful song! I love the lyrics! x
Rosey Adams
Beautiful Bella. A friend only introduced me to you a few days ago and I'm taken in by your voice. X
Isla
Really like this, Bella. I've been frustrated, and looking for new music that will actually interest me for days but now I can calm down and listen to the rest of your work feeling happy.
If anyone has other music suggestions for me, throw them my way ;)
Valerie Johnson
Karise Eden has a wonderful and amazing voice and also Angelina Jordan!🍺😎🍺
Marcos Ribeiro
@isla in my opinion maz O'connor is great as well and sounds a bit like bella hardy.
Planet Mikusha
+Isla Check out Kristina Train's song "Dark Black".
Like you, I also find listening to Bella puts me in a good frame of mind.
obrasno
Wow 7th of January and I have the best song I will hear all year ...fragile beauty. Thank you
Claire Harding
does anyone know the piano chords?
Propermusic.com
Bella Hardy - The Only Thing To Do - Like the video? Pre-order now and we'll send you the forthcoming new album as a Limited Edition, Personally Autographed CD (available exclusively from Propermusic and only whilst stocks last).
Pre-Order: http://www.propermusic.com/product-details/Bella-Hardy-With-The-Dawn-Ltd-Autographed-Edition-184865
Gelert
Just found you. Fabulous.