Arwen Arabella Hardy, known professionally as Bella Hardy, is an English c… Read Full Bio ↴Arwen Arabella Hardy, known professionally as Bella Hardy, is an English contemporary folk musician, singer and songwriter from Edale in Derbyshire. She performed in various line-ups as a teenager, including The Pack and Ola, and reached the final of the BBC Young Folk Awards in 2004, but it was the release of her debut solo album Night Visiting in 2007 which garnered her recognition at the forefront of modern folk music.

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..."

Time Wanders On
Bella Hardy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I′ve seen the Rockies rise high above the trees
I've seen the northern lights, brought me to my knees
Where you are, where you roam
Time wanders on, time leads you home
I′ve chased the river's rush, run down to the sea
Charted seasons in the skies, clouds do as they please
Where you are, where you roam
Time wanders on, time leads you home

I've seen the sun scorch the land in flame
Harvest fields burnt beneath her blaze
Heard the wild geese cry as they cross the plain
Heard the wind call my name

I′ve seen a hundred towns, cities shining bright
Slept among the summer stars, danced through winter′s nights

Where you are, where you roam
Time wanders on, time leads you home

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bella Hardy's song "Time Wanders On" capture the experiences and perspectives of someone who has witnessed various natural wonders and traveled to different places. The first verse mentions seeing the Rocky Mountains towering above the trees and witnessing the awe-inspiring northern lights, which left the person feeling humbled and in reverence. Despite being surrounded by these majestic sights, the lyrics express a longing for a sense of belonging and stability, as time continues to pass and lead them back home.

The second verse describes the person's encounters with the raw power of nature. They have run alongside rushing rivers, eventually reaching the vastness of the sea. They have observed the changing seasons depicted in the skies, where clouds follow their own whims. Once again, the lyrics convey a sense of being adrift, while also emphasizing the cyclical nature of time and its ability to guide one home.

The bridge of the song moves away from natural elements and focuses on the destructive force of the sun scorching the land and burning harvest fields with its intense heat. Additionally, the wild geese crying across the plain and the wind calling the person's name give a sense of loneliness and longing for connection. This contrast to the previous verses emphasizes the fleeting nature of time and the desire for a sense of purpose and belonging.

The final verse highlights the person's experiences in various human settlements, calling them "towns" and "cities shining bright." They have slept under the stars during warm summer nights and danced through the cold winter nights. Once again, the lyrics repeat the theme of searching and wandering, with the poignant reminder that time continues to move forward, leading them back home.

Overall, the lyrics of "Time Wanders On" evoke a sense of wanderlust and yearning for connection and stability amidst the transient nature of time. They remind us that although we may witness incredible natural phenomena and explore different places, the journey eventually leads us back to where we belong, guided by the passage of time.

Line by Line Meaning

I've seen the Rockies rise high above the trees
I have witnessed the majestic sight of the Rocky Mountains towering over the surrounding trees.

I've seen the northern lights, brought me to my knees
I have been humbled and overwhelmed by the mesmerizing beauty of the northern lights.

Where you are, where you roam
No matter where you are or where you wander,

Time wanders on, time leads you home
the passage of time continues to move forward, ultimately guiding you back home.

I've chased the river's rush, run down to the sea
I have eagerly pursued the exhilarating flow of rivers, following them until they merge with the vastness of the sea.

Charted seasons in the skies, clouds do as they please
I have observed and tracked the changing seasons through the movements of clouds, as they follow their own whims.

I've seen the sun scorch the land in flame
I have witnessed the scorching heat of the sun causing the land to burn like fire.

Harvest fields burnt beneath her blaze
Fields of crops have been consumed by the intense heat of the sun during the harvest season.

Heard the wild geese cry as they cross the plain
I have listened to the melancholic cries of wild geese while they traverse the vast open plains.

Heard the wind call my name
I have experienced the wind seemingly whispering or calling out to me.

I've seen a hundred towns, cities shining bright
I have witnessed numerous towns and cities illuminated brilliantly, filled with vibrant life.

Slept among the summer stars, danced through winter’s nights
I have found solace and joy in sleeping under the starry summer sky and merrily dancing during the long winter nights.

Where you are, where you roam
No matter where you are or where you wander,

Time wanders on, time leads you home
the passage of time continues to move forward, ultimately guiding you back home.

Writer(s): Bella Hardy, Cara Lynn Luft

Contributed by Camden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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