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..."
Whisky You're The Devil
Bella Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drums a' beating, banners flying
The Devil, tonight my home you'll see
Love fare thee well
Oh, whisky you're the devil, you're leading me astray
Over hills and mountains and to Americay
You're sweeter, stronger, decenter than any man my way
If you've no taste for whisky, let wormwood steal your soul
If you're looking for false hearted girls
The Devil, tonight my home you'll see
Love fare thee well
The sea's too full of witchcraft, you'll sooner sink than swim
But if you reach the furthest shore
The Devil, tonight my home you'll see
Love fare thee well
They say new friends are silver, and old friends they are gold
But when your friends have drunk you dry
The Devil, tonight my home you'll see
Love fare thee well
The Bella Hardy's song "Whisky You're The Devil" is a traditional Irish folk song that has been interpreted and performed by many artists over the years. The lyrics of the song are a warning about the dangers of alcohol and the seductive pull of whiskey in particular. The song's opening lines address a group of soldiers marching off to war, their spirits buoyed by the sound of drums and flying banners. However, the singer warns that the devil awaits them upon their return, fueled by the powerful and intoxicating effects of whiskey.
The chorus of the song is a playful ode to whiskey's hold over the singer, acknowledging its sweetness, strength, and alluring nature. The singer is both aware of the dangers of excessive drinking and unable to resist its pull. The second verse includes a warning about the dangers of seeking solace in alcohol, as well as a reference to the traditional belief that the sea is full of witchcraft.
The final verse is a comment on friendship and the negative effects of excessive drinking. The singer warns that when your friends have drunk you dry, the devil will be waiting at home. The song ends on a bittersweet note as the singer bids farewell to love and to the dangers of whiskey.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh now brave boys, you're marching off to foreign wars
You courageous men are embarking on a journey to distant lands to engage in a war
Drums a' beating, banners flying
The sound of percussion instruments and flags waving in the air can be heard as the men march onward
The Devil, tonight my home you'll see
The singer invites the Devil to come to their house for the night
Love fare thee well
An affectionate farewell to a loved one
Oh, whisky you're the devil, you're leading me astray
Whiskey is having a corrupting influence on the artist and guiding them onto a wayward path
Over hills and mountains and to Americay
Whiskey has taken the singer on a journey across different terrains and even to America
You're sweeter, stronger, decenter than any man my way
Whiskey is more appealing and commanding than any man the singer has ever met
Whisky you're my darling drunk or sober
The artist is fond of whiskey both when they are intoxicated and when they are sober
If you've no taste for whisky, let wormwood steal your soul
If someone does not enjoy whiskey, then they should indulge in something that is just as harmful, such as wormwood, a poisonous plant
If you're looking for false hearted girls
The artist implies that whiskey leads people to encounter dishonest women
The sea's too full of witchcraft, you'll sooner sink than swim
The ocean is a mysterious and dangerous place that can submerge you with its enchantments
But if you reach the furthest shore
However, if you can successfully journey to the end of a voyage
They say new friends are silver, and old friends they are gold
A common expression that means new friendships may be valuable, but old ones are priceless
But when your friends have drunk you dry
When your companions have consumed all of your liquor
The Devil, tonight my home you'll see
Once again, the singer invites the Devil to their house for the night
Love fare thee well
The artist, once again, bids a loving farewell to their loved one
Writer(s): Bella Hardy
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dalton Wildwood Adventures
This version rocks!
Glyn Birchall
Cracking voice ..love it .
angelstouch
This song is fantastically catchy. :D
HJD
Reminds me of the best of Pentangle....great sound..