Born Brid… Read Full Bio ↴Bridget St John (b. 1946) is an English singer-songwriter.
Born Bridget Hobbs on the 4th October 1946 in South London, she learnt piano and viola as a child, and guitar while a student at Sheffield University, from which she graduated in 1968. Her "To B. without a Hitch"/"Autumn Lullaby" (1969) was one of the first two singles released by Dandelion Records, John Peel's label. Ask Me No Questions - including the earlier single, and sparingly produced by Peel - was the label's first LP later the same year.
Her second album, the more highly regarded Songs for the Gentle Man, was produced by Ron Geesin, and two more albums followed: Thank You For... (1972), again on Dandelion, and Jumblequeen (1974), on Chrysalis. Commercial success did not follow critical acclaim, and St John lay low for some time, reemerging in the 1990s, and releasing Take the 5ifth in 1996.
Aside from work under her own name, St John has also recorded with Mike Oldfield, Kevin Ayers, and Robin Frederick. There is another recording artist named Bridget St John in Seattle, Washington, USA, who has since changed her stage name to Sweet Punch to avoid confusion.
* Web site (archived)
Hello Again
Bridget St. John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Badgers seeking time ′til you come home
You'll never really go away, it′s just the space between us
Growing, a little more than it ever has before
Evening weaves me spells of you, and tells me tales
The snail is listening too
You'll never really go away, it's just the space between us
Growing, a little more than it ever has before
Cat chews wishbones, pulls on strings
Knows I want to tell you, many things
′Knows I will someday, someday I will
Now I sit singing, spinning words and patterns in my head
Spiders hide their webs and welcome your return (Helloooo...)
You never really went away, it was just the space between us
Growing, a little more than it ever had before
The lyrics of Bridget St. John's "Hello Again" convey a sense of longing and waiting for someone to return. The first stanza sets the scene with imagery of ivy sleepers and a cuckoo's call, painting a peaceful environment. However, the mention of badgers seeking time until the person returns indicates a sense of anticipation. The chorus reassures the listener that the person will never truly be gone, but the space between them grows with each passing moment.
The second verse focuses on the evening and the impact it has on the singer. The use of words such as "spells" and "tales" implies a sort of enchantment with the memory of this person. Even the snail is given attention - perhaps to indicate that the passage of time affects everyone, even the slowest creatures. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that the distance between the two is growing, even as the singer is stuck in place.
The third and final verse seems to be a sort of bridge, connecting the previous two verses. The cat is a curious addition, but its actions - chewing on wishbones and pulling on strings - suggest restlessness and wanting to communicate something. The repetition of "someday I will" reinforces the idea of waiting and hoping. The final lines bring the imagery back to nature, with the singer sitting and singing while spiders welcome the person's return with webs. The repetition of the chorus one last time drives home the idea that distance cannot erode the bond between two people.
Line by Line Meaning
Ivy sleepers, creep on garden walls, the cuckoo calls
Nature is in motion around me, reminding me that time is passing and I am waiting for you
Badgers seeking time ′til you come home
Even wild animals sense the absence, and are searching for your return
You'll never really go away, it′s just the space between us
Your physical departure may have happened, but you stay with me in spirit and the distance between us continues to grow
Growing, a little more than it ever has before
Our connection and bond are strengthening, despite the physical distance
Evening weaves me spells of you, and tells me tales
As the sun sets, memories of you fill my mind and imagination
The snail is listening too
The slow and patient snail is bearing witness to my longing for you
Cat chews wishbones, pulls on strings
The cat knows my desires and frustrations, and senses my need to tell you things
Knows I want to tell you, many things
The cat understands the depths of my emotions and the secrets I hold
′Knows I will someday, someday I will
While I may not be able to express myself fully now, I have faith that I will find a way to communicate with you in the future
Now I sit singing, spinning words and patterns in my head
As I wait for your return, I pass the time by creating art and poetry that reflect my feelings
Spiders hide their webs and welcome your return (Helloooo...)
Even the spiders join me in anticipation of your arrival, weaving webs with a sense of welcoming and joy
You never really went away, it was just the space between us
Once again, the singer reiterates that the distance between us is not a true separation, but rather an opportunity for our love to grow and develop
Writer(s): Bridget St John
Contributed by Mila I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
teodora spinu
that feeling ...when you are in LOVE with an OLD song ..!!!