She signed to Source Records/Virgin in 2001 and issued the folksy 4.35am EP and the more band-orientated Work to a Calm EP before releasing her debut album, Night on my Side, in 2002. The album was subsequently nominated for that year's Mercury Music Prize, now called the Barclaycard Mercury Prize.
After touring for Night on my Side Hayes took 2 years out from the music business; "All I do know is that I didn't want to listen to music at all. I stopped listening to the radio. It was like I'd overdosed on music".
In late 2005 Hayes returned with her second album, The Roads Don't Love You, and picked up the Best Irish Female Artist award at the 2006 Meteor Ireland Music Awards shortly before completing a small tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland. She also co-wrote the song "Hazy" with Adam Duritz for the Counting Crows' live album, New Amsterdam in the same year.
Following the departure from Source/Virgin after her second album she released her third effort The Hollow of Morning on her own label in May 2008.
Let It Break is Hayes' fourth studio album, released in May 2011. The album was recorded in Westland Studios in Dublin, Ireland, Black Box Studios in Noyant La Gravoyère, France and in Los Angeles.
Her fifth effort, Bones + Longing, was released in November 2014.
Hayes' music has been featured on a multitude of films and television shows, including Grey's Anatomy, ER, and Mr. And Mrs Smith.
Joy
Gemma Hayes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take it as it is
I could go slow
But I'd break all my bones
I can take on anything
I can take it all
I can take on anything
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
Standing in the ocean
Trying to avoid the waves
Searching for a smile
Nothing [?]
Nothing ever stays
In this life
I can take on anything
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
Still I haven't found the bridge so
You are the only one I told
[?] the medicine
To stay alive
I was in the waves
I should break all my bones
Cause I can take on anything
I can take it all
I can take on anything
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
As long as I can see you
The lyrics of Gemma Hayes's song "Joy" convey a sense of resilience and determination in the face of difficulties, with the singer proclaiming that she can take on anything as long as she can see the person she loves. The mention of "snow somewhere" at the beginning of the song might allude to a harsh, barren environment that the singer is willing to navigate in pursuit of her goal - despite the risks of "breaking all [her] bones" in the process.
The lines "Standing in the ocean / Trying to avoid the waves / Searching for a smile" evoke a sense of struggle and uncertainty, as the singer navigates the ups and downs of life while looking for a source of happiness. Despite the transience of "nothing" that "ever stays" in this life, the singer remains steadfast in her devotion to the person she loves, declaring repeatedly that she can take on anything as long as she can see them. The final lines of the song - "I was in the waves / I should break all my bones / Cause I can take on anything" - reinforce this sense of determination, with the singer willing to put herself in harm's way if it means achieving her goal.
Overall, the lyrics of "Joy" offer a poetic meditation on the enduring power of love and the human spirit. The song encourages listeners to persevere in the face of adversity, and to remain faithful to what truly matters in life - namely, the people we care about the most.
Line by Line Meaning
Snow somewhere
Acknowledgement of a cold and harsh environment
Take it as it is
Acceptance of the present situation
I could go slow, but I'd break all my bones
The choice between safety and risk, with the latter offering greater reward but also greater potential harm
I can take on anything, I can take it all
Self-assurance and confidence in one's abilities to handle any challenge
As long as I can see you
The presence of a motivating and comforting influence that makes any obstacle surmountable
Standing in the ocean, trying to avoid the waves
Metaphor for navigating life's challenges and striving for stability amidst turmoil
Searching for a smile, nothing [?], nothing ever stays in this life
The fleeting nature of happiness and the constant search for it
Still I haven't found the bridge, so you are the only one I told
A confessional tone expressing vulnerability in relying on one person for support
[?] the medicine, to stay alive
Possible reference to dependence on a physical or emotional remedy to survive
I was in the waves, I should break all my bones
The willingness to take risks and suffer consequences for the sake of growth or progress
Cause I can take on anything, I can take it all
Reiteration of self-confidence and resilience
As long as I can see you
The constant presence of a source of motivation and comfort in the face of adversity
Writer(s): GEMMA HAYES
Contributed by Leah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.