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.
These Days
Gemma Hayes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't do too much talking
These days, these days.
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
And all the times I had the chance to
I had a lover
These days, these days
Now if I seem to be afraid
To live the life that I have made in song
It's just that I've been losing so long
I'll keep on moving
Things are bound to be improving these days
These days
These days I sit on corner stones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten
Please don't confront me with my failures
I had not forgotten them
In Gemma Hayes’s song “These Days”, the singer expresses a feeling of sadness and regret, looking back on her life and the opportunities she missed. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been going through a difficult time, as she walks around without talking too much to anyone. She spends her time thinking about all the things she forgot to do and the chances she missed in life. The line "I had a lover, it's so hard to risk another" suggests that she has experienced heartbreak and is struggling with the idea of trusting someone new. The singer seems to acknowledge her own shortcomings but finds it difficult to move on from them. She acknowledges that she has been losing for a while now but remains hopeful that things will get better as she keeps moving forward.
The singer’s request not to be confronted with her failures is interesting because it represents a universal human experience of wanting to avoid criticism and judgment from others. The desire to forget past mistakes and move on is also relatable. What sets this song apart is Gemma Hayes's hauntingly beautiful voice and the way it conveys the emotions in the lyrics. The slow, melancholy sound of the music and the somber tone of the lyrics create a sense of introspection and contemplation.
Overall, “These Days” is a poignant and introspective song that speaks to that deep, universal sense of regret and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been out walking
I have been taking walks outside.
I don't do too much talking
I prefer to keep to myself and not speak much.
These days, these days.
Recently, things have been like this.
These days I seem to think a lot
Lately, I spend a lot of time lost in my thoughts.
About the things that I forgot to do
I often think about the important things that I should have done, but didn't.
And all the times I had the chance to
Reflecting on missed opportunities that could have changed my life.
I had a lover
There was someone I loved.
It's so hard to risk another
I find it challenging to take a chance with a new relationship.
These days, these days
At present times, my emotions are like this.
Now if I seem to be afraid
If I appear to be fearful.
To live the life that I have made in song
Pursuing the dreams and ideals that I've expressed in song is a daunting prospect.
It's just that I've been losing so long
My past failures have made me apprehensive about taking risks.
I'll keep on moving
I'll continue to push forward and not give up.
Things are bound to be improving these days
I'm optimistic that things will get better despite current difficulties.
These days
Currently, at this point in time.
These days I sit on corner stones
Now, I often find myself sitting and reflecting on the past.
And count the time in quarter tones to ten
I spend a lot of time counting and analyzing time, as if every moment counts.
Please don't confront me with my failures
Please don't bring up all of the things I've failed at.
I had not forgotten them
I am well aware of my past failures, but sometimes it's hard to move on.
Contributed by Alexis D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.