d'Hardelot was born Helen Guy at Chateau d'Hardelot, near Boulogne-sur-Mer. This old castle, from which she took her pen name, was once occupied by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her father was English and her mother was French.
At the age of fifteen she went to Paris, where she studied at the Conservatoire under Renaud Maury and came under the notice of Gounod and Victor Maurel, who were much impressed with her ability. She also met Jules Massenet, who encouraged her to compose. On coming to London she became a pupil of Clarence Lucas. Emma Calvé was a good friend to d'Hardelot, and did much to bring her songs into notice.
Most of her life, d'Hardelot was engaged in teaching singing and diction at her home in London, and many of her pupils attained success. In 1896 she toured the US with Calvé. Her first real success as a composer was won with "Because", though her song "Sans Toi" had previously been favorably received. Among her other successes may be mentioned "I Know a Lovely Garden", "I Think", "I Hid My Love", "Dawn", and "A Bunch of Violets".
She was singularly successful as a writer of songs, in which she combined French delicacy with English solidity. Few women composers became more popular in the early 20th century than did d'Hardelot, and her success was won on merit alone. In spite of the help of many friends, it was some time before the public realized that her work possessed high merit.
Because
Guy d'Hardelot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And hold my hand and lift mine eyes above
A wider world of hope and joy I see
Because you come to me
Because you speak to me in accent sweet
I find the roses waking around my feet
And I am led through tears and joy to thee
Because God made thee mine, I′ll cherish thee
Through light and darkness through all time to be
And pray his love may make our love divine
Because God made thee mine
The song "Because" is a romantic ballad that expresses a deep appreciation for someone who has transformed the singer's life. The first verse highlights the transformative power of love, portraying the loved one as a source of hope and joy that lifts the singer's perspective beyond what they could see alone. The second verse expands on this theme, acknowledging the way the loved one's words have the power to bring beauty and meaning to the world around the singer. The final verse adds a religious dimension to the sentiment, with the singer declaring that their love is a divine gift that they will cherish forever.
One interesting fact about "Because" is that it was written in 1902 by Guy d'Hardelot, a French composer who was beloved for his romantic ballads. The song was originally written in French, under the title "Parce que," and was later translated into English by Edward Teschemacher. Another interesting fact about the song is that it was recorded by a wide range of artists over the years, from operatic tenor Enrico Caruso to jazz great Nat King Cole. The song is also featured in several films, including the classic 1944 movie "The White Cliffs of Dover."
Another interesting aspect of the song is its use of religious imagery to express the depth of the singer's love. While many romantic ballads use secular language to describe love and devotion, "Because" draws upon the language of faith to express the idea that love is a divine gift. This use of religious language gives the song a distinctive flavor that sets it apart from other romantic ballads of the time.
The basic chords for "Because" are C major, F major, G7, A7. However, many artists have recorded the song in different keys or with different arrangements, so the chords may vary from version to version.
Overall, "Because" is a timeless love song that captures the power of love to transform and inspire. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the enduring appeal of romantic ballads, and its message of enduring love and devotion continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Because you come to me with naught save love
Your presence fills me with love and hope, showing me a world where only good things can happen.
And hold my hand and lift mine eyes above
Your touch is like an uplifting force, making me see things beyond what is apparent.
A wider world of hope and joy I see
Your love expands my horizon and makes me see the beauty and goodness all around me.
Because you come to me
All of this is possible because of the love and comfort you bring to my life.
Because you speak to me in accent sweet
The way you talk to me is like music to my ears, and it makes me appreciate the simple things even more.
I find the roses waking around my feet
Your words and presence make me feel so happy and content that even the flowers bloom wherever I go.
And I am led through tears and joy to thee
Whether I am happy or sad, your love somehow connects me to you and lets me know that everything will be alright.
Because God made thee mine, I'll cherish thee
I know that we were meant to be together because God put you in my life, and I will always treasure that gift.
Through light and darkness through all time to be
No matter what happens, we will face it together and be bound by our love.
And pray his love may make our love divine
I hope that God's love can blend with our love and make it even more powerful and unbreakable.
Writer(s): Lalo Schifrin, Guy D'hardelot, E.teschemacher
Contributed by Christian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lawrence Allen
Domingo sure knows how to SING. Bravo Maestro and THANKYOU for just being YOU-GLORIOUS.
UppityG Livestockian
The greatest tenor ever.
Rino Squarzoni
Grande Placido Domingo ...
Irena Visockiene
Man priimtiniausias
Jūsų atlikimas!
Hugh Earl
Thank you for posting. You have made a miserable old man very happy.
Julia Bernards
Sung at my grandparent's wedding in 1934! Fun to find it!
q072
Beste liedje ooit ik ben een kleine fan
Void of Misery
I was the 69th like and I am proud to have that in the start of my day. Today is certainly going to be bangin lol
Charles Henry
I admire Placido greatly. And IMHO, think he was as close, in voice, to mario lanza as you can get. Of course Domingo is a way more polished and sophisticated singer than lanza but the voice quality is quite similar. Don't you agree?
Irena Visockiene
Kadangi!