It is a strange mix of themes ranging from the American West to the ballads and jigs of Celtic ancestors that somehow seems to make sense in the musical world Jack Hardy has created. And it is a separate world to which the listener is transported; a timeless place inhabited by tinkers and cowboys, saints and sinners, elves, virgins and crones. From his extensive travels and reading he has forged an endearing non-academic approach to literature, one that is more at home in the pub than in the classroom. "He clearly seems to enjoy making his listeners think. He may dare his audience to figure out what he is saying, but he also credits them with the intelligence to do so" (Tom Nelligan, Dirty Linen, 1998).
In Europe, where Hardy has toured extensively for over 20 years, he is accepted as an ambassador for American music. In an Italian encyclopedia of rock Jack has a larger entry than many prominent rock stars.
"Nothing adventuresome is created in a vacuum," Jack says, "you get people together and the creative sparks fly." The weekly songwriters workshop which he has hosted for many years taught and nurtured countless songwriters, not the least of which are Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, Shawn Colvin, Richard Shindell and David Massengill. The Fast Folk Musical Magazine, which he founded and edited, released the first recordings of most of the artists currently headlining folk festivals. This collection of over 100 compilation albums has now been taken over by the Smithsonian.
Gregarious and outgoing when talking about his songs and songwriting in general, Jack fiercely guards the privacy of his personal life. Jack Hardy was born in Indiana, his father a musician, his mother a painter. He grew up in New York, Colorado, and Connecticut, studied opera and literature in college.
In 1998, Prime CD reissued his first ten albums in a box set as well as his eleventh album The Passing. In 1996, BCN Records released a tribute album The Songs of Jack Hardy: Of the White Goddess, a collection of his Celtic ballads (all sung by women). In 1997, Jack was the recipient of The Kate Wolf Memorial Award, given yearly to "an artist who makes a difference through his music" by the World Folk Music Association. In 2000, Prime CD has released Jack's twelfth album Omens.
Omens was recorded live to 24 track analog in two days, using the vintage recording equipment of Prime CD's Theater 99 recording studio in New York City, with no overdubs. The fourteen songs range from the uptempo Celtic "Sile na gCioch" where a tinker finds a dress on the side of the road and gives it to a young lass, to the majestic "West of Dingle" where a woman faces a choice between her lover and her fiddle; from the biting barrage of juxtaposed media images of "I Ought to Know" to the romantic ballad "Only One Sky" and back to the uptempo humorous Clancy Brother-ish "The Boney Bailiff." This album takes you on quite a musical voyage with some of Jack's best poetic imagery, but it is the sweeping beautiful melodies that carry these songs directly into your memory. The players include Jack's current touring band: Tom Duval on electric guitar and harmony (also heard on Jack's albums The Hunter and Civil Wars), Mike Laureanno on Hofner bass and harmony, Dave Anthony on Drums (also heard on Jack's album The Passing), and Kate MacLeod on fiddle. The album also features a buried bonus track containing 19 minutes of Suzanne Vega interviewing Jack on the subject of songwriting. Hardy's 16th album, Rye Grass, arrived on Great Divide in 2009. Jack Hardy passed away on March 11, 2011.
source and more infos: http://www.jackhardy.com/
Gretna Green
Jack Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I stopped for thirst one day at a smith's along the way
And there by fireside was the brightest pair of emeald eyes
The belle of gretna green
Her hair was golden brown if e'er one be so blest
Black velvet was her gown, white lace upon her breast
A half crescent moon in silver on a golden chain
But she said she'd not be mine, for she'd soon be a bride
Her man would soon arrive from the northumberland side
Though it pleased not her clan that he be a highwayman
'twas safe in gretna green
I drank a sad farewell that night in starry spell
And as i bid goodbye the smith drew me aside
He said twas true enough that she be waiting for her love
'twas all in vain, in mind
Ten years ago today, but seven miles away
The dragoons rode him down, 'neath blackford's oak h'was found
And no one to this day has had the heart to tell her his fate
That half crescent moon in his hand
And many the years have gone as i sing to you this song
She does not age at all and many for her they fall
And those of lonely bed can drink a toast to her instead
Farewell my belle, my queen
The ghost of gretna green
The lyrics in Jack Hardy's song Gretna Green describe a chance encounter that the singer had with a woman at a smith's near the border. He was immediately taken with her, describing her beauty in detail, and was saddened to learn that she was soon to be married. Despite her clan's disapproval of her fiancé's profession as a highwayman, they planned to elope to Gretna Green. The singer parts ways with the woman, but learns years later that her fiancé was killed by dragoons and she has never been told. The singer continues to think of her and acknowledges that she is the object of many other admirers' desires even though she has not aged a day. The song portrays a bittersweet love story of missed opportunities and unrequited love.
Through the lyrics of the song, Hardy touches on themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The imagery of the woman's beauty is contrasted with the tragic circumstances of her fiancé's death, creating a sense of poignancy and sorrow. The song also alludes to the tradition of eloping to Gretna Green, a small Scottish town known for its quick and informal marriages. Overall, the lyrics of Gretna Green are a poignant reflection on a love that could have been, but was never meant to be.
Line by Line Meaning
'twas not quite summertime out by the borderline
It was a time in between seasons near the border.
I stopped for thirst one day at a smith's along the way
I stopped to quench my thirst at a blacksmith's shop during my journey.
And there by fireside was the brightest pair of emerald eyes
By the warmth of the fire, I saw the most stunning pair of green eyes.
The belle of gretna green
She was the most beautiful woman in Gretna Green.
Her hair was golden brown if e'er one be so blest
Her hair was blessed with a golden brown color that was truly special.
Black velvet was her gown, white lace upon her breast
She wore a black velvet dress with white lace around her chest.
A half crescent moon in silver on a golden chain
She wore a golden chain with a silver half-crescent moon pendant.
And so my heart was claimed
I fell in love with her instantly.
But she said she'd not be mine, for she'd soon be a bride
She told me that she couldn't be with me because she was about to get married.
Her man would soon arrive from the northumberland side
Her fiancé was on his way from the Northumberland side.
Though it pleased not her clan that he be a highwayman
Her family didn't approve of her fiancé being a highwayman.
'twas safe in gretna green
They planned to get married in Gretna Green where it was safe from the law.
I drank a sad farewell that night in starry spell
I said goodbye to her that night with a heavy heart under the starry sky.
And as i bid goodbye the smith drew me aside
As I was saying goodbye, the blacksmith pulled me aside.
He said twas true enough that she be waiting for her love
The blacksmith told me that she was waiting for her fiancé to arrive.
'twas all in vain, in mind
I knew then that there was no point in trying to change her mind.
Ten years ago today, but seven miles away
Ten years ago, her fiancé was killed seven miles away.
The dragoons rode him down, 'neath blackford's oak h'was found
Her fiancé was chased down and killed by the dragoons and was found under Blackford's oak tree.
And no one to this day has had the heart to tell her his fate
No one had the courage to tell her what happened to her fiancé to this day.
That half crescent moon in his hand
He had the half-crescent moon pendant with him when he died.
And many the years have gone as i sing to you this song
Many years have passed since that day when I wrote this song.
She does not age at all and many for her they fall
Even after all these years, she remains just as beautiful as before and many still fall for her.
And those of lonely bed can drink a toast to her instead
Those who are alone can raise a glass to her as a symbol of hope.
Farewell my belle, my queen
Goodbye to the woman I fell in love with, my queen.
The ghost of gretna green
She remains a ghostly figure in Gretna Green, forever entwined with its history.
Contributed by Nicholas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.