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/
That Close To Crying
Jack Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The hand against the nap of fur disturbs that sleeping part
No need for caution don't need remorse
That close to crying
Bristled and borne an altered force
That close to crying
Semi-automatic steel gray hollow eyes how they stare back
A twitching tail a nervous finger
That close to crying
What tension waiting to slash in anger
That close to crying
A click of light and then a flash of any action taken
Illumined mystery clear and sharp and all of my own making
A shattering crack a full report
That close to crying
Released and slack a slumping form
That close to crying
That close to crying is not close at all what line of fire was crossed
No cerebral contemplation of carefully altered thought
No Hail Mary no desperate toss
That close to crying
The wave awaited recedes in loss
That close to crying
In Jack Hardy's song That Close To Crying, the singer describes their hardened, weathered heart that is bristled and borne an altered force, describing a state of being "that close to crying." The singer affirms that there is no need for caution or remorse, implying that they are covering up deep emotional pain with a tough exterior. The expression "That close to crying" is repeated throughout the song, creating a sense of anticipation or tension; it is clear that this emotional release is imminent, even if it does not happen in the moment.
Hardy employs a rich metaphorical language, comparing the singer's eyes to "semi-automatic steel gray hollow" and "bluish black," denoting coldness and inhumanity. The twitching tail and nervous finger create a sense of anticipation for what seems to be an impending outburst of emotion. The click of light and flash of action create a strong visual imagery, as if the emotional release is a controlled explosion of pent-up feelings. However, the final lines suggest that the singer may be unable to fully express their emotions, perhaps out of fear or self-restraint. The "wave awaited" recedes, resulting in a sense of loss and missed opportunity.
Overall, That Close To Crying is a powerful song that explores intense emotions and the human struggle to express them. The repeated phrase "That close to crying" creates a sense of suspense and anticipation for an emotional release that never fully arrives. Hardy's use of metaphorical language and strong imagery create a vivid picture of a person struggling with their emotions, trapped by their own hardened exterior.
Line by Line Meaning
There's not an ounce of softness left within this weathered heart
My heart has become so hardened that there is no room for kindness or compassion.
The hand against the nap of fur disturbs that sleeping part
Even small acts of affection or gentleness can be troubling and jarring to me.
No need for caution don't need remorse
I have no regard for consequences or regrets, I act purely on instinct and impulse.
That close to crying
I am holding back tears or emotions, but just barely.
Bristled and borne an altered force
I have become tense and changed from the person I once was due to past experiences.
Semi-automatic steel gray hollow eyes how they stare back
My eyes are emotionless and cold, devoid of any warmth or humanity.
Impassively mechanically annoyed in bluish black
My irritation is not from a singular event, but a constant state of annoyance within me.
A twitching tail a nervous finger
My body betrays my facade of calmness, and reveals the underlying anxiety and discomfort.
What tension waiting to slash in anger
I am on the brink of losing control and reacting with anger or hostility.
A click of light and then a flash of any action taken
I am quick to act and make decisions in the moment without considering the consequences.
Illumined mystery clear and sharp and all of my own making
The path I have chosen is clear to me, even if it may be difficult or unpleasant.
A shattering crack a full report
My actions or words have a powerful impact and can cause damage to those around me.
Released and slack a slumping form
Once my emotions have been expressed, I am left feeling empty and exhausted.
That close to crying is not close at all what line of fire was crossed
Although it may seem like I am holding back tears or emotions, in reality, I have already crossed a line and am dealing with deeper, more complex emotions.
No cerebral contemplation of carefully altered thought
My actions and thoughts are not premeditated or well-thought-out, but purely reactionary to my surroundings and emotions.
No Hail Mary no desperate toss
Even in moments of great emotion, I do not turn to prayer or hope for a better outcome, but rather rely on my instincts to guide me.
The wave awaited recedes in loss
The emotion or situation that I have been bracing myself for has passed, leaving me feeling isolated and alone in my emotional state.
Contributed by Alexandra O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.