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/
The Wren
Jack Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To venture out in all this cold?
What could ever be the dream upon his mind
Or the voice he heard come singing through the snow?
Singing down down, bless this soul
Singing down down, this i know
Singing down down down down, waming must be sent
And by foot it must be brought and so we went
When all the people are quite warm
Except the few who gather fuel
They dread the wind when it gathers in the north
That causes all the gods to be so cruel
Singing down down bless this soul
Singing down down this i know
Singing down down down down to the forest end
And perhaps it might be there we apprehend
The wren
These of caution to be seen
Abroad at night about the queen
When all the world knows that deep down inside
The burden of paradise is mean
Singing down down bless this soul
Singing down down this i know
Singing down down down down games of pretend
Whether howling at the moon or magdalen
Or the wren
A flock of birds must crown a king
Against the wind and under wing
And never notice when the one in front he falls
And another takes his place to gather all
Singing down down bless this soul
Singing down down this i know
Singing down down down down hear the voices blend
Though those who stand behind will not defend
The wren
The song "The Wren" by Jack Hardy is a poetic reflection on human nature and the traditions that continue to shape it. At its core, the song questions what could lead a person to venture out into the cold, why we gather fuel, and what drives us to seek out and capture the wren. The lyrics also explore themes of caution, the burden of paradise, and the power of traditions.
In the first verse, the song asks why a man would venture out into the cold, what dreams or voices drive him, and what message he might be carrying with him. The questions suggest that people often undertake difficult or uncomfortable journeys in pursuit of something they feel is important or necessary. The second verse continues this theme, highlighting the fear that people have of the north wind and the gods who seem to grow cruel when the wind blows. This fear drives people to gather fuel to protect themselves and their communities from the cold and its attendant dangers.
The final verse explores the idea of tradition and the power it has to shape human behavior. The reference to the wren is a nod to the tradition of wren hunting, which was a popular pastime in Ireland and other parts of Europe during the 19th century. The song suggests that people often engage in these types of traditions without fully understanding or questioning their origins, and that sometimes they do so to their own detriment. The final lines of the song, which reference a "flock of birds" and the idea of a king falling while another takes his place, suggest that human beings are a lot like birds in that we are constantly striving to adapt and survive in a changing world.
Line by Line Meaning
What could ever drive a man
What could motivate a person
To venture out in all this cold?
To go into the cold outdoors
What could ever be the dream upon his mind
What is the man's goal or aspirations
Or the voice he heard come singing through the snow?
What is the inspiration or guidance he received
Singing down down, bless this soul
Repetitive chanting for blessings
Singing down down, this i know
Reaffirming knowledge or belief
Singing down down down down, warning must be sent
Urgent message must be communicated
And by foot it must be brought and so we went
We set out on foot to deliver the message
For the wren
In search of the wren
When all the people are quite warm
When most people are comfortable and content
Except the few who gather fuel
Except for those who are preparing for harsher times
They dread the wind when it gathers in the north
They fear the cold winds coming from the north
That causes all the gods to be so cruel
That brings about difficult challenges
Down down bless this soul
Repeating plea for blessings
Down down this I know
Reaffirmation of knowledge or belief
Down down down down to the forest end
Traveling to the edge of the forest
And perhaps it might be there we apprehend
And maybe that's where we will find
The wren
The wren we're searching for
These of caution to be seen
Warnings need to be observed
Abroad at night about the queen
Traveling around the queen at night
When all the world knows that deep down inside
When everyone knows internally
The burden of paradise is mean
The responsibility of maintaining a perfect world is difficult
Down down bless this soul
Reiterating plea for blessings
Down down this I know
Reinstating knowledge or belief
Down down down down games of pretend
Pretending and illusionary games
Whether howling at the moon or magdalen
Whether howling at the moon or engaging in spiritual rituals
Or the wren
Or the search for the wren
A flock of birds must crown a king
A group of birds need to choose a leader
Against the wind and under wing
Against the challenging elements and with each other's support
And never notice when the one in front he falls
Not realizing when a leader falls
And another takes his place to gather all
And another takes the lead to gather the group
Down down bless this soul
Repeating plea for blessings
Down down this I know
Reinstating knowledge or belief
Down down down down hear the voices blend
Voices blending together
Though those who stand behind will not defend
Even if the followers may not defend or support the leader
The wren
In search of the wren
Contributed by Violet V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BebingtonGirl
Lovely song - I hope you do more of Jack Hardy's songs in the future, fine but little known songwriter .
BebingtonGirl
Forgot to say how much I enjoyed the slideshow - such a delightful little bird with a big melodious voice !
Lesley Hughes
Lovely song and pictures. I watched it because I am currently doing some paintings of wrens. Than you!
Joan Cuthill
A beautiful song Mary. Thank you my friend. Hope every things alright. Love Joannie. x
dnadsy52
Bellissima la canzone!! infinitamente... bella... grazie per condividere... d.
FunnyCatsChronicle
very touching clip
dnadsy52
......... ogni tanto mi sfuggi!! Che Meraviglia di video!!! una canzone bellissima.... anche senza traduzione.... adoro questo .... d.
Shabannie
I enjoyed the sweet music and video. ------Ellen
Laurence James
lovely video my dear
dnadsy52
..... io non potrei mai lasciare andare.... cara mary quelle parole mi toccano ..... nella mio intimo... quasi da non resistere.... spero di essermi fatta capire.... io mi fermo sempre con chi è meno fortunsto di me.... perdona se sono stata prolissa.... d.