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/
Willow
Jack Hardy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the wind it sings
Though we've heard that song before
But I planted this one
Just last spring
Outside my kitchen door
For I knew it was your favorite tree
And I knew that it grew fast
To think that tree would last
And I planted it
Beside the spring
Its thirst like mine well known
And the crocuses
And daffodils
To surprise you when they'd grown
And the speckled bird that landed free
And softly built its place
But I think it all now vanity
To think I saw your face
How I wish I had
A willow wand
To burn this memory
Or burn the state
Of californ-i-ay
In a wicker effigy
For I found the feathers of the speckled bird
Where the fox its hunger filled
And the willow weeps although unheard
To think I love you still
And the willow thinks it vanity
To think I love you still
In Jack Hardy's "Willow," the singer is struck with the grief of losing someone they loved. They had planted a willow tree for this person as it was their favorite, and also planted flowers and a birdhouse nearby. However, the singer now realizes that all of these things they had done seem insignificant and meaningless because the loved one is no longer there to enjoy them. The willow tree that was supposed to represent the person’s life now appears fragile and temporary, as its growth was accelerated but ultimately failed to last. The singer wishes they had a magical willow wand to make the memories disappear, or even to set fire to the willow tree or the whole state of California where the person was from. But despite all this, the willow still weeps unheard as the singer still loves the person deeply.
The song seems to be an exploration of how we cope with grief and loss, especially when faced with the harsh reality that everything we build, create or strive for in life can be lost at any moment. It touches upon the idea that memories of a loved one can be painful, and that sometimes we need to let go of things that we had created to honor them. The song may also suggest that grief can reveal the beauty of even temporary things that we might have previously taken for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
How the willow weeps
The willow tree sheds tears.
In the wind it sings
The sound of the wind makes it appear that the willow is singing.
Though we've heard that song before
The sound of the willow in the wind is familiar to us.
But I planted this one
The artist planted a willow tree.
Just last spring
The artist planted the willow tree in the recent past.
Outside my kitchen door
The singer planted the willow tree outside their kitchen.
For I knew it was your favorite tree
The singer knew that their loved one liked willow trees.
And I knew that it grew fast
The artist knew that willow trees grow quickly.
But I think it all now vanity
The artist now sees planting the willow tree as foolish or pointless.
To think that tree would last
The artist now realizes that the willow tree wasn't going to last forever.
And I planted it
The singer was responsible for planting the willow tree.
Beside the spring
The artist planted the willow tree near a source of water.
Its thirst like mine well known
The singer understood how much water the willow tree needed.
And the crocuses
Crocuses were also planted near the willow tree.
And daffodils
Daffodils were also planted near the willow tree.
To surprise you when they'd grown
The flowers were planted to surprise the artist's loved one when they bloomed.
And the speckled bird that landed free
A bird with speckled feathers landed near the willow tree.
And softly built its place
The bird built a nest near the willow tree.
How I wish I had
The singer expresses a desire for something they don't have.
A willow wand
The artist wishes for a wand made of willow wood.
To burn this memory
The artist wants to forget a painful memory.
Or burn the state
The artist wants to destroy the state of California.
Of californ-i-ay
The song mentions the state of California specifically.
In a wicker effigy
The artist wishes to burn California in a representation made of wicker.
For I found the feathers of the speckled bird
The singer found the feathers of the bird that lived near the willow tree, likely indicating its death.
Where the fox its hunger filled
A fox likely killed the bird and ate its body.
And the willow weeps although unheard
The willow tree continues to shed tears, even though no one can hear it.
To think I love you still
The artist is still in love with their absent loved one, despite everything.
And the willow thinks it vanity
The willow also recognizes that its tears and sadness are pointless or futile.
To think I love you still
The singer repeats their previous sentiment of loving their loved one, despite everything.
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.