He was born Wesley Stace in Hastings, East Sussex, England. His given name, Wesley, comes from John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who preached one of his last sermons in the town where Harding was born.
His stage name may be seen as an almost inevitable nickname for a folk-pop musician, in that his first name overlaps with the Bob Dylan album (and song) "John Wesley Harding". The American gunfighting historical figure John Wesley Hardin was largely forgotten before 1965, when Johnny Cash wrote and recorded the song "Hardin Wouldn't Run".
His education included the boarding schools St. Andrews School (Pangbourne, Berkshire); Milbourne Lodge (Claygate, Surrey); The King's School (Canterbury, Kent); and university at Jesus College, Cambridge. He left Cambridge with a First in English Literature, but left before completing his Ph.d. in Social and Political Science.
Musical influences include Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Davies, and Phil Ochs. He has been frequently compared to Elvis Costello probably fueled, in part, by the fact that two members of his early band The Good Liars (Pete and Bruce Thomas) had been members of The Attractions. Harding was chosen by Bruce Springsteen as his first opening act in 20 years for his solo shows at the Berkeley Community Theatre in 1995. Harding
Here Comes the Groom
John Wesley Harding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And half an ounce of hope
Sold his soul in the vestry
Money for old rope
Been this way a million times
But now his time is nigh
He steps into the spotlight
He wants to say 'hi
You've never seen me before'
He's so ambitious, he's so game
But yesterday he was dressed the same
Then he was so much easier to ignore
Here comes the groom
But the world's not an inn and there isn't any room for you
But here he comes
He married into money
Just to kiss and tell
He ripped the contract open
He's out of his shell
He looks into a mirror
Practising his poise
But it reflects so badly
The groom just gets annoyed
He gasps, he forgets his lines
He's never done that before
The scientists say he's doing fine
This fumbling frantic frankenstein
Soon he's gonna do the dinosaur
Here comes the groom
His fingers are on the cliff edge
His head is going under
Is that applause?
No that's just thunder....
Why do you keep saying I do?
What does the bride mean to you?
Play me some puccini
Make it heavy on the strings
Walk me to the altar
The choir can't even sing
Right side for the photographs
Left side for the kids
God made me do it
So that's what I did
He coughs, loosens his bow-tie
You've never seen him before
He kisses the bride, oh you know why
Love's one more thing you can buy
He was unfaithful before he went outdoors
(and now he's in the graveyard)
Here comes the groom.....
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The song "Here Comes the Groom" by John Wesley Harding is a cynical take on the concept of marriage and ambition. The lyrics depict a groom who has married into money and is using his wedding as a platform to gain attention and fame. He is portrayed as a character willing to sell his soul for success, and yet his attempt to become a major player in the public eye is ultimately doomed to fail.
The first verse shows the groom's seedy side as he "sold his soul in the vestry," and the second verse reveals his ambition: "He looks into a mirror/ Practising his poise." However, the groom is not confident in himself, as evidenced by his shaky performance and forgotten lines. It seems that he is trying too hard to be something he is not, and the pressure is making him crack.
The final verse shows the groom's true colors, as he coughs and loosens his bow-tie, indicating his lack of enthusiasm for the whole affair. The line "Love's one more thing you can buy" implies that the groom entered into the marriage for the wrong reasons, and will likely be unfaithful again soon. The song ends by suggesting that the groom's fate is a sad one, as he is now in the graveyard.
Overall, "Here Comes the Groom" is a cautionary tale about ambition and the emptiness of fame, and a critique of those who seek success at any cost. The lyrics are delivered with an air of melancholy, as though the singer is conveying the grief and disillusionment of someone who has witnessed such a tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
With half an eye on history
He is aware of the past and its impact on the present, but only to a certain extent
And half an ounce of hope
Despite the odds, he still clings on to a small amount of optimism
Sold his soul in the vestry
He made a deal in a small chapel to gain something he wanted, even though it may cost him in other ways
Money for old rope
He got what he wanted very easily, and without much value
Been this way a million times
He's been through these motions repeatedly, without much excitement or variation
But now his time is nigh
His moment to shine approaches, his time to be in the spotlight is near
He steps into the spotlight
He puts himself in the center of attention
He wants to say 'hi'
He desires to greet and be acknowledged
Hello, we're so glad you came
He pretends to be welcoming and grateful, even if it is insincere
You've never seen me before
He is a stranger to those who are witness to his spotlight moment
He's so ambitious, he's so game
He is pursuing his goals feverishly, ready to take on the challenge
But yesterday he was dressed the same
He has not changed significantly despite his new position
Then he was so much easier to ignore
He was less noticeable and less bothersome before
Here comes the groom
He makes his grand entrance
But the world's not an inn and there isn't any room for you
He has no place in the outside world, nobody cares about him when he is not in the spotlight
He married into money
He married for financial gain
Just to kiss and tell
He had ulterior motives for marrying, and intends to share them
He ripped the contract open
He broke the pre-established agreement he had made
He's out of his shell
He is no longer acting the way he thinks he should, and is revealing his true self
He looks into a mirror
He assesses his own appearance
Practising his poise
He attempts to perfect his posture
But it reflects so badly
The mirror shows his flaws and imperfections
The groom just gets annoyed
His confidence is shattered and he becomes frustrated
He gasps, he forgets his lines
He is overcome with emotion and loses his intended speech
He's never done that before
He has never been this unprepared or flustered in a public situation
The scientists say he's doing fine
The people who supposedly understand him believe he is managing well
This fumbling frantic frankenstein
He resembles a clumsy and erratic monster, created from the pieces of others
Soon he's gonna do the dinosaur
He will soon become outdated and irrelevant, like a prehistoric creature
His fingers are on the cliff edge
He is on the brink of failure
His head is going under
His mind is becoming overwhelmed and unfocused
Is that applause?
He is unsure if the sound he hears is for him
No that's just thunder....
It's not a positive way to make an entrance, it's just the weather
Why do you keep saying I do?
He questions the significance of the phrase he is being asked to repeat
What does the bride mean to you?
He wonders what value his new spouse holds for others
Play me some puccini
He requests specific music to be played
Make it heavy on the strings
He hopes for a dramatic and emotive performance
Walk me to the altar
He wants to be escorted by others down the aisle
The choir can't even sing
The supporting singers are not talented or coordinated
Right side for the photographs
He directs people where to stand and how to pose for pictures
Left side for the kids
He separates adults and children, believing that the young people require special treatment
God made me do it
He claims his actions were inspired or mandated by a higher power
So that's what I did
He justifies his decisions by explaining that he was simply following divine guidance
He coughs, loosens his bow-tie
He is nervous and uncomfortable
He kisses the bride, oh you know why
He makes a show of affection, but with insincere motives and intentions
Love's one more thing you can buy
He sees romance and connection in a transactional sense, rather than as a genuine feeling or experience
He was unfaithful before he went outdoors
He committed infidelity before leaving the wedding, revealing his true character and intentions
(and now he's in the graveyard)
His actions have led to his demise, and now he is dead
Here comes the groom.....
The groom continues to push forward, despite the consequences of his choices
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN WESLEY HARDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind