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
I'm Wrong About Everything
John Wesley Harding Lyrics
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At the end of every night
I never know the perfect time
To hit the bedside light
Then we lie awake
Watch headlights climb the blinds
I want you to know what's going on
In my mind
I thought that I was right but now I know
I'm wrong about everything
I think that I can sing
And when you hear the song, you'll wanna sing along
I'm wrong about everything
Think I know what's happening
I think you'll like our song, but I'm wrong
The colours fade to grey
And I'm left with black and white
Don't know why I try
To fight with what is right
The truth is on our lips
It looks like time to tell
But you know I could be wrong about that as well
I thought a happy ending was more or less assured
I thought a little warmth could win the war
I'm wrong about everything
I think that I can sing
And when you hear the song, you'll wanna sing along
I'm wrong about everything
Think I know what's happening
I think you'll like our song, but I'm wrong
I'll do the best I can
To be your lover man
I'll stand corrected
Just to be elected
I'll do what I can do
To get up close to you
Listen.... Sh......
I'm wrong about everything
I think that I can sing
And when you hear the song, you'll wanna sing along
I'm wrong about everything
Think I know what's happening
I think you'll like our song, but I'm wrong
The lyrics of John Wesley Harding's "I'm Wrong About Everything" reveal a sense of bewilderment and self-doubt. The song is a poignant reflection of a person's inability to get a grip on reality and their failure to comprehend their position in the world. The song talks about how the singer always loses arguments with their partner and doesn't know the right time to turn off the light, leading to lying awake in bed and thoughts racing through their mind. The singer then confesses that they thought they were immortal and right. But with time, they realized that they were wrong about everything. They then go on to claim that they can sing and write good music, but they are also wrong about that.
As the song progresses, the singer talks about their struggle to find meaning and substance in life. They mention how everything appears to be fading, and they are left with a sense of despair. The lyrics show the singer trying to do whatever it takes to get closer to the person they love. The song ends with the singer's acknowledgement that they could be wrong about everything, but they will keep trying their best.
Overall, "I'm Wrong About Everything" is a thought-provoking and soulful track that captures the essence of uncertainty and insecurity that people face in life.
Line by Line Meaning
You win the argument
At the end of every night
I am always defeated in our arguments at night
I never know the perfect time
To hit the bedside light
I am uncertain about when the best time is to turn off the bedside light
Then we lie awake
Watch headlights climb the blinds
We stay awake together and watch car headlights move across the window blinds
I want you to know what's going on
In my mind
I wish to share my thoughts and feelings with you
I thought I was immortal a little while ago
I thought that I was right but now I know
I'm wrong about everything
I used to believe that I was invincible and never wrong, but I now recognize that I am mistaken about everything
I think that I can sing
And when you hear the song, you'll wanna sing along
I believe that I am a good singer and that you will enjoy singing along with me
Think I know what's happening
I think you'll like our song, but I'm wrong
I believe that I understand what is occurring and that you will appreciate our song, but in reality, I am mistaken
The colours fade to grey
And I'm left with black and white
As time passes, everything becomes more monotonous and less vibrant
Don't know why I try
To fight with what is right
I am uncertain why I struggle to disagree with what is true or accurate
The truth is on our lips
It looks like time to tell
But you know I could be wrong about that as well
We are honest with each other and it appears to be an appropriate moment to share the truth, but I may be incorrect in that assumption
I thought a happy ending was more or less assured
I thought a little warmth could win the war
I used to believe that things would turn out well and that a bit of kindness could resolve any conflict
I'll do the best I can
To be your lover man
I'll stand corrected
Just to be elected
I will strive to be the best romantic partner that I can and will admit when I am incorrect in order to earn your affection and commitment
I'll do what I can do
To get up close to you
Listen.... Sh......
I will do anything possible to get close to you and be with you, and I implore you to listen intently to me
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOHN WESLEY HARDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind