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
Miss Fortune
John Wesley Harding Lyrics
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Oh yeah, and I was dumped down south
I was found by the richest man in the world
Oh yeah, who bought me up as a girl
My sheets are satin but my mind's a mess
But there are worse things I confess
Than drinking tea in a pretty dress
And I'm here to tell you that it's not all bad
When he died, I inherited his wealth
Oh yeah and I revealed my self
I was snubbed by the friends he'd never had
Oh yeah, who sided with my dad
All my riches are beyond control
But it's the same old rigmarole
They say I've lost my very soul
Maybe I have
But I'm here to tell you that it's not all bad
Count your blessings and maybe you'll be glad
And as I grew so did my fame
So I gave it up and changed my name
It's catch as catch can and
You'll never know who I am
When I died, I hoped to hear the angel's song
Oh yeah, but was I wrong
They threw me back there in that lane
Oh yeah and they said "start again"
So when you're turning out the bedside light
Consider me and my wretched plight
Looks like I'm gonna have to get it right this time
But I'm here to tell you that it's not all bad
Count your blessings and maybe
You'll be glad
The opening line of John Wesley Harding's song "Miss Fortune," "I was born with a coat hanger in my mouth," is a reference to the horrific practice of illegal or unsafe abortions performed with metal coat hangers. The song tells the story of a person who was born as a result of such a procedure and then given up for adoption in the south of the United States. The baby is eventually adopted by the wealthiest man in the world, who raises the child as a girl. The singer, while surrounded by luxury, suffers from the internal turmoil of her identity and the trauma of her birth.
The second verse sees the singer inheriting her adopted father's vast wealth and revealing her true gender. However, the friends of her father snub her, siding with her birth father, who wished to raise her as a boy. The chorus reiterates the message of the song: life may be full of challenges, but it's always possible to find a reason to be grateful. The last verse of the song sees the singer giving up her life of fame and riches and changing her name. The song concludes with the singer dying and hoping to hear the angels' song, but instead being told to start again.
"Miss Fortune" is a dark, melancholic ballad that explores themes of identity, family, trauma, and privilege. The song is based on a true story of a person who was born via an unsafe abortion and was later adopted by a wealthy family. The song's message is one of hope, urging listeners to count their blessings even in the darkest moments of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born with a coat hanger in my mouth
I was born under difficult circumstances, possibly involving an unsafe abortion procedure.
Oh yeah, and I was dumped down south
I was abandoned in a geographical area unknown to me at first.
I was found by the richest man in the world
Someone wealthy found and adopted me.
Oh yeah, who bought me up as a girl
Despite being born male, the wealthy person raised me as a girl.
My sheets are satin but my mind's a mess
Although I live in luxury, my mental state is unstable.
But there are worse things I confess
Despite my struggles, I recognize there are people going through greater hardships.
Than drinking tea in a pretty dress
The image of having a life of luxury is not as positive as it seems.
And I'm here to tell you that it's not all bad
Despite everything, there are still moments of positivity to hold onto.
Count your blessings and maybe you'll be glad
If you focus on the good things in your life, you may feel grateful for what you have.
When he died, I inherited his wealth
After my adoptive father died, I became extremely wealthy.
Oh yeah and I revealed my self
I revealed my true gender identity.
I was snubbed by the friends he'd never had
My father's acquaintances did not accept me as myself.
Oh yeah, who sided with my dad
These acquaintances remained loyal to my father, even after his passing.
All my riches are beyond control
My wealth and possessions are so abundant, they are difficult to manage.
But it's the same old rigmarole
Despite my extreme wealth, my problems remain unchanged.
They say I've lost my very soul
Others view me negatively, possibly due to my wealth or gender identity.
Maybe I have
I acknowledge that I may have lost part of myself in the process of gaining wealth and notoriety.
And as I grew so did my fame
As I got older, I became more well-known to the public.
So I gave it up and changed my name
I decided to leave behind my fame and change my identity.
It's catch as catch can and
Life is unpredictable and can change in an instant.
You'll never know who I am
I have intentionally kept my true identity a secret.
When I died, I hoped to hear the angel's song
I had hoped for a positive afterlife experience.
Oh yeah, but was I wrong
To my disappointment, my afterlife experience was not what I had hoped for.
They threw me back there in that lane
I was reincarnated, starting a new life in a difficult situation.
Oh yeah and they said "start again"
I was given a second chance to live life differently.
So when you're turning out the bedside light
As you prepare for sleep, take time to reflect on your life and the experiences of others.
Consider me and my wretched plight
Think about my difficult life experiences and the struggles of others like me.
Looks like I'm gonna have to get it right this time
In my second chance at life, I will need to make better choices.
But I'm here to tell you that it's not all bad
Despite my struggles and disappointments, there is still good in life to be found.
Count your blessings and maybe
If you focus on the good things in your life and in others, you may feel grateful and fulfilled.
You'll be glad
Happiness and contentment are within reach, even in difficult circumstances.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: JOHN WESLEY HARDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind