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
No More
John Wesley Harding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I hear that click I know I'm not alone
Continue to read through all of my mail
My private life is up for sale
And I can't tell bad from good no more
I have been up where the devil don't go
And I have been down to the depths of below
A story how I can't hide
That I can't tell up from down no more
No more no more
No more
The magic has failed, the moment has gone
It won't reappear at the wave of a wand
We walked a road that was paved with regret
And we ain't been nothing yet
And I can't tell you from me no more
No more no more
No more
In John Wesley Harding's song No More, he speaks about a loss of privacy and confusion about what is right or wrong. The lyrics "Feel free to leave the tap on my phone, When I hear that click I know I'm not alone, Continue to read through all of my mail, My private life is up for sale" suggests that his life is being invaded and he is aware of it, but feels powerless to stop it. He is no longer able to distinguish between good and bad, and the lines "And I can't tell bad from good no more, I have been up where the devil don't go, And I have been down to the depths of below" suggests that he has been through some dark times which have left him confused and lost.
In the second verse, we might infer that he has been through a tough time and has lost some of the optimism and magic that he used to feel. Lines like "The magic has failed, the moment has gone, It won't reappear at the wave of a wand" suggest that he has lost some of his innocence and idealism. He speaks about the regret he feels for their past actions, which suggests that he has done something that he is not proud of, but can't seem to find a way to make things right. He then says "And I can't tell you from me no more", suggesting that he has lost a sense of his identity and is struggling to understand who he is.
Overall, this song is about feeling lost and alone, and no longer being able to trust the world around you. It speaks to the loss of privacy in the modern world and the confusion that can arise from trying to navigate a complex and ever-changing society.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel free to leave the tap on my phone
I do not care if my phone is being tapped or listened to because I have nothing to hide.
When I hear that click I know I'm not alone
The sound of someone listening to my phone conversations gives me comfort that someone is there to listen and understand me.
Continue to read through all of my mail
It does not matter if someone reads my mail because my life is an open book, and I have nothing to hide.
My private life is up for sale
My life is no longer private, and everything I do is sold and consumed by others, even the intimate details.
And I can't tell bad from good no more
I have lost my sense of morality and cannot differentiate between right or wrong.
I have been up where the devil don't go
I have experienced heights that others have not ventured due to lack of courage or fear.
And I have been down to the depths of below
I have been to the lowest points of my life, both emotionally and physically.
And here is the book that I can't put aside
There is a book in my life that has a deep impact on me, and I cannot let it go.
A story how I can't hide
It is a story that I cannot hide, and it is out in the open for all to see and learn from.
That I can't tell up from down no more
I am unable to distinguish between what is right and wrong, and my beliefs and values are clouded.
The magic has failed, the moment has gone
The moments that held magic have disappeared, and nothing can bring them back.
It won't reappear at the wave of a wand
There is no magic wand that can bring back the lost moment or make things right.
We walked a road that was paved with regret
We have made choices that we regret, and those choices have led us down a path that we cannot turn back from.
And we ain't been nothing yet
Despite all the things we have faced, we have not yet encountered the worst of it, and there is much more to come.
And I can't tell you from me no more
I have lost my sense of self and my ability to differentiate between myself and others.
No more no more
There is no going back; the situation is irreversible.
No more no more
There is no way out, and we have to deal with the consequences.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: JOHN WESLEY HARDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bryankeisling132
Lyrics:
John Wesley Harding
Was a friend to the poor
He traveled with a gun in every hand
All along this countryside
He opened a many a door
But he was never known
To hurt an honest man
It was down in Chaynee County
A time they talk about
With his lady by his side
He took a stand
And soon the situation there
Was all but straightened out
For he was always known
To lend a helping hand
All across the telegraph
His name it did resound
But no charge held against him
Could they prove
And there was no man around
Who could track or chain him down
He was never known
To make a foolish move
@juancamacho5746
John Wesley Harding
Was a friend to the poor
He traveled with a gun in every hand
All along this countryside
He opened a many a door
But he was never known
To hurt an honest man
It was down in Chaynee County
A time they talk about
With his lady by his side
He took a stand
And soon the situation there
Was all but straightened out
For he was always known
To lend a helping hand
All across the telegraph
His name it did resound
But no charge held against him
Could they prove
And there was no man around
Who could track or chain him down
He was never known
To make a foolish move
@bigbeefyboy9132
I think we should all be fortunate to live in a time where his whole discography is available at our fingertips.
@teardowngarage5608
This
@presidentdudley731
eartips
@ethanhill9460
I hated always the deification of DYLAN. But your observation is keen. More a tribute to the current capitalist culture. Sorry to say capitalism is the culture rather than say altruism orartistic creation.
The Nobel prize, my MA would agree, was overdue.
@tombitetto9498
Aye
@tombitetto9498
You'd better be a haven't lived yet college doof
@ConnorFrench
How lucky are we to live in the same lifetime as Bob Dylan?
@yamapenny5960
👍💞⛩🙏✌🦋
@pessimist131313
Very lucky. I think he had some effect on everyone in many generations and more to come.
@J4060
Very much I must say.