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
Nothing At All
John Wesley Harding Lyrics
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I give you all that you require
Say the word and I'll get on it
I'm here to realize your desires
So I don't know why
You don't try
Cause I get no assistance at all from you
Do you understand me?
Do you understand me?
Nothing gets nothing at all
Nothing gets nothing at all
I'm falling
Nothing gets nothing at all
It wasn't Cain who had three daughters
I think perhaps you've seen the plan
He asked them all how much they loved him
The youngest didn't want to say
And you're just like her, Cordelia
Well you can save us all from a world of hurt
Or you can watch me bang my head against the wall
Am I speaking English?
Am I speaking English?
Nothing gets nothing at all
Nothing gets nothing at all
I'm falling
Nothing gets nothing at all
Oh you're such a cruel mistress
A silent psychopath
Can we get back down to business?
Can't you do the math?
And it's just too bad that you can't add
Will you wait forever to call my bluff?
Til I'm slumped and barely breathing in the storm?
Please give me something anything!
Nothing gets nothing at all
Nothing gets nothing at all
I'm falling
Nothing gets nothing at all
The song "Nothing At All" by John Wesley Harding is about a man who feels like he is giving everything to his lover, but she is not reciprocating. He is willing to do anything for her and fulfill her desires, but she does not seem to care. He questions why she does not try to understand him and why he gets no assistance from her even when he falls. He feels like she is just like Cordelia, the youngest daughter of Cain who would not say how much she loved him. The man then describes his lover as a cruel mistress and a silent psychopath, and begs her to give him something, anything. The chorus repeats the phrase "nothing gets nothing at all" which means that if he is not given anything, he will eventually have nothing.
The song is a commentary on the one-sided nature of some relationships, where one person is giving everything while the other is not doing their part. It also touches on the idea of love being a two-way street and the importance of reciprocity in a healthy relationship. The reference to Cordelia and Cain's daughters is from Shakespeare's play "King Lear," where Cordelia refuses to flatter her father and tell him she loves him just to gain his favor. The man is likening his lover to Cordelia, who is unwilling to reciprocate his love and provide the emotional support he needs.
Line by Line Meaning
I give you everything you wanted
I have provided you with all you asked for
I give you all that you require
I have given you all that you needed
Say the word and I'll get on it
Tell me what you want, and I will do it for you
I'm here to realize your desires
I am here to make your wishes come true
So I don't know why
I am confused and unsure
You don't try
You are not making an effort
Cause I get no assistance at all from you
You are not helping me in any way
Will you even reach hand out when I fall
Will you be there to help me when I am in trouble?
Do you understand me?
Do you comprehend what I am saying?
Nothing gets nothing at all
You cannot expect to receive without giving
I'm falling
I am failing
It wasn't Cain who had three daughters
This is not a biblical reference
I think perhaps you've seen the plan
You may have an idea of what is going on
He asked them all how much they loved him
He inquired how much his daughters loved him
The youngest didn't want to say
The youngest was hesitant to answer
And you're just like her, Cordelia
You resemble the youngest daughter, Cordelia
Well you can save us all from a world of hurt
You can prevent us from experiencing pain
Or you can watch me bang my head against the wall
You can witness me struggling futilely
Am I speaking English?
Do you understand what I am saying?
Oh you're such a cruel mistress
You are an unkind master
A silent psychopath
You are a manipulator who operates in secret
Can we get back down to business?
Can we focus on the task at hand?
Can't you do the math?
Can't you figure it out?
And it's just too bad that you can't add
It is unfortunate that you cannot comprehend simple things
Will you wait forever to call my bluff?
Will you wait indefinitely to challenge me?
Til I'm slumped and barely breathing in the storm?
Until I am in dire straits
Please give me something anything!
I am asking for anything that can help me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN WESLEY HARDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind