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
One Night Only
John Wesley Harding Lyrics
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And the trouble he ran into Brighton was more than his share
He's been running for thirty years, he would have settled down
But each town he appears in puts a red nose on the clown
You can buy the old showbills and frame them, they're nearly antiques
You can trip up on his big clown shoes as you're starting to speak
He squirts the flower, hurts your hand, it'll always catch you
The one man circus is coming to town
Put the banners up, take your trousers down
Paint on a smile, wipe off the frown
Heaven knows he won't hurt us
The loose, the lovely and the lonely
One night only
He said 'I played Chaplin for Hitler in March 44
Been a black and white minstrel before that whole thing was outlawed
And I've dragged it on every pier in every seaside town
But there aren't any dances today, the pavilions have all been pulled down
I came over straight after the war and they hijacked my name
I waited for so many years but my wife never came
I've been learning these lines every day since 1945
And I'll recite them everyday I wished I was alive'
The one man circus is coming to town
Get the dogs out, tear the posters down
Paint go home on the walls til he is elsewhere bound
Don't you know he could hurt us
The loose, the lovely and the lonely
One night only
He's tripping over backwards, taking off his clothes
And no-one helps him, everyone knows
We laugh at the misfortune of others
Everytime the glass empties, the lions they all get set free
On a town full of unsuspecting tourists who scream when they're happy
A
t first glance, John Wesley Harding's song One Night Only appears to be about a washed-up circus performer who has been on the road for thirty years, performing outdated routines and receiving minimal respect from audiences. The performer's troubled past and present are touched on throughout the song, as he is said to have gotten into trouble in Brighton and was "shafted" in Bradford for his out of date routines. This led to him becoming somewhat of a joke or clown in each of the towns he visited, with his tears seeming to be permanently etched on his face.
Despite his desperate situation, the performer is still convinced that he has something to offer, and the chorus suggests that he is still capable of putting on an entertaining show. The lyrics can be interpreted as a reflection on the entertainment industry and how quickly audiences can turn on a performer, as well as an exploration of the idea of perseverance in the face of adversity. The one man circus is a representation of the performer's ability to put on a brave face and carry on despite the many obstacles he faces.
Line by Line Meaning
He got shafted in Bradford for his out of date routines up there
Despite his decades-long career, his old-fashioned performance routines were not well-received in Bradford.
And the trouble he ran into Brighton was more than his share
He faced more problems in Brighton than he deserved due to his performance.
He's been running for thirty years, he would have settled down
Despite his desire to stop traveling and stay in one place, touring keeps him on the move.
But each town he appears in puts a red nose on the clown
Every town he performs in seems to take pleasure in mocking him.
You can buy the old showbills and frame them, they're nearly antiques
Even though his routine is outdated, his old showbills are considered to be valuable antiques.
You can trip up on his big clown shoes as you're starting to speak
People can easily make fun of him, even if unintentionally.
He squirts the flower, hurts your hand, it'll always catch you
His flower squirting gag may seem harmless, but it can still cause pain in some instances.
And his tears are etched so deep that they might just be tattooed
His sorrow and regret have become an integral part of him.
The one man circus is coming to town
He is a one-man show who creates his own spectacle.
Put the banners up, take your trousers down
People should get excited and ready to participate.
Paint on a smile, wipe off the frown
It's time to put on a happy face and forget about your worries.
Heaven knows he won't hurt us
Despite his past mistakes and mishaps, he poses no physical harm.
He said 'I played Chaplin for Hitler in March 44'
He performed as Charlie Chaplin during the war, but for the wrong side in 1944.
Been a black and white minstrel before that whole thing was outlawed
He performed a racist act that should not be allowed today.
But there aren't any dances today, the pavilions have all been pulled down
The world has changed and moved on from the entertainment he provided.
I came over straight after the war and they hijacked my name
His identity has been taken from him and used by others.
I've been learning these lines every day since 1945
He has rehearsed the same lines repeatedly for decades.
And I'll recite them everyday I wished I was alive
His actions are now a way of coping with the regret he feels inside.
Get the dogs out, tear the posters down
People should not be promoting this performance or even attending it.
Paint go home on the walls til he is elsewhere bound
His presence is not wanted here, and people hope he will leave soon.
Don't you know he could hurt us
Despite previous comments, many people still feel threatened by his presence.
He's tripping over backwards, taking off his clothes
He is performing a humorous act where he falls and removes his clothing.
And no-one helps him, everyone knows
Even though his fall is part of the act, no one steps in to help him.
We laugh at the misfortune of others
Even though we find his act funny, it's important to remember that humor can come at the expense of someone else's pain.
Everytime the glass empties, the lions they all get set free
Every time a drink is consumed, something dangerous happens.
On a town full of unsuspecting tourists who scream when they're happy
The audience is thrilled by danger and excitement, even when they don't fully understand the risks.
One night only
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN WESLEY HARDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind