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
You're No Good
John Wesley Harding Lyrics
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When she's all sweetness and light
She doesn't lie through her teeth all day
She doesn't grind them in her dreams
When you hold her tight at night
How can you be so sick and suspicious
When she's health and goodness personified?
That wants blood for dr.hyde
She's an angel and you're a clown
She'll be flying when you're six feet under the ground
You'll be lying because someone told you you should
She's an angel and you're no good
How can you be so cool and distant
When she always does her best to be here
Right between your dreams and your nightmare desires
The hole in your wall has got so small
Her stockings are so sheer
How can you be so greedy and hopeless
She gives you everything but you still want more
If you could see the looks you give her
That's something you'd abhor
She's an angel and you're a joke
A shaggy dog shuffling in to give the punchline a poke
You're just dying to turn her into red riding hood
She's an angel and you're no good
She's a not a barbie doll
You can drag around on some dog collar
You can't wrap love up in clingflim
Keep it from getting older
She'll always be so artless
You're heartless, getting colder
Don't try to come from behind
'Cause I'll be right over your shoulder
How can you treat her dumb and stupid
When she knows that you're not the bee's knees
You'll have to let her turn the bedside light right off
Instead of you turning it down to mood by the three degrees
How can you be so limp and spineless
When she'd even help you to make your final stand
It's not enough for anyone
Just to lie back and think of iceland
She's not an angel, she's flesh and blood
You do the dirty and she's crawled around right in your mud
Now you're crying, I think that we knew that you would
She's an angel and you're no good
The song "You're No Good" appears in John Wesley Harding's fifth studio album, "Awake" released in 1998. In the song, the singer compares his partner's virtues and goodness to her partner's darkness and sinister personality. The singer expresses his surprise at how two people who contrast so much can be together. He describes the woman as incredibly sweet, innocent, and caring, while the partner comes off as suspicious, greedy, and unappreciative of her. He also alludes to infidelity and suggests that the partner is not faithful to the woman.
The lyrics depict the singer's frustration and disappointment at the apparent disparity between his partner and her lover. He believes the woman deserves better and questions why she chooses to stick with her partner. The phrase "She's an angel, and you're no good" recurs throughout the song, emphasizing the sharp contrast between the two characters.
The song highlights the theme of opposites at play. The singer's descriptions of the two people in contrast highlight the light and dark aspects of relationships. At times, the song seems to suggest that the two characters are polar opposites who should never have been together in the first place. However, it also acknowledges that love is complicated and bizarre, and nothing is ever black and white.
Line by Line Meaning
How can you be so dark and disgusting
You're behaving in a negative way, which is in direct contrast to the positive behavior of someone else
When she's all sweetness and light
The other person is positive and has a good nature
She doesn't lie through her teeth all day
The positive person is not deceitful
She doesn't grind them in her dreams
The positive person is not anxious or worried
When you hold her tight at night
You are being intimate with the positive person
How can you be so sick and suspicious
You are acting in a negative and paranoid way
When she's health and goodness personified?
The other person is a model of good health and behavior
That love you gave her, it's just a virus
Your affection for her is destructive and harmful
That wants blood for dr.hyde
It is leading you down a dark path
She's an angel and you're a clown
The other person is virtuous and you are a buffoon
She'll be flying when you're six feet under the ground
She will have moved on and become something greater when you have died
You'll be lying because someone told you you should
You will not be truthful to yourself or to her
She's an angel and you're no good
You are not worthy of the positive person and your actions have proven that
How can you be so cool and distant
You are disconnected and uncaring towards the positive person
When she always does her best to be here
She is making an effort to be close to you
Right between your dreams and your nightmare desires
She is in the midst of both your positive and negative desires
The hole in your wall has got so small
You are distancing yourself from her and the world outside, becoming more closed off
Her stockings are so sheer
You are focused on superficial things about her that do not truly matter
How can you be so greedy and hopeless
You are selfish and have given up hope
She gives you everything but you still want more
The other person is giving you all they can, but it is never enough for you
If you could see the looks you give her
Your gaze towards her is not genuine
That's something you'd abhor
Once you understand your own behavior towards her, you will hate yourself for it
She's an angel and you're a joke
The other person is a role model and you are a ridiculous figure in comparison
A shaggy dog shuffling in to give the punchline a poke
Your actions towards her are comedic and insincere
You're just dying to turn her into red riding hood
You want to control and manipulate the other person for your own desires
She's an angel and you're no good
You are not deserving of the other person's positive qualities
She's a not a barbie doll
She is not a toy or an object
You can drag around on some dog collar
You cannot control her like an animal
You can't wrap love up in clingflim
You cannot possess or control love
Keep it from getting older
Love will not remain the same and will change over time
She'll always be so artless
The other person is genuinely sincere and honest
You're heartless, getting colder
You are becoming more disconnected and emotionless towards her
Don't try to come from behind
Do not try to approach her in a deceptive manner
'Cause I'll be right over your shoulder
The singer will be watching and paying attention to your actions
How can you treat her dumb and stupid
You are disrespecting and belittling the other person
When she knows that you're not the bee's knees
She understands your true character and shortcomings
You'll have to let her turn the bedside light right off
You must relinquish control and allow the other person to make their own choices
Instead of you turning it down to mood by the three degrees
Do not try to control the atmosphere and environment in a manipulative way
How can you be so limp and spineless
You are weak and indecisive in your actions towards her
When she'd even help you to make your final stand
The other person will support and be there for you until the end
It's not enough for anyone
Your behavior is not acceptable to anyone, including yourself
Just to lie back and think of iceland
Do not try to escape reality and your situation by distracting yourself
She's not an angel, she's flesh and blood
The other person is human and has their own faults and weaknesses
You do the dirty and she's crawled around right in your mud
You have acted in an immoral and indecent way towards her
Now you're crying, I think that we knew that you would
Your negative behavior has led you to a negative outcome
She's an angel and you're no good
You are not deserving of the other person's positive qualities
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOHN WESLEY HARDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind