Garrett has performed across the whole world and has also sung opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall to celebrate the arrival of the new century on Millennium Eve, in the grounds at the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum.
She played the lead role of Hanna Glawari, in the Welsh National Opera's production of The Merry Widow, which toured the United Kingdom in 2005. As of November 2006, Garrett was performing as Mother Abbess for six months, in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music.
As a recording artist, Garrett has released eleven solo albums. Many of her albums have received gold and silver status. Soprano in Red received the Gramophone Award for "Best-selling Classical Artist of the Year". Garrett was also a featured artist on the platinum selling Perfect Day single released by the BBC in aid of Children in Need.
Garrett is a member of the board of the English National Opera. In 2002, she was awarded the CBE for services to music.
She is also a presenter on the UK commercial radio station "Classic FM".
The Bold Grenadier
Lesley Garrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I spied a young couple a makin' of hay.
O one was a fair maid and her beauty shone clear
And the other was a soldier, a bold grenadier.
Good morning, good morning, good morning said he
O where are you going my pretty lady?
I am going a walking by the clear crystal stream
O soldier, o soldier, will you marry me?
O no, my sweet lady that never can be.
For I have a wife in my own country
Two wives and the army's too many for me.
The Bold Grenadier is a traditional British folk song from the mid-19th century that tells the story of a chance encounter between a soldier and a beautiful young woman. The song begins with the soldier and the maid working together to make hay in the May sunshine. The soldier is immediately drawn to the maid's beauty and attempts to engage her in conversation, greeting her with a friendly "Good morning" and inquiring about where she is heading. The maid replies that she is simply taking a walk by the crystal stream to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.
Then, the maid makes a bold request, asking the soldier to marry her. However, the soldier is hesitant, explaining that he already has a wife back in his own country. He lets her know that he cannot be with her and reveals that having two wives while being in the army would be too much for him to handle. Thus, the soldier parts ways with the maid, leaving her to continue on her walk.
The lyrics of The Bold Grenadier explore themes of love, infidelity, and the power dynamics between men and women. The song's melancholic melody and narrative structure reflect the tragedy of a love that could never be. Despite the sadness of the story, the song continues to be popular today, with many artists recording their own versions over the years.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was a walking one morning in May
While I was taking a stroll on a May morning
I spied a young couple a makin' of hay.
I came across two people who were making hay
O one was a fair maid and her beauty shone clear
One of them was a beautiful and fair maiden who was glowing with her beauty
And the other was a soldier, a bold grenadier.
The other person was a brave soldier known as a grenadier.
Good morning, good morning, good morning said he
He greeted them by saying 'good morning' three times.
O where are you going my pretty lady?
He asked the pretty lady where she was headed.
I am going a walking by the clear crystal stream
She said that she was headed to take a walk by a crystal clear stream.
To see cool water glide and hear nightingales sing.
She added that she wanted to see the cool water as it flowed and to hear the nightingales sing.
O soldier, o soldier, will you marry me?
The pretty lady asked the soldier if he would marry her.
O no, my sweet lady that never can be.
The soldier regretfully declined and said that it could never happen.
For I have a wife in my own country
He explained that he already had a wife back in his home country.
Two wives and the army's too many for me.
He added that having two wives would be too much for him to handle, especially being a soldier.
Contributed by Ella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.