Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined local band Automatic Dlamini as a vocalist, guitarist and saxophonist. The band's frontman, John Parish, became her long-term collaborator. In 1991, she formed an eponymous trio called PJ Harvey and subsequently began her career as PJ Harvey. The trio released two studio albums called Dry (1992) and Rid of Me (1993) before disbanding, after which Harvey continued as a solo artist. Since 1995, she has released a further nine studio albums with collaborations from various musicians including Parish, former bandmate Rob Ellis, Mick Harvey and Eric Drew Feldman, and has also worked extensively with record producer Flood.
Among the accolades Harvey has received are both the 2001 and 2011 Mercury Prize for Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) and Let England Shake (2011), respectively, making her the only artist to have been awarded the prize twice. She has also garnered eight Brit Award nominations, seven Grammy Award nominations and two further Mercury Prize nominations. Rolling Stone awarded her three accolades: 1992's Best New Artist and Best Singer Songwriter, and 1995's Artist of the Year. Rolling Stone also listed Rid of Me, To Bring You My Love and Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea on its list of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2011, she was awarded for Outstanding Contribution To Music at the NME Awards. In the 2013 Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to music.
On Battleship Hill
PJ Harvey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stings my face into remembering
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel nature has won again
On Battleship Hill's caved in trenches
A hateful feeling still lingers
Even now, eighty years later
Cruel, cruel nature
The land returns to how it has always been
Thyme carried on the wind
Jagged mountains, jutting out
Crag-like teeth in a rotten mouth
On Battleship Hill, I hear the wind
Saying, "Cruel nature has won again"
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel nature has won again
The lyrics to PJ Harvey's song "On Battleship Hill" are a commentary on the destructive force of nature and war. The scent of thyme carried on the wind reminds the singer of the past and the cruel nature that has won once again. The lyrics describe how even though the landscape may have changed over time, the feeling of loss and hatred lingers on. The singer describes the jagged mountains and crag-like teeth in a rotten mouth as metaphors for the scars left by the past.
The phrase "On Battleship Hill" is a reference to a location in the Dardanelles during World War I when British troops landed in Turkey to support the Russian Empire. The location saw much fighting and became infamous for the high number of casualties on both sides. The lyrics describe the caved-in trenches of the hill, which are reminders of the bloody battles fought there.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the loss of life and the impact of war on the environment. The lyrics suggest that no matter how much time has passed since the conflicts, the scars remain, and the cruelty of nature inevitably wins.
Line by Line Meaning
The scent of thyme carried on the wind
The fragrance of thyme carried by the wind
Stings my face into remembering
Stings my face and makes me recall
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel forces of nature have emerged victorious
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel forces of nature have emerged victorious
On Battleship Hill's caved in trenches
Sunken trenches on Battleship Hill
A hateful feeling still lingers
A spiteful feeling continues to exist
Even now, eighty years later
Even at present, after eighty years
Cruel nature
Cruel forces of nature
Cruel, cruel nature
Extremely cruel forces of nature
The land returns to how it has always been
The land reverts to its original state
Thyme carried on the wind
Thyme transported by the wind
Jagged mountains, jutting out
Rugged mountains protruding outward
Crag-like teeth in a rotten mouth
Teeth resembling jagged crags in a decayed mouth
On Battleship Hill, I hear the wind
On Battleship Hill, I perceive the sound of the wind
Saying, "Cruel nature has won again"
Asserting, "Cruel forces of nature have emerged victorious"
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel forces of nature have emerged victorious
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel forces of nature have emerged victorious
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel forces of nature have emerged victorious
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Polly Harvey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@luciendepeiro317
No sólo es una de las mejores canciones de esta grandísima artista sino que forma parte de uno de los discos favoritos de mi vida, donde cada tema es maravilloso. Sin duda se sitúa entre mis máximos disfrutes. Aquí estamos con el recuerdo de una batalla en Inglaterra en plena guerra mundial, hace ya más de ochenta años, una vista que mira el presente teniendo en cuenta aquel intenso pasado, con un vídeo estupendo, genial, donde los primeros planos finales emocionan a pleno rendimiento. De hecho, el trabajo entero penetra sentimentalmente en un pasado duro y emotivo*, removiendo mis propios sentimientos. Una maravilla total para un servidor.
32. PJ Harvey, "On Battleship Hill".
[https://youtu.be/VO63vb1S7Cw]
(*) Para escuchar todos los temas de esta maravilla a través de sus emotivos vídeos:
[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKrk96C30HJG9s7jppREEfA5N4okCq99s]
@maryeng1
On Battleship Hill
PJ Harvey
The scent of thyme carried on the wind,
Stings my face into remembering
Cruel nature has won again.
Cruel nature has won again.
On Battleship Hill's caved in trenches,
A hateful feeling still lingers,
Even now, eighty years later.
Cruel nature.
Cruel, cruel nature.
The land returns to how it has always been.
Thyme carried on the wind.
Jagged mountains, jutting out,
Cracked like teeth in a rotten mouth.
On Battleship Hill I hear the wind,
Say "Cruel nature has won again."
Cruel nature has won again.
Cruel nature has won again.
Cruel nature has won again.
Songwriters: Polly Harvey
On Battleship Hill lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
@Rajat_1010
The scent of Thyme carried on the wind
Stings my face into remembering
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel nature has won again
On Battleship Hill's caved in trenches
A hateful feeling still lingers
Even now, 80 years later
Cruel nature, cruel, cruel nature
The land returns to how it's always been
Thyme carried on the wind
Jagged mountains, jutting out
Cracked like teeth in a rotten mouth
On Battleship Hill I hear the wind
Say, "Cruel nature has won again"
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel nature has won again
Cruel nature has won again
@JonathanWard38
I believe that this song is one of the most deeply moving songs I have ever heard and I never tire of hearing it. There is a captivating restraint in the lyrics and the suggestion is enough to convey the most powerful message. For me, this piece is one of PJ Harvey's most exceptional pieces and I am in awe that a human being was given the gifts to bring this song to the exquisite state that it was released to the world. I can't imagine how she can possibly improve but I wait with baited breathe
@jeannettefritz493
Yes, I agree
@jeannettefritz493
Wonderful, no words ever to mention breath less
@fwoibles
I like that you said that. I agree.
@1chienandalou
Thank you. Yes… 🖤
@ukulelelab4219
Sadly even more relevant now. My heart goes out to all the people in Ukraine and all the people dragged into this war against their will.
@nessieg23
As Australians, we were brought up on the mythology of Gallipoli. Battleship Hill was a particular slaughterhouse in that foolish Churchillian enterprise, in which I lost several ancestors. I think there are three songs on the album that refer to the Anzac experience and as a result I find the whole album very powerful. Plus, this song in particular is a thing of beauty.
@TheGamerPandA
best album of the decade will be remembered as a masterpiece because thats exactly what it is
@carollodge111
Spot on
@mynewcolour
I bought it the week it was released but still haven't managed to get all the way through in one listen. I find it too moving. She has a gift.