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.
The Dancer
PJ Harvey Lyrics
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He came dressed in black with a cross bearing my name
He came bathed in light and splendor and glory
I can't believe what the Lord has finally sent me
He said dance for me, fanciulla gentil
He said laugh a while I can make your heart feel
He said fly with me touch the face of the true God
'Cause I've prayed days, I've prayed nights
For the Lord just to send me home some sign
I've looked long, I've looked far
To bring peace to my black and empty heart
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah-ah-ah-ah
My love will stay 'til the riverbed runs dry
My love lasts long as the sunshine blue sky
I love him longer as each damn day goes
The man is gone and heaven only knows
'Cause I've cried days, I've cried nights
For the Lord just to send me home some sign
Is he near? Is he far?
Bring peace to my black and empty heart
So long days, so long nights
Oh, Lord, be near me tonight
Is he near? Is he far?
Bring peace to my black and empty heart
The lyrics to PJ Harvey's The Dancer describe a man who arrives in the singer's life like a phoenix out of the fire. He is described as being dressed in black with a cross bearing the singer's name, and bathed in light and glory. The man tells the singer to dance for him, laughing as he promises to make her heart feel. He then asks her to fly with him, to touch the face of the true God and to cry with joy at the depth of his love.
The singer explains that she has prayed for days and nights for the Lord to send her a sign, to bring peace to her black and empty heart. She loves this man so much that she will stay with him until the riverbed runs dry, and her love will last as long as the sunshine blue sky. She loves him even longer as each damn day goes, even though he is gone and only heaven knows where he is.
The singer cries for days and nights, begging the Lord to send her a sign and to bring peace to her black and empty heart. She asks if the man is near or far, and pleads with the Lord to be near her tonight.
Overall, the lyrics to The Dancer seem to describe the singer's intense love for a man who has arrived in her life and brought her a sense of peace and joy. The man seems almost otherworldly, and the singer is willing to follow him wherever he may go. Despite his absence, her love for him remains strong, and she longs for some sort of reassurance that he will return to her.
Line by Line Meaning
He came riding fast like a phoenix outta fire flames
He approached quickly, reemerging with energy and strength like a phoenix rising from the flames.
He came dressed in black with a cross bearing my name
He wore black attire with a cross that had my name on it, signifying his dedication to me.
He came bathed in light and splendor and glory
He arrived with radiant light and magnificence, exuding greatness and glory.
I can't believe what the Lord has finally sent me
I am amazed that the Lord has finally sent me someone of such beauty and worth.
He said dance for me, fanciulla gentil
He asked me to dance for him, in the most polite and courteous manner.
He said laugh a while I can make your heart feel
He urged me to laugh and enjoy myself because he wanted to fill my heart with joy.
He said fly with me touch the face of the true God
He invited me to soar with him, to reach the highest heights, and to experience the true power of the divine.
And then cry with joy at the depth of my love
And then, cry with happiness when confronted by the overwhelming depth of affection that he has for me.
'Cause I've prayed days, I've prayed nights
I have spent many days and many nights praying for some sort of sign from the Lord, my Maker.
For the Lord just to send me home some sign
I hoped that the Lord would give me some sort of sign to show me that He was present and listening.
I've looked long, I've looked far
I have searched high and low to find something that would give me peace and make me feel whole once again.
To bring peace to my black and empty heart
To put an end to the struggles and emptiness that have been gnawing away at my heart and mind.
My love will stay 'til the riverbed runs dry
My love will endure all difficulties and obstacles, remaining strong even when resources are scarce.
My love lasts long as the sunshine blue sky
My love is as infinite and unchanging as the blue sky and the sunshine that permeate our lives.
I love him longer as each damn day goes
My love grows stronger with each and every passing day, despite the many obstacles that we may face.
The man is gone and heaven only knows
The man I love has left me, and only Heaven knows what the future holds in store for us.
'Cause I've cried days, I've cried nights
I have spent countless days and nights in tears, unable to find solace or relief from my pain and sorrow.
Is he near? Is he far?
I wonder if the man I love is close to me, or far away in some distant land.
Bring peace to my black and empty heart
I pray that my heart may find peace, and that the pain and emptiness may soon come to an end.
So long days, so long nights
I have endured many long and difficult days, and many sleepless nights.
Oh, Lord, be near me tonight
I pray for the Lord's presence and comfort to be with me, especially on this night.
Is he near? Is he far?
Once again, I am left wondering if the man I love is near or far away from me.
Bring peace to my black and empty heart
I desperately need peace to fill the void in my heart and wash away the pain and sorrow.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: POLLY JEAN HARVEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind