One of five children in a musical family, Hardiman was born in May 1961 and grew up in Dublin, Ireland. He Attended Royal Irish Academy of Music.
He worked as a clerk at the Bank of Ireland for twelve years, occasionally playing in pop bands during the 1980s. After quitting his job, though, he composed material based more on Irish traditions than pop music, specifically for radio and television; months later wrote the theme music to the documentary My Riviera, which became quite well-known in Ireland.
During the next few years, Hardiman composed for Coca-Cola and Guinness and gained his reputation as Ireland's best contemporary composer. He was approached by Michael Flatley, creator of Riverdance, to compose the score to the new production Lord of the Dance. Thanks in large part to the success of the production, Hardiman gained a recording contract through Philips and released his debut album, Solas, in early 1998.
After an unlikely early career as a bank teller, Hardiman has succeeded in fulfilling his lifelong ambition to compose and perform his own music. Although he maintains a low profile, continuing to live and work in his native Dublin, his work has become well known to international audiences from Japan to South Africa to the United States. With performances of Lord of the Dance rebroadcast continually around the globe, Hardiman has gained recognition as one of the most successful composers and performers to emerge from Ireland.
Secret World
Ronan Hardiman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is a steeple
I hear the crowd
Before I ever
See the people
Yours for the asking
And for the taking
There is a power
We are making
You and I have a secret world
And we can keep it unfurled
And pay no attention
To the cradle or the grave
And when we're crossed
We can say that we're lost
In the middle of nowhere
Think you'll like it a lot
And if we're wrong
And we end up alone
We'll light a candle
For their innocent bones
You and I have a secret world
And we can keep it unfurled
And pay no attention
To the cradle or the grave
You and I have a secret world
And we can keep it unfurled
And pay no attention
To the cradle or the grave
And when we're crossed
We can say that we're lost
In the middle of nowhere
Think you'll like it a lot
And if we're wrong
And we end up alone
We'll light a candle
For their innocent bones
You and I have a secret world
And we can keep it unfurled
And pay no attention
To the cradle or the grave
And when we're crossed
We can say that we're lost
In the middle of nowhere
Think you'll like it a lot
And if we're wrong
And we end up alone
We'll light a candle
For their innocent bones
The lyrics to Ronan Hardiman’s “Secret World” can be interpreted in different ways. On the surface, the song speaks to the idea of having a secret world with someone that is built on a strong bond, trust, and understanding. The two people in the song are creating a world of their own where they can share and keep secrets, away from the influence of the outer world. In this world, they feel powerful and strong, with the freedom to share and express themselves without the burden of societal expectations. The repeated lines, “You and I have a secret world, and we can keep it unfurled, and pay no attention to the cradle or the grave” highlights the importance of the relationship they have and how it takes priority over anything else.
However, the song can also be interpreted as an escape from reality, a world where they can be free from struggles or burdens. The line “And when we're crossed, we can say that we're lost in the middle of nowhere, think you'll like it a lot” suggests that they are escaping. And the line, “And if we're wrong, and we end up alone, we'll light a candle for their innocent bones” might suggest a warning to those who don’t join and understand their world.
Overall, Hardiman’s “Secret World” speaks to the need for a private world that is free from criticism, judgment, and societal pressures where two people share a bond.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a garden
There is a sense of peace and tranquility around us
This is a steeple
There is a symbol of faith and hope that guides us
I hear the crowd
There is a noise and chaos around us
Before I ever See the people
Before we actually see the people, we hear and anticipate their presence
Yours for the asking And for the taking
The world is ours to explore, take and enjoy
There is a power In the vacuum We are making
We have the power to create and shape our own destiny and future
You and I have a secret world And we can keep it unfurled And pay no attention To the cradle or the grave
We have our own private world, where we can be ourselves without worrying about anyone or anything else, including birth or death
And when we're crossed We can say that we're lost In the middle of nowhere Think you'll like it a lot
When things get tough, we can pretend to be lost in a world of our own, and find comfort in it
And if we're wrong And we end up alone We'll light a candle For their innocent bones
If things don't go as planned, and we end up alone, we'll remember and honor the past by lighting a candle for those who came before us
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONAN HARDIMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind