Stacey Clark, soprano; Kathleen Gahagan, harp.
Words by William Shakespeare.
Music by Steven Hardy.
Recorded March 15, 2015 at Elmwood Presbyterian Church, London, Ontario.

Shakespeare Songs

Full Fathom Five

"Mr. Noodles," a Weird Al-style parody of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was a TOP FIVE FINALIST in the 2022 UK Songwriting Contest.

Music by Leonard Cohen
Words by Steven Hardy

Steven Hardy's songs

Mr. Noodles (with apologies to Leonard Cohen)

Marla Silvestro, vocal. 
John Sheard, piano. 
Words and music by Steven Hardy.

There’s a halo ‘round the moon,
Jack Frost has lost control,
And there’s February in my soul.

There’s a bottle on the table
And the Sandman’s on a roll,
And there’s February in my soul.

	The sky is all grey,
	And the birds have flown,
	And the song in my heart’s out of tune.

There’s a fire in my belly
But my blood is running cold
‘Cause there’s February in my soul.


Now my friends have all gone
To follow their rainbows,
And I’m here at the end of my road

With my bridges all burned
And a handful of coal,
And there’s February in my soul.

	The sky is all grey,
	And the birds have flown,
	And the song in my heart’s out of tune.

Still, I wait and I listen,
And the night turns to gold;
It’s just February in my soul.

February in my Soul

unreleased

February In My Soul (featuring Marla Silvestro)

Composed by Steven Hardy
Performed by Clark Bryan
Artwork by Sarah Davies
Sheet music available at https://tinyurl.com/5xkz7jcn

Snowing

A bluegrass take on Tom Lehrer's classic "A Christmas Carol."

Dedicated to Jake Levesque, who shared my appreciation of the songs of Tom Lehrer.

Christmas time is here, by golly,
Disapproval would be folly,
Deck the halls with hunks of holly,
Fill the cup and don't say "when."
Kill the turkeys, ducks, and chickens,
Mix the punch, drag out the Dickens,
Even though the prospect sickens,
Brother, here we go again.

On Christmas Day you can't get sore,
Your fellow man you must adore,
There's time to rob him all the more
The other three hundred and sixty-four.

Relations, sparing no expense, 'll
Send some useless old utensil,
Or a matching pen and pencil,
"Just the thing I need, how nice!"
It doesn't matter how sincere it is
Nor how heartfelt the spirit,
Sentiment will not endear it,
What's important is the price.

On Christmas Day you can't get sore,
Your fellow man you must adore,
There's time to rob him all the more
The other three hundred and sixty-four.

So let the raucous sleigh bells jingle,
Hail our dear old friend Kriss Kringle
Driving his reindeer across the sky,
Don't stand underneath when they fly by.

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol (Bluegrass Version)

Composed by Steven Hardy
Performed by Clark Bryan
Sheet music available https://tinyurl.com/yc3ybv5p

Winter Waltz

"If I Don’t Make It Through This Christmas" was written as part of Sounds Like Canada’s "All For a Song" series. It was premiered and recorded in front of a live audience at the Glenn Gould Studio and broadcast on the Sounds Like Canada Christmas Eve show. It was later released by CBC Records on a compilation CD called "All For a Song."

Performed by Quartette
Composed by Gwen Swick and Steven Hardy
Recorded live at CBC's Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto by Ron Skinner

Gwen Swick - Lead Vocal
Sylvia Tyson, Caitlin Hanford & Cindy Church - BG Vocals
Kevin Breit - Electric Guitar
Wendell Ferguson - Acoustic Guitar
Randy Kempf - Bass
Randall Coryell - Drums

© 2003 Gwen Swick, Steven Hardy (SOCAN) 
℗ 2003 CBC Records

All For A Song

If I Don't Make It Through This Christmas (featuring Quartette)

Written, performed, and produced by Steven Hardy.

If You're Thinking of Falling in Love

If You're Thinking Of Falling In Love

Vocals by Allison Brown > https://allisonbrown.ca                                                       
Words and music by Steven Hardy
Produced by Steven Hardy

I don't want your roses in the morning,
Roses won't undo the things you said,
Don't go wasting money 
On roses for this honey;
Give them to some other girl instead.
 
I don't want a heart-shaped box of chocolates;
They always leave a bitter taste.			
I don't want to hear 
You say, “I'm sorry, dear.”
I don't want to see your sorry face.

	Every time I forgave you		 
	You said you would be a better man.
	Every time, I believed you;		
	O, what a fool I am. 

I don't want your roses in the morning;
A million roses couldn't make me stay.
Don't apologize, 
I'm tired of your lies,
And I never did like roses anyway.

© Steven Hardy SOCAN

(I Don't Want Your) Roses in the Morning

Roses in the Morning (featuring Allison Brown)

Composed and performed by Steven Hardy.
Dedicated to the memory of Nora Galloway.

#country #instrumental

Country Girl 

Country Girl (In Memory of Nora Galloway)

FINALIST 2022 UK Songwriting  Contest
"Love it!" -- Cassandra Wilson, Grammy Award winning recording artist
"Quite appealing" -- Downbeat Magazine
“Wow… awesome!” -- Matt Dusk, jazz singer
"Destined to become a Christmas classic" -- Tim Tamashiro, jazz singer 
"Great song!" --  Sandy Thacker, CBC Radio producer
"Sweet song" -- Sheryl MacKay, host of CBC Radio's North by Northwest
"Excellent" -- Songwriters Association of Canada 
"Wonderful song... Beautiful stuff!" -- Chuck Granata, author of the award-winning book, "Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording"

Words and music by Steven Hardy

They're packing up the Santa Claus and reindeer,
Taking down the mistletoe for another year,
Everybody's thinking 'bout New Year's Eve,
But I'm still waiting for Christmas.

Look at all the lucky little girls and boys
Playing with all their new  Christmas toys,
Everybody's wearing new Christmas clothes, 
But I'm still waiting for Christmas. 

I asked Santa for just one thing,
The only thing I wanted,
Christmas day I wanted to see	
You underneath my Christmas tree.

Well, maybe Santa never got my letter,
Or maybe Santa heard that I'd been naughty, whatever,
I won't be celebrating New Year's Eve,
I'm still  waiting for Christmas.

Words and music by Steven Hardy © SOCAN

I'm Still Waiting for Christmas (Maya's Version)

Written by Steven Hardy and Gwen Swick
Produced by Steven Hardy
Mastered by Aaron Murray


If I don't  make it through this Christmas
Have a drink on me,
Put all of my belongings
Under some poor family's tree,
Dress me up like Santa,
Deck me out in mistletoe,
Sing "O, Hallelujah"
And bury me in the snow.

If I don't make it through this Christmas
I won't have to pretend
That mere acquaintances
Are really dear, dear friends.
And concerning my vital organs:
I'll be happy to donate,
Sing, "O, Hallelujah"
And guide me to the Pearly Gates.

Jolly Saint Nicholas,
Time to take me off your list,
Angels we have heard on high,
Sing me one more lullaby.

If I don't make it through this Christmas
There will be those who will grieve,
But they'll be getting over it
In time for New Year's Eve,
So, crack the Champagne open,
Toast the year and me good-bye,
I'll be with Guy Lombardo's 
"Royal Canadians" in the sky.

Jolly Saint Nicholas,
Time to take me off your list,
Angels we have heard on high,
Sing me one more lullaby.

If I Don't Make It Through This Christmas

If I Don't Make It Through This Christmas (featuring Megan Schroder)

Dedicated to the people of New Orleans who survived, and those who did not survive, Hurricane Katrina.

Mother Nature is a Bad Mother

Mother Nature is a Bad Mother: The Story of a Hurricane

Words, music, and performance by Steven Hardy.


I thought that I was funny, no one got the joke,
I thought that I was wise but they laughed each time I spoke,
I thought I was an angel but I didn’t have the wings,
Now I’m wondering if I’m anything.

I tell ya what I’m thinkin' -- if I just stay here on the floor
Maybe I’ll just keep on sinkin' till you can’t see me anymore.

Once, life was sweet, then it turned bad,
I battled with my demons, that just made 'em mad.
Now, I'm tired, and I'm scared
And I've got this itchin' everywhere.

I tell ya what I’m thinkin' -- if I just stay here on the floor
Maybe I’ll just keep on sinkin' till you can’t see me anymore.

I was trying to believe, trying to be good,
I was trying to do the things I knew I should,
I was praying to God day and night,
Lyin' in the darkness, looking for a light.

I tell ya what I’m thinkin' -- if I just stay here on the floor
Maybe I’ll just keep on sinkin' till you can’t see me anymore.

Sinking; or, The Grim Pill's Progress

Words and music by Steven Hardy SOCAN

A Top 20 Finalist in the UNISONG International Songwriting Contest, “The Christmas Eve Shoppers” is a fun, catchy sing-along about the mad dash to finish Christmas shopping before the stores close on Christmas Eve — a predicament many families, including my own, know all too well. Featuring ukulele, xylophone, and the delightful voice of children’s entertainer Elsie Sparkles, it’s a hilarious holiday tune the whole family will enjoy.

The Christmas Eve Shoppers (feat. Elsie Sparkles)

FINALIST 2022 UK Songwriting  Contest
"Love it!" -- Cassandra Wilson, Grammy Award winning recording artist
"Quite appealing" -- Downbeat Magazine
“Wow… awesome!” -- Matt Dusk, jazz singer
"Destined to become a Christmas classic" -- Tim Tamashiro, jazz singer 
"Great song!" --  Sandy Thacker, CBC Radio producer
"Sweet song" -- Sheryl MacKay, host of CBC Radio's North by Northwest
"Excellent" -- Songwriters Association of Canada 
"Wonderful song... Beautiful stuff!" -- Chuck Granata, author of the award-winning book, "Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording"

Words and music © Steven Hardy (SOCAN)

They're packing up the Santa Claus and reindeer,
Taking down the mistletoe for another year,
Everybody's thinking 'bout New Year's Eve,
But I'm still waiting for Christmas.

Look at all the lucky little girls and boys
Playing with all their new Christmas toys,
Everybody's wearing new Christmas clothes,
But I'm still waiting for Christmas.

I asked Santa for just one thing,
The only thing I wanted,
Christmas day I wanted to see
You underneath my Christmas tree.

Well, maybe Santa never got my letter,
Or maybe Santa heard I'd been naughty, whatever,
I won't be celebrating New Year's Eve,
I'm still waiting for Christmas.

I'm Still Waiting for Christmas

I'm Still Waiting for Christmas (featuring Sonja Gustafson)

Words and music by Steven Hardy                                                                

"I Won't Be Home for Christmas" was composed especially for CBC London's "Sounds of the Season" in the time of COVID.

Steven Hardy

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