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Nuclear Soldier
© 1985 I had enjoyable memories of my father playing Tom Leher’s songs on his record player. One song in particular haunted me: “So long Mom (I’m off to drop the bomb)”. Almost 20 years later I had to follow up with song about me as a pilot going off to drop the bomb. Kudos…
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Many Songs
I always write, play and sing songs with someone in mind. This song is no exception: 30-plus-year friend Cathy Pelley, hospital CEO with whom I have had the pleasure to work on many occasions, shares a passion with me: Neil Diamond. His voice was in my spirit when I wrote the song, but so was…
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Leave the Lovers Alone
© 1984 My wife and I belonged to the San Anselmo Pixie Park when our boys were 3 and 5 years old. The park had an annual Halloween parade for the little ones. Huey Lewis and family also had two kids the same age so we chatted and paraded awhile while my pirate thwacked Huey’s…
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It Doesn’t Matter
© 1971 This is one of my favorite songs because I wrote it while working as a children’s ski instructor at Anzere, Switzerland. NOTE: kids are born knowing how to ski. They didn’t need my help which is the reason why none of the professional Swiss ski instructors wanted the job. It’s also the reason…
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Guernica
© 1970 Picasso’s painting depicts the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica on April 26, 1937. Franco’s German and Italian allies in the Spanish Civil War carpet-bombed Guernica, a stronghold of Republican opposition to Franco’s Nationalists, for hours. Almost as famous for his biting wit as he was for his artistic prowess, Picasso once…
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Four Little Rays of Sunshine
© 1969 I tried playing guitar in a few bands, one of which ended about the same time my college ‘drop in’ days were over; just before I committed social suicide, packed up my backpack and headed for Europe. This song is about the band breakup. Four little rays of sunshineGot together one dayBut all…
Papa Hardy
Songs of Peace, Love, and Legacy — The Music of Jeffrey Charles Hardy
This is how it all started…
Jeffrey Charles Hardy—affectionately known as Papa Hardy—is a singer-songwriter whose music is rooted in a lifetime of purpose, compassion, and connection. He began writing and recording songs as an extension of his life’s mission through his nonprofit, Care For Peace, an organization devoted to building peace and opportunity in some of the world’s most underserved communities. His music became a powerful way to communicate the heart of his humanitarian work: unity, empathy, and the shared human spirit.
As Jeffrey’s journey continued, so did the evolution of his musical expression. Marriage, fatherhood, and eventually becoming a grandfather added new dimensions to his songwriting. These personal milestones brought a richness and emotional depth to his lyrics—stories of love, legacy, and the quiet, powerful beauty of family life. His songs are more than melodies; they are living reflections of a man who sees the world not only as it is, but as it could be.
Whether he’s writing about peace across borders or the joy of holding a grandchild’s hand, Jeffrey’s music is always personal, always heartfelt, and always hopeful. Papa Hardy is a celebration of his life’s work—through service, through song, and through stories that inspire connection across generations.
Jeffrey Charles Hardy, “Papa Hardy”
Singer/Songwriter