Career
Hansard quit school at age 13 to begin busking on local Dublin streets. He formed his own band The Frames in 1990, and the group have been gigging regularly in Ireland since. Hansard came to international attention as guitar player Outspan Foster in the 1991 Alan Parker film The Commitments. He has often stated that he regretted taking the role because he felt it distracted him from his music career. In 2003, he presented the television programme Other Voices: Songs from a Room, which showcased Irish music talent on RTÉ.
On 22 April 2006, he released his first album without The Frames, The Swell Season, on Overcoat Recordings in collaboration with Czech singer and multi-instrumentalist Markéta Irglová, Marja Tuhkanen from Finland on violin and viola, and Bertrand Galen from France on cello. Hansard also spent part of 2006 in front of the cameras for the music-infused Irish film Once, in which Hansard plays a Dublin busker, and Irglová an immigrant street vendor. The film had its United States premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007 and received the Festival's World Cinema Audience Award. During the promotional tour, he and Irglová began dating. Said Hansard about his relationship with Irglova: "I had been falling in love with her for a long time, but I kept telling myself she's just a kid".
Hansard had recorded a version of Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" for the film I'm Not There in 2007. In 2009, Hansard said that he and Irglova were no longer romantically linked, and that they are now "good friends".
Aside from his projects with The Frames and Irglová, Hansard also took part as a member of the band on the 2006 Oxfam charity album, The Cake Sale. Hansard has recorded several cover songs, both alone and with band member Colm Mac Con Iomaire, for the Today FM discs Even Better than the Real Thing. Songs that he has recorded include Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River" on Even Better than the Real Thing Vol. 1 and Britney Spears' "Everytime" on Vol. 2.
He voiced a role on an episode ("In the Name of the Grandfather") on The Simpsons as an Irish busker. A new album of original songs recorded as The Swell Season with Markéta Irglová and entitled Strict Joy was released on 27 October 2009 on the ANTI- record label.
In the summer of 2011, he joined Eddie Vedder on his American solo tour in support of Vedder's solo album, Ukulele Songs. He played a solo concert at the opening of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Guitar Heroes exhibit in New York City in May 2011. and on Cape Cod at the Cape Cinema on 17 June.
In September 2011, he played at Pearl Jam's 20th Anniversary Festival PJ20 at the Alpine Valley Theatre outside of East Troy, Wisconsin. Hansard plays several guitars, including a very recognisable battered Takamine NP15 acoustic guitar (even sporting a large hole), which he calls "The Horse".
In a November 2011 interview in The Huffington Post with Irglova, it was revealed that Hansard was preparing a solo album and that there was a very possible third release from The Swell Season. This solo album was later revealed to be titled Rhythm and Repose.
American Songwriter included Hansard's "Love Don't Leave Me Waiting" on its The Muse July Sampler. Another song of his featured in a film soundtrack is This Gift, which appears in The Odd Life of Timothy Green.
Hansard sang the song "Take the Heartland" on the soundtrack for the 2012 film The Hunger Games. Another song he wrote, "Come Away to the Water", is featured on the soundtrack, but is covered by Maroon 5 and Rozzi Crane. Hansard can be found singing "Come Away to the Water" on the deluxe edition of his first solo album Rhythm and Repose. He guest-starred in an episode of the TV series, Parenthood, playing himself. In the episode, "Trouble in Candyland", he performed "High Hope", a single from his solo debut album Rhythm and Repose. In 2015, Hansard and Lisa Hannigan recorded a song, "On Love", for the soundtrack for the 2014 film Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet. Hansard sang Coyote at the Joni Mitchell 75th birthday concert Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration in Los Angeles in December 2018.
Influences
Hansard has remarked about his musical influences: "In my house, when I was a kid, there was the holy trinity, which was Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison, and Bob Dylan with Bob sitting centre." Hansard and The Frames toured as the support act for Bob Dylan in Australia and New Zealand in August 2007 and Hansard often performs Van Morrison's songs in concert. Two such songs include "Into the Mystic", and "And the Healing Has Begun" which were included on the collector's edition of the soundtrack for the film Once.
Hansard is a devotee of Krishna and performed for the 80th birthday of Swami Prabhupada in London, staying at a manor donated to the Hare Krishna movement by The Beatles' George Harrison, who was a Hare Krishna devotee. In July 2013, he sang with Bruce Springsteen at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, Ireland. In July 2015, he performed "Raglan Road" with Ed Sheeran in Croke Park, Dublin.
Other
In 2008, Hansard took a four-week filmmaking workshop at the New York Film Academy.
In 2016, Hansard was a prominent member of the Home Sweet Home Group, a coalition of activists and homeless. The group broke into Apollo House in Dublin and illegally occupied it. They eventually had to vacate the premises due to trespassing.
Philander
Glen Hansard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm kissin' my Philander
She never said goodbye, only see ya later
While I'm makin' this a plan for you
And I'm always gonna love you
And I'm always gonna stay
Here with my Philander
And I'm laid out for Philander
I'll star you in my movie
I'm makin' it now
So come on, you little actor
Don't let me down, Philander
And I'm always gonna love you
And I'm never gonna stray
And I'm always gonna love you
And I'm always gonna stay
Here with my Philander
The song Philander by Glen Hansard tells the story of a person stuck in a corner, kissing their lover named Philander. Despite the fact that Philander did not say goodbye, only see you later, the person is still making plans for them together. The repetition of the lines "And I'm always gonna love you / And I'm always gonna stay / Here with my Philander" highlights the devotion and commitment the person has towards Philander.
As the song progresses, the person expresses their desire to star Philander in their movie, urging them not to let them down. The final repetition of the lines "And I'm always gonna love you / And I'm never gonna stray" reinforces the person's promise to remain faithful and devoted to Philander.
Overall, the lyrics of the song Philander convey a deep and unwavering love, despite any obstacles that may come their way. The use of repetition emphasizes the strength of these feelings and the commitment towards their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Stuck in the corner
Feeling trapped and helpless, boxed in
I'm kissin' my Philander
I'm indulging in my infidelity
She never said goodbye, only see ya later
She didn't break up with me, just put things on hold
While I'm makin' this a plan for you
I'm scheming and plotting for my own benefit, regardless of the consequences
And I'm always gonna love you
I have an unbreakable, obsessive attachment to my lover Philander
And I'm always gonna stay
I'll never leave Philander, no matter what
Here with my Philander
I'm content in my adulterous relationship, even though it's wrong
Up here on this platter
I'm showcasing my Philander as my prized possession
And I'm laid out for Philander
I'm completely devoted and submissive to Philander's every desire
I'll star you in my movie
I'm willing to use Philander as a pawn in my own personal drama and manipulation
I'm makin' it now
I'm determined to have complete control and power over my own life and relationships
So come on, you little actor
I'm urging Philander to play their role in my twisted game, to act out my fantasies
Don't let me down, Philander
I demand total loyalty and obedience from my unfaithful partner, even though I'm the one in the wrong
And I'm never gonna stray
I'll never cheat on Philander with anyone else, but I don't see my current behavior as cheating
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GLEN HANSARD, GLEN JAMES HANSARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aparnaros7706
Stuck in... a corner
I'm kssing my Philander
Well, she never said goodbye;
Only see ya later...
Well, i'm making this a plan for you
I'm always gonna love you, i'm always gonna stay
Up here, on this platter,
And i'm laid out for Philander
I'm starring in a movie,Am making it now
So come now, you li'l actor
Don't let me down, Philander
I'm always gonna love you
Never gonna stray,
I'm always gonna love you
Am always gonna stay..
@MadreMaven
This song scares me, in a wonderful and timeless way. It shocks me, and soothes my soul all at the same time. I'm eager to hear it again, yet when it begins I nearly dread it - I know it's heavy deep and gorgeous and I must pay attention. I can barely watch the video because I end up gasping inwards. The camera works adds such character to an already already filled with character song. Breathless. Seriously.
@laylab2009
Glen is one of very few true artistS out there in our world. This is just beyond amazing, THANK YOU GLEN!
@Christie0420
I am in love with everything this man does. This sounds so much like a Portishead song, anyone? Anyway I can not wait to soak this album up while I swim, sleep, dream, run, walk, love.
@MrFramesfan
This is so brilliant, but I'm sure none of us are surprised, it's Glen. It's amazing how this song weaves through different phases of grief, denial, anger, acceptance (the last time he sings "I'm always gonna love you" he smiles, weakly.. so heartbreaking yet mildly reassuring. And the music parallels the changing phases of grief. Both the video and the song are truly genius, beautifully dark and haunting. A true work of art from a true artist. Glen, you never cease to astound and inspire.
@Mrlittleoleman
This is the truest thing ever said in any language. I'm American, and I love this man.
@suephillips3886
Replay...replay...replay...replay..everytime I believe more and more he is singing to me;) The Frames, Swell Season, Once, terrific...common denominator....Glen Hansard. He is absolutely the best, ever, Oh Glen...
@MrShocking68
I'm truly blown away. This song is exceptional and soulful to the depths...
@suephillips3886
I love this man! He sings from his heart and soul! Been a fan for years!
@pmacc3557
Good girl yourself!
@chalieluciano
both Marketa and Glen are notoriously known for giving all there emotions in there songs. What's amazing 'bout them is that they can 'stand' singing those songs to each other.I am still hoping for them to get back together.