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.
Song Of Good Hope
Glen Hansard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gather 'round now, hear my song
If you're drunk or at its border
Listen well, this won't take long
There's no doubt in fortune's favour
When it tells you you're the one
The meal real fruits of your labour
Will be sown by you alone
Oh good life of singing
Good life of song
Won't you grant us our full measure
When our day is done
Oh good wine and women
Good night's so long
Won't you ease us through our toiling
The road is very long
After long weeks in the corner
Where the wine won't make you drunk
But you held your place with honour
Among the bards and the troubadours
This is no roam and lamentation
No ode to those who are gone
But a joyful incantation
To the road we've come upon
Oh good life of singing
Good life of song
Won't you ease us through our toiling
The road is very long
Oh good wine and women
Good nights so long
Won't you grant us our full measure
For now we must go on
Must go on
Good life of singing
Good life of song
Good life of singing
Good life of song
Good life of singing
Good life of song
Go tell it on a mountain
Let them know we passed this way
Let them see we came as equals
Let them know we weren't afraid
And they feel you're love of music
In every note you play
Well it leaves you if you don't use it
Don't let it slip away
Oh good life of singing
Good life of song
How you granted us our measure
When our work was done
Oh good days of drinking
Good nights so long
How you eased us through our toiling
For now we must go on
Must go on
Good life of singing
Good life of song
Good life of singing
Good life of song
Good life of singing
Good life of song
Good life of singing
Good life so long
The song "Song of Good Hope" by Glen Hansard is a heartwarming and uplifting tribute to the joys and struggles of the life of a musician. The opening lines call the room to order and invite the listener to hear his song. The lyrics carry a sense of inclusivity and remind the listener that no matter their state of mind, this song will touch them. The positivity of the lyrics reflect that there are no certainties in life but those who work hard and stay true to themselves will reap the rewards.
The first verse of the song reminds the listener that fortune is fickle and success may take time, but the meal is the real fruit of their labor. The second verse is about the rewards of staying true to oneself, and not giving in to temptation, even when it seems like the easier path. The chorus is an ode to the good life of singing, the good life of song, in which the artist pleads to be granted their full measure of life's joys and to be eased through their toiling, as the road of life is very long.
In the third and final verse, Hansard sings about the importance of not dwelling on past regrets, but instead to embrace the journey that has led us to where we are now. The song ends with the reminder that music has the power to unite us, and we should all aim to live a life filled with singing, song and the joys that it brings.
Overall, "Song of Good Hope" is a celebration of the life of a musician, the struggles that come with it, but also the rewards of perseverance and staying true to oneself. It is a reminder that we should all strive to live a life filled with music and joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I call this room to order
I am starting this gathering and asking everyone to pay attention.
Gather 'round now, hear my song
Come closer and listen to the song I'm about to sing.
If you're drunk or at its border
No matter if you are drunk or slightly tipsy from the wine, please listen.
Listen well, this won't take long
Pay attention because this won't take much time.
There's no doubt in fortune's favour
When fortune decides that you are the one, there is no question about it.
When it tells you you're the one
When fortune declares you the chosen one.
The meal real fruits of your labour
The benefits of your hard work and efforts will be yours to enjoy.
Will be sown by you alone
You are the only one who can plant the seeds and reap the rewards of your labor.
Oh good life of singing
Singing brings joy to our lives.
Good life of song
Songs have the power to enrich our lives.
Won't you grant us our full measure
Please allow us to experience the full extent of its benefits.
When our day is done
When our time is up.
Oh good wine and women
Wine and women bring pleasure to our lives.
Good night's so long
Long nights of enjoyment.
Won't you ease us through our toiling
Please help us get through our struggles and hardships.
The road is very long
The path we have chosen is very difficult and has a long way to go.
After long weeks in the corner
After a long while spent in obscurity and isolation.
Where the wine won't make you drunk
Where there's no danger of getting drunk from the wine.
But you held your place with honour
But you stayed true to your values and principles.
Among the bards and the troubadours
Among the poets and lyricists.
This is no roam and lamentation
This is not a sad and mournful song.
No ode to those who are gone
No tribute to those who have left us.
But a joyful incantation
Instead, it is a happy and uplifting chant.
To the road we've come upon
To the journey we have embarked upon.
Go tell it on a mountain
Broadcast our message loudly and widely.
Let them know we passed this way
Let everyone know that we were here.
Let them see we came as equals
Show them that we all came here on an equal footing.
Let them know we weren't afraid
Reassure them that we were not scared.
And they feel you're love of music
When people hear you play, they feel the passion and love you have for music.
In every note you play
In every sound you create with your instrument.
Well it leaves you if you don't use it
Your talent and passion for music will fade if you stop using it.
Don't let it slip away
Don't lose your talent and passion for music.
How you granted us our measure
How you gave us the full extent of its benefits.
When our work was done
When we finished our tasks.
Oh good days of drinking
Days of pleasure and enjoyment.
How you eased us through our toiling
How you helped us through our struggles and hardships.
For now we must go on
We have to keep moving in our journey.
Good life of singing
Singing brings joy to our lives.
Good life of song
Songs have the power to enrich our lives.
Good life so long
A life filled with joy and satisfaction.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glen James Hansard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Everything Account
If we're gonna make it
Cross this river alive
You need to think like a boat
And go with the tide
And I known where you've been
Has really left you in doubt
Of ever finding a harbour
Of figuring this out
And you're gonna need, all the help you can get
So lift up your arms now, and reach for it
And reach for it
And take your time babe
It's not as bad as it seemed
You'll be fine babe
It's just some rivers and streams
In between, you and where you want to be
Watch the signs now
You'll know what they mean
You'll be fine now
Just stay close to me
And may good hope, walk with you through everything
Take your time babe
It's not as bad as it seems
You'll be fine babe
It's just some rivers and streams
In between, you and where you want to be
And watch the signs now
You'll know what they mean
You'll be fine now
Just stay close to me
And may good hope, walk with you through everything
May the song of good hope, walk with you through everything
Noelia Rodríguez
If we're gonna make it
'Cross this river alive
We need to think like a boat
And go with the tide
And I know where you've been
It's really left you in doubt
Of ever finding a harbor
Of figuring this out
And you're gonna need
All the help you can get
So lift up your arms now
And reach for it
And reach for it
And take your time babe
It's not as bad as it seems, you'll be fine babe
It's just some rivers and streams in between
You and where you wanna be
And watch the signs now
You'll know what they mean, you'll be fine now
Just stay close to me and make good hope
Walk with you through everything
And take your time babe
It's not as bad as it seems, you'll be fine babe
It's just some rivers and streams in between
You and where you wanna be
And watch the signs now
You'll know what they mean, you'll be fine now
Just stay close to me and make good hope
Walk with you through everything
May the song of good hope
Walk with you through everything
ThatTubeSound
My wife is dying of cancer and is in what will most likely be the last week of her life. When she was diagnosed four years ago, we had just learned about Glen's music. "Song of Good Hope" became our anthem. It was the go-to song when we wanted to cheer a success, like finishing her first round of chemo. It was our rallying song when we realized that we had to get back to work fighting the awful disease. Finally, it became our comfort song when we realized that we would not win the fight. I have been constantly by her bedside since she took a downturn last week. I can't get "Song of Good" hope out of my mind. Glen Hansard is the only artist that I've ever known whose work I can connect with 100%. Every song, every piece of writing, and every arrangement plucks some emotional string for me. This particular string will ring for a very long time. God bless ya', Glen! Cheers! Michael
Austin Duncan
ThatTubeSound bless you sir
Bimon Solivar
So good to hear that you found hope and comfort in his music!
How did it turn out?
I hope you're alright!
J -X
Hope you are alright these days. 💚
Josephine Di BARTOLO
Hey sending hugs to you and your wife at this very sad time. I know what that feels like. I have lost my mum at 71, she died on her birthday and my beautiful 10 year old niece to cancer. I know how precious these moment are. I agree with you on this song. So beautiful.
wheelofsun
Hope you're okay mate! Greetings from Berlin, x
Kaiya cutler
This is my favorite song of all time I am pretty sure. I wept when I first heard this song. It helped me to feel clarity and reassurance in a dark time. It reminded me that God was there and knew me. Thank you Glen, for a performance that always melts my heart and leaves me with chills.
Silvia Pelli
Watching and singing over and over again from the quarantine in Milan, Italy, March 2020. It's going to be fine ❤
Elena Nardini
Silvia Pelli same! #andratuttobene ❤️
Ralph Winter
have strenght, my thaught are with you!