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.
Winning Streak
Glen Hansard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Winters cold
May you always have someone good to hold
And may good fortune wait on every bend
And may your winning streak
May it never end
So, roll the dice, boy
Take my advice now and put your money down too
Because there's something in the eye you can't pretend
And may your winning streak
May it never end
And may the sign of the Southern Cross
Be some comfort to you when you're lost
And may the devil's evil eye
Pass you by
Well, it's not for glory, I tell you true
That I do these things I do for you
But for a promise I made now I must defend
And may your winning streak
May it never end
Hey
And may the sign of the cross
Be some comfort when you're lost,
Help you when you're all broke down
May the spirit of good brethren, turn you around
And may the devil's evil eye, pass you right by
Don't you look back my friend
And may the sisters of good charity
Take you in
Through summers long and
Winters cold
May you always have someone good to hold
And may good fortune be a constant and a loyal friend
And may your winning streak
May it never end
May your winning streak
May it never end
May your winning streak
May it never end
The lyrics of Glen Hansard's song Winning Streak suggest that the song could be a tribute to a friend or loved one. Hansard wishes this person good fortune, and his words paint a vivid picture of the trials and tribulations of life. Through "summers long and winters cold," he hopes his loved one will always have someone to hold dear. The symbol of a winning streak represents the hope for continuous good fortune in various aspects of life.
The second verse of the song suggests that Hansard's loved one is taking a risk that has the potential to bring great reward. He advises them to roll the dice and bet on themselves because he trusts in their abilities. There is also a suggestion of Hansard having a personal stake in his loved one's success. The promise he made that he must defend indicates that there could be a debt to be repaid or a favor that must be returned.
The final verse of the song communicates a sense of community and support. Through the symbolism of the southern cross and the sisters of good charity, Hansard implores his loved one to seek solace in faith and the kindness of those around them. Overall, the lyrics are introspective, poetic, and hopeful, offering a heartfelt message of support to whoever the song is dedicated to.
Line by Line Meaning
Through summers long and
Wishing you happiness throughout warm summers continuously
Winters cold
Wishing you happiness during the cold winters too
May you always have someone good hold
Wishing you always have a good companion to share the happiness
And may good fortune wait on every bend
Wishing you good luck and prosperity every step of your life
And may your winning streak
Wishing your successful run without any failure
May it never end
Wishing you the perpetual success forever
So, roll the dice, boy
Take the chance and realize your dream
'Cause my money's on you
Believing in you completely
Take my advice now and put your money down too
Following my lead and trusting you to succeed
Because there's something in the eye you can't pretend
Believing in the spark in you that cannot be hidden
And may the sign of the Southern Cross
Wishing that the Southern Cross constellation guide and comfort you
Be some comfort to you when you're lost
Providing solace if you feel directionless in life
And may the devil's evil eye
Wishing that the evil eye of the devil does not affect you
Pass you by
Wishing that all the negative energy passes you without harm
Well, it's not for glory, I tell you true
Clarifying that the wishes are genuine and not for personal gain
That I do these things I do for you
Expressing the affection and care
But for a promise I made now I must defend
Fulfilling a commitment regardless of the circumstance
Hey
An interjection that symbolizes cheerfulness
And may the sign of the cross
Similar to previous
Be some comfort when you're lost,
similar to previous
Help you when you're all broke down
Wishing positivity in your life even when you are hopeless
May the spirit of good brethren, turn you around
Expectation that the guidance of good spirits will keep you on the positive path
And may the devil's evil eye, pass you right by
Wishing that your enemies or evil forces do not affect you negatively
Don't you look back my friend
Suggestion to focus on the future and not let your past mistakes stop you
And may the sisters of good charity
Expectation that kind people will come to your rescue when you need help
Take you in
Expectation that you will always be welcomed and not alone
May good fortune be a constant and a loyal friend
Wishing that luck always favors you and sticks with you
May your winning streak
Similar to previous
May it never end
Similar to previous
May your winning streak
Similar to previous
May it never end
Similar to previous
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GLEN HANSARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Stevie Omega
Through summers long and
Winters cold
May you always have someone good to hold
And may good fortune wait on every bend
And may your winning streak
May it never end
So, roll the dice, boy
'Cause my money's on you
Take my advice now and put your money down too
Because there's something in the eye you just can't pretend
And may your winning streak
May it never end
And may the sign of the Southern Cross
Be some comfort to you when you're lost
And may the devil's evil eye
Pass you by
Well, it's not for glory, I tell you true
That I do these things I do for you
But for a promise I made now I must defend
And may your winning streak
May it never end
Hey
And may the sign of the cross
Be some comfort when you're lost,
Help you when you're all broke down
May the spirit of good brethren, turn you around
And may the devil's evil eye, pass you right by
Don't you look back my friend
And may the sisters of good charity
Take you in
Through summers long and
Winters cold
May you always have someone good to hold
And may good fortune be a constant and a loyal friend
And may your winning streak
May it never end
May your winning streak
May it never end
May your winning streak
May it never end
Jamie James Baker
I'm on the upswing from a great depression and this is my Victory song!!!!! I'm going to make it!!! Thank you Glen .....
Heather G
This may feel like an odd choice, but this was one of the songs I chose for my mom's funeral. This song is uplifting, yet has such a bittersweet vibe that it just felt right.
I recently found an article where Glen Hansard described this song as ""simply a well wish to a friend, to someone who's been finding it hard to see the goodness in their lives."
Now I'm especially glad I chose it, as that was kind of how I felt at the time. I was saying goodbye and wishing her well in her new spiritual journey.
Gypsy J
Resonating yo
Brian Quinn
What a touching tribute 💓
Victor Nickolas
@Boston Mordechai Yea, I have been watching on flixzone for years myself :)
Boston Mordechai
pro trick: watch movies on Flixzone. Been using them for watching all kinds of movies recently.
Karl Myers
Sometimes you hear a song and just move on. Well, I heard this song and it moved me. My son just got offered a great new job yesterday and I sent this song to him as a congrats and kudos.
sherp2u1
Hope is he still happy there...
Santiago Mansur
theres no artist living in this planet that writes with such passion and feeling like you. You will forever be an inspiration to my music
Julie M
Not typically my kind of music, but I'm currently obsessed with this song. 💕