A stunning vocalist, Hannigan regularly performed live with Rice from early 2001 until March 2007 when Rice's official website announced that his professional relationship with Hannigan had "run its creative course". During 2005 Hannigan and Rice co-wrote Unplayed Piano which was released to support the Free Aung San Suu Kyi 60th Birthday Campaign. Hannigan also appeared on backing vocals on Mic Christopher's album Skylarkin, as well as the soundtrack to "Goldfish Memory".
In 2006 Hannigan featured as part of The Cake Sale, a collective of mostly Irish, but featuring some international artists, formed by Brian Crosby of Bell X1. On 3rd November 2006 they released a self-titled album in Ireland to raise money for Oxfam and the Irish Make Trade Fair campaign. The album was so successful that it was given an international release the following year; released 10th September 2007 in the UK and 16th October 2007 in the US.
Hannigan has since gone on to pursue her own solo career, releasing her first album Sea Sew in Ireland on September 12th 2008, debuting at number 4 and earning her a Choice Music Prize nomination, two Meteor Music Award nominations and has been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize 2009. The album's first single was Lille followed by I Don't Know.
Sea Sew got an official US release on February 3rd 2009 and a UK release on May 4th 2009. On 21 July 2009, two days after a triumphant performance in torrential rain at the Latitude Festival, it was announced that Sea Sew had been nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize in the UK.
The O Sleep Songfacts reports that Hannigan began writing for her second album in late 2009 and only completed it in March 2011. However, she and producer Joe Henry spent a mere week laying down the tracks in Wales. Passenger was released in the US and Canada on September 20, 2011 and in the Republic of Ireland on October 7, 2011.
http://www.lisahannigan.ie/
http://www.myspace.com/lisahannigan
Lille
Lisa Hannigan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He wanted to know what to say
When he's asked what he'd done
In the past to someone
That he loved endlessly
Now she's gone, so is he
I went to war every morning
What you said in my arms
What I read in the charms
That I loved durably
Now it's dead and gone, and I am free
Ooh-oh
Ooh-oh, oh
I went to sleep for the daytime
Shut my eyes to the sunshine
Turned my head away from the noise
Bruise and drip, decay of childish toys
That I love arguably
All our laboring gone to seed
Ooh-oh
Ooh-oh, oh
We went out to play for the evening
We wanted to hold on to the feeling
Of the stretch in the sun
And the breathlessness as we run
To the beach endlessly
As the sun creeps up on the sea
Ooh-oh
Ooh-oh, oh
The lyrics to Lisa Hannigan's song Lille are poetic and explore the themes of love, loss, and moving on. The first stanza talks about a man who is trying to prepare for a conversation where he will be asked what he did wrong in the relationship with the woman he loved. He is trying to come to terms with the fact that she is gone and that he will never get her back. The second stanza talks about the singer's own struggles with moving on from a lost love. She talks about going to war every morning, which could be interpreted as her trying to fight her emotions and move on with her life. She then talks about the things that she loved that are now dead and gone, but that she herself is now free from the pain.
The third stanza talks about the singer's attempt to shut out the world and find peace in sleep during the day. She talks about turning away from noise and the decay of childish toys, which could be symbolic of her attempting to escape the pain of the real world and find comfort in something safe and familiar. The final stanza talks about the couple's attempt to recapture the feeling of joy they once had, as they run towards the beach in the setting sun. The sense of endlessness here is a comment on the fact that while the love may be gone, the memories and feelings still remain, captured forever in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
He went to see for the day
He visited a place to find answers
He wanted to know what to say
He was seeking the right words to express himself
When he's asked what he'd done
If questioned about his actions
In the past to someone
From a time before
That he loved endlessly
His feelings were constant and deep
Now she's gone, so is he
He lost her, and himself in the process
I went to war every morning
I faced my own battles daily
I lost my way, but now I'm following
I strayed from my path, but now I'm back on track
What you said in my arms
Your words to me while we held each other
What I read in the charms
What I interpreted from symbols of luck and magic
That I loved durably
I cherished it with permanence
Now it's dead and gone, and I am free
Now it's over, and I'm liberated
I went to sleep for the daytime
I avoided the daylight and its problems
Shut my eyes to the sunshine
I refused to look at anything bright
Turned my head away from the noise
I ignored the commotion around me
Bruise and drip, decay of childish toys
The damage and decline of things once important to me
That I love arguably
That I could debate the value of loving
All our laboring gone to seed
All of our efforts were for nothing
We went out to play for the evening
We sought to enjoy ourselves for a while
We wanted to hold on to the feeling
We wished to capture the sensation
Of the stretch in the sun
Of the sunny expanse
And the breathlessness as we run
And the excitement of running
To the beach endlessly
To the shoreline without end
As the sun creeps up on the sea
As the sun rises over the water
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Lisa Margaret Hannigan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
a big ol' birdo
He went to sea for the day
He wanted to know what to say
When he's asked what he'd done
In the past to someone
That he loves endlessly
Now she's gone, so is he
I went to war every morning
I lost my way but now I'm following
What you said in my arms
What I read in the charms
That I love durably
Now it's dead and gone and I am free
I went to sleep for the daytime
I shut my eyes to the sunshine
Turned my head away from the noise
Bruise and drip decay of childish toys
That I loved arguably
All our labouring gone to seed
Went out to play for the evening
We wanted to hold onto the feeling
On the stretch in the sun
And our breathlessness as we run
To the beach endlessly
As the sun creeps up on the sea
Mary Chris
💖ヽ🦋♡｀♪｀
He went to sea for the day
He wanted to know what to say
When he's asked what he'd done
In the past to someone
That he loves endlessly
Now she's gone, so is he
I went to war every morning
I lost my way but now I'm following
What you said in my arms
What I read in the charms
That I love durably
Now it's dead and gone and I am free
I went to sleep for the daytime
I shut my eyes to the sunshine
Turned my head away from the noise
Bruise and drip decay of childish toys
That I loved arguably
All our labouring gone to seed
Went out to play for the evening
We wanted to hold onto the feeling
On the stretch in the sun
And our breathlessness as we run
To the beach endlessly
As the sun creeps up on the sea
João Pedro Rodrigues
He went to sea for the day
He wanted to know what to say
When he's asked what he'd done
In the past to someone
That he loves endlessly
Now she's gone, so is he
I went to war every morning
I lost my way but now I'm following
What you said in my arms
What I read in the charms
That I love durably
Now it's dead and gone and I am free
I went to sleep for the daytime
I shut my eyes to the sunshine
Turned my head away from the noise
Bruise and drip decay of childish toys
That I loved arguably
All our labouring gone to seed
Went out to play for the evening
We wanted to hold onto the feeling
On the stretch in the sun
And our breathlessness as we run
To the beach endlessly
As the sun creeps up on the sea
Andris Igaunis
This song is waaay too good to be popular. It is really sweet and I listen to it before going to bed. Thank you, Lisa Margaret Hannigan, for this song!
piccola shortcake
First time I heard it in "ondine" movie and I have this as my ringtone since that day
tranquilnightmares
Proud to be Irish - wonderful nature, friendly people and amazing singers! :)
a big ol' birdo
He went to sea for the day
He wanted to know what to say
When he's asked what he'd done
In the past to someone
That he loves endlessly
Now she's gone, so is he
I went to war every morning
I lost my way but now I'm following
What you said in my arms
What I read in the charms
That I love durably
Now it's dead and gone and I am free
I went to sleep for the daytime
I shut my eyes to the sunshine
Turned my head away from the noise
Bruise and drip decay of childish toys
That I loved arguably
All our labouring gone to seed
Went out to play for the evening
We wanted to hold onto the feeling
On the stretch in the sun
And our breathlessness as we run
To the beach endlessly
As the sun creeps up on the sea
JK Morrison
Yes she can sing. Yes, she can play. Yes, she can write. And all the rest. But my oh my, ain't she soooo pretty!!
Nukmal
Que bella voz la de Lisa 😍❤
neoisgod9
This song makes me cry every time studio or live. It’s beyond beautiful.
Tim Walker
A lovely song, with one of the most charming music videos I've seen, off one of my top albums of the 2000s. Lisa pretty much achieved a hat-trick :-)
Danny O Sullivan
I love Lisa....shes such a talented amazing singer, an inspiration!
peepsk771
Loved this!...beautiful voice and loved the video...simple and yet very creative! :)