in April/May 2006, the quartet played six shows in Ireland to support the release of The Swell Season. Later in the year (October & December) they also played a number of shows in the US to support the release of the album there. The huge success of the film Once resulted in Glen and Markéta touring the US constantly during 2007 and the line-up morphed over time (Glen and Markéta being the core members). The current Swell Season line-up also includes three members of The Frames: guitarist Rob Bochnik, violinist Colm Mac Con Iomaire, and bassist Joe Doyle. Graham Hopkins joined the tour on drums in spring of 2008.
Hansard and Markéta starred in the film 'Once' by writer/director John Carney (a former bass player of The Frames). Many songs of The Swell Season are used in this film, which won the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance 2007. Hansard and Irglová won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song "Falling Slowly" in February 2008.
For more info: http://www.myspace.com/oncethemovie
Tour dates and audio streams are available from www.theswellseason.com.
Falling Slowly
The Swell Season Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along
The lyrics to The Swell Season's song Falling Slowly are very poetic and loaded with meaning. The singer seems to be addressing someone they don't know, yet feel strongly drawn towards: "I don't know you, but I want you, all the more for that." The singer suggests that their emotions are too strong for words to accurately express them and that their attempts to communicate falter: "Words fall through me and always fool me, and I can't react."
The song speaks to universal themes of hope, healing, and self-discovery. The singer recognizes that life can feel like a series of games that often don't amount to anything, but there's still time to change direction and make choices that lead towards a better, more meaningful life: "Take this sinking boat and point it home, we've still got time. Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice, you make it now."
The chorus "Falling slowly, sing your melody, I'll sing it now" reinforces the idea that even when we are lost or hurting, we can still find comfort and connection through music, through sharing our stories, and through reaching out to others.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know you
I may not be familiar with you
But I want you
However, I desire you
All the more for that
And my longing for you only grows stronger
Words fall through me
I struggle to understand what others say to me
And always fool me
Their words often deceive me
And I can't react
And I am unable to appropriately respond
And games that never amount
Those frivolous games that never truly progress
To more than they're meant
And will never amount to anything more than they currently are
Will play themselves out
Will simply exhaust themselves over time
Take this sinking boat
This hopeless endeavor
And point it home
But let's not give up yet
We've still got time
There is still a chance for us to turn things around
Raise your hopeful voice
Let us raise our spirits and remain optimistic
You have a choice
For we are not powerless
You make it now
But let us take action and make it happen
Falling slowly
As we gradually slip into this seemingly impossible situation
As ...
And I can't go back
And I cannot undo what has been done
Moves that take me
Actions that lead me
And erase me
And seem to wipe me out in the process
And I take it black
And I bear the pain alone and in the darkness
Well, you have suffered enough
You have endured so much hardship
At war with yourself
Fighting an internal battle
It's time that you won
But it is time for you to emerge victorious
Sing your melody
So let us express ourselves
I'll sing it now
For I will listen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guillermija
People who saw that live had no idea how lucky they were to witness so much beauty
@Tunazap
I just discovered them a little while ago, and I have no idea how I lived without this for so long. This is music for the soul.
@ivykiwiik
So soft and wonderful. Fell in love at first listen
@kNICKknack17
i just cannot get enough of this song
@toooldtodie
there are many remarkable renditions of this song and during searching more popular vids are displayed, but this group is very good @ concerts, and their real fans enjoy much more their live production. it's a pure rarity in today's showbiz, where artist are made up in studio with some recording tricks
@LarryO1970
... I just can't get enough of these two and this music.
@alexbaskette8485
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LYRICS EVER WRITTEN
@gqbmn1995
lovely, one of the most amazing songs ever written
@laurabermingham55
love both of thier voices
@coolboysr
Wonderful , music from the soul and the heart :)