In These Arms

Album: Strict Joy (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Strict Joy was the first album released by Irish singer/guitarist Glen Hansard and Czech singer/pianist Markéta Irglová since they won an Oscar for their duet from the Once soundtrack, "Falling Slowly. This story of a troubled romance was the first single to be taken from the album.
  • The album title was named after a 1931 book of poems written by Irish poet James Stephens. The pair are no longer in a relationship so as an inevitable consequence of their romantic split, only one track is a co-write. Of the other eleven songs, ten were written by Hansard. He told The Scotsman: "It would be very easy to say this record is about my relationship with Mar and to a large extent it is, but it would also be untrue to say that it's exclusively about Mar," he said, describing it as an "audio diary." Hansard added: "What I find most interesting about diaries is that the happy day is always blank. There's an idea that happiness is quiet and sadness is loud because stuff is created out of sadness. I guess what I'm saying is that when you need it, your instrument is often medicinal. You pick up your diary or your guitar when you are feeling miserable or reflective or when you're in that half-mood which I guess has a melancholic atmosphere."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Billy Gould of Faith No More

Billy Gould of Faith No MoreSongwriter Interviews

Faith No More's bassist, Billy Gould, chats to us about his two new experimental projects, The Talking Book and House of Hayduk, and also shares some stories from the FNM days.