Home Jambase Glen Hansard Shares Patti Smith-Inspired ‘Take Heart’ Featuring Ukrainian Refugees & Markéta...

Glen Hansard Shares Patti Smith-Inspired ‘Take Heart’ Featuring Ukrainian Refugees & Markéta Irglová

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Singer-songwriter Glen Hansard was on tour in February when he saw footage of fellow singer-songwriter Patti Smith performing in Brooklyn. Smith’s words motivated Hansard to write a newly shared song, “Take Heart,” which he recorded with Czech singer-songwriter Markéta Irglová and Ukrainian refugees.

In the post that Hansard viewed online, he heard Smith share an encouraging message to the audience.

“People, take heart,” Smith said. “Things will get better, and if they don’t – we’ll make them better! … We call for the transformation of waste: our government is full of it; politics is full of it. Transformation of waste, it’s the oldest preoccupation of man. People, tonight we’re coming out gold.”

After the tour ended, Hansard return home to Ireland and encountered Ukrainians who had emigrated due to Russia’s invasion. Made up of two families supported by Hansard’s neighbor Marina, the Ukrainian refugees had an immediate impact on Hansard, particularly the stories told by one of the matriarchs, Maria.

With Smith’s words and Maria’s stories as inspiration, Hansard quickly composed what became “Take Heart.” Hansard contacted his local Red Cross and was able to connect with three Ireland-based Ukrainian refugees – Anna Vdovykovska (Ганна Вдовиковська), Olena Shapoval (Олена Шаповал) and Alex Pishcheiko (Олександра Піщейко) – who along with Markéta Irglová provided backing vocals on the recording.

The three refugees were integral in singing the lyrics: “Povernit’sya do mene / povernit’sya do mene / povernit’sya do mene / do mene Neushkodzhenym,” which translate to: “Return to me / return to me / return to me unharmed.” Hansard sought Irglová’s involvement knowing she had visited her parents in the Czech Republic and met families they were supporting from Ukraine.

Regarding “Take Heart” Hansard stated:

“This song is a single flower placed at the foot of all this devastation, a candle lit among the millions placed helplessly at the doors of embassies or left burning in windows; it’s a prayer sent up into the great cloud of goodwill that circles the globe. It’s a thing that didn’t exist and now it does, an offering, thanks to Patti, Alex, Anna, Olena and Markéta who heard it as I was working on it and joined in to make it stronger. This is for them, and to all those who lost or are missing loved ones on every side of this brutal war.”

Hansard shared the track while seeking donations for Ukrainian Action, an Irish non-profit organization. Watch a performance of “Take Heart” below:

Source: JamBase.com