Bono Honors Glen Hansard at Funeral with “Beautiful Day” Tribute, Patti Smith Lullaby

Bono appeared at Glen Hansard’s funeral in Dublin on Tuesday, where he performed a special spoken-word version of U2’s “Beautiful Day” and played a voicemail from Patti Smith. The U2 frontman began by marveling at Hansard’s ability to make everyone feel like his “best friend.” “How do you do that?” Bono said. “People on the green outside, best friends. People tuning in, best friends. Even people who haven’t met him, best friends. Everyone who met him, they just remember the day they met him.” Bono then played a voice message he received from Smith, whom he described as “another one of his best friends,” on the day of Hansard’s passing. “Her first reaction to hearing of Glen’s passing, it’s a lullaby for Glen’s family and friends,” Bono explained. “She was happy to share it.” Bono then recited his own tribute to Hansard that reworked and incorporated lyrics from U2’s “Beautiful Day.” Towards the end of the spoken-word rendition, he was joined by bandmate The Edge. The heart is a plant shoots up through the stony ground There’s no room no space to rent in this town You’re out of luck and the reason that you had to care The traffic’s stuck and you’re not moving anywhere You thought yo...