Sergeant Politeness
Failure Lyrics

The lyrics of Failure's song "Sergeant Politeness" describe a situation of being caught in a wrongdoing but being unrepentant and uncooperative with the authorities interrogating them. The singer admits to stealing a hundred stones that were valuable but meaningless to them, as they were seeking a way out of the boredom and ennui they felt in their life at the time. They were caught while changing the bus lines in broad daylight, without any attempt to disguise themselves. The interrogator is described as a sergeant who is polite on the surface but searching for any weak points to exploit and trick the singer into confessing.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Sergeant Politeness" and adds the line "go on molest me, I won't confess now", which adds a layer of masochism and defiance to the singer's attitude. They are happy to be tortured and harassed but refuse to admit to anything they feel ashamed of. It's unclear whether the stones will be found or if the singer will face any real consequences for their actions, but they seem to be more concerned with maintaining their sense of innocence and rebellion than with the outcome.

In many ways, "Sergeant Politeness" can be seen as a song about the allure of self-destructive behavior, the thrill of rebellion, and the stubbornness of youth. The singer may know that what they did was wrong, but they are unwilling to admit it or apologize for it, instead choosing to revel in the attention and scrutiny of their interrogator. The "hundred stones" could represent any number of vices or addictions, and the sergeant's polite but probing questions could represent the social pressures that lead people into those behaviors. Ultimately, the song is a testament to the complex and often contradictory emotions that people feel when confronted with their own guilt and shame.