Failure to Thrive
Faith and the Muse Lyrics


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The season's over
The season's done
Too slow to notice
The fire's gone
So thin on the ground
With a chemical heart
And a cheap excuse
I've played my part
A torch to the error
And a cold hard look in the eye
I wonder why
You still wander 'round in rain
A torch to the error
And a cold hard look in the eye
I ask you why
You still wonder...
Run as long as you can
'Til you know what I mean
Not even the rain
Can make me clean
The content of those tiny hours
Contemplate the price of those shadows
Ever screaming toward the anvil
What was the price of those shadows, brother?
A torch to the error
And a cold hard look in the eye
I wonder why
You still wander 'round in rain
A torch to the error
And a cold hard look in the eye
I ask you why
You still wonder 'round in rain
A face to the terror
And a long sharp stick in the eye
I can't deny
My trespass in poor domain
A face to the terror
And a long sharp stick in the eye
I still decry
Your judgment
Your vanity
Your name
(Carry on)
I found a new ring; taught it to believe again
No broken memories remain -- no bloodsick "friends"
The years behind us have all taken wing
In ill-remembrance of a Mad Drunk King
Those who go hiding all their tears in wine
Will find that they've grown rotten on the vine
So carry on, dear brother -- I wish you well




(Just carrion)
With brighter days in mind -- so long -- farewell

Overall Meaning

The song "Failure to Thrive" by Faith and the Muse is a melancholic piece about the end of a season and the fading of passion. The first verse talks about the singer's lack of awareness of the passing of time, and how the fire inside them has now faded. They feel like they have nothing to offer and only have a chemical heart and a cheap excuse. The torch to the error in the chorus refers to how the singer needs to face their mistakes and understand why they are still wandering aimlessly. They wish for their brother to carry on but also take a jab at their judgment and vanity.


The second verse is more introspective, with the singer reflecting on the tiny hours they spend alone and the cost of their shadows. The phrase "ever screaming toward the anvil" is a metaphor for the constant punishment they inflict on themselves. The torch to the error in the chorus means that they need to face their fears head-on and stop hiding behind their tears in wine. They recount finding a new ring and teaching it to believe in them again, letting go of the past, and moving forward. The final line "with brighter days in mind" suggests a glimmer of hope for the future.


Line by Line Meaning

The season's over
The time has come to an end


The season's done
The time has expired


Too slow to notice
Unable to perceive the changes happening


The fire's gone
The passion and excitement are gone


So thin on the ground
Scarce or barely existent


With a chemical heart
With a heart that's not genuine, but artificial


And a cheap excuse
With a poor and flimsy justification


I've played my part
I've done what was expected of me


A torch to the error
A light to the mistakes made


And a cold hard look in the eye
And a stern and unsympathetic gaze


I wonder why
I don't understand why


You still wander 'round in rain
You continue to journey through difficult times


Run as long as you can
Escape for as much time as possible


'Til you know what I mean
Until you understand my perspective


Not even the rain
Not even the hardships or difficulties


Can make me clean
Can't cleanse the burdens and guilt that I carry


The content of those tiny hours
The significance of those small moments


Contemplate the price of those shadows
Consider what those dark reflections cost


Ever screaming toward the anvil
Constantly facing difficult challenges


What was the price of those shadows, brother?
What sacrifice did we make for those dark reflections?


A face to the terror
Facing the fear


And a long sharp stick in the eye
And a painful confrontation


I can't deny
I can't reject the truth


My trespass in poor domain
My fault in a place of discomfort and suffering


I still decry
I still condemn


Your judgment
Your personal assessment


Your vanity
Your self-centeredness


Your name
Your identity


(Carry on)
(Continue on)


I found a new ring; taught it to believe again
I discovered a new way; taught to have faith again


No broken memories remain -- no bloodsick 'friends'
No painful recollections or unhealthy relationships persist


The years behind us have all taken wing
The time that has passed is long gone


In ill-remembrance of a Mad Drunk King
Remembering the madness and chaoticness of something in the past


Those who go hiding all their tears in wine
Those who conceal their emotions with alcohol


Will find that they've grown rotten on the vine
Will discover that they have deteriorated mentally and emotionally


So carry on, dear brother -- I wish you well
So proceed forward, my sibling- I hope all goes well


(Just carrion)
(Just a lifeless body)


With brighter days in mind -- so long -- farewell
With hope for a brighter future- goodbye for now




Contributed by Zachary S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Jonathan Balog

I always wondered if he wrote this for Rozz Williams.

Tristan Young

Probably☺

amaniii m.

kind of sounds like marilyn manson

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