Hope Dies Last
Magnolia Electric Co. Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What are you hunting here?
Child I hunt what will not stand.
I bring home the Northern Lights
The ocean and the twisting sand
I’ve seen the arrow, climb, climb, climb
I know it finds my heart every time.
You’re taking it too hard
Remember the night
When the fire didn’t answer to the flame (x2)
There’s no miles in the city now
Promises, I’ve made no promises
There’s just the grey and the emptiness as it is
As it is – I make no small plans, my love
But I know hope dies last of all
Hope dies last of all (x2)
I have mapped my falling sky,
Harper’s Ferry to the Gauley Bridge,
Wichita to Omaha and Indianapolis
But I’ve made it too hard
By forgetting the night




That the fire didn’t answer to the flame (x2)
Josephine (x8)

Overall Meaning

The opening line, "What are you hunting here?" sets the tone for Magnolia Electric Co.'s song "Hope Dies Last". It sounds like the singer is having a conversation with someone asking, what is the purpose or goal of their mission. The response is, "Child I hunt what will not stand." It seems like the singer is searching for something that won't last, possibly something unattainable. The next line, "I bring home the Northern Lights, The ocean and the twisting sand" gives the impression that the singer has been on a journey, perhaps a physical one, to bring back relics of beauty and wonder.


The lines, "You’re taking it too hard, Remember the night, When the fire didn’t answer to the flame," is a moment of reflection. The singer is acknowledging a time when things didn't go as planned. This moment seems to have affected the singer deeply, and they are telling their companion not to take things too hard, to remember that setbacks happen. The song then turns more introspective with the line, "There’s just the grey and the emptiness as it is, As it is – I make no small plans, my love" suggesting the singer is making peace with reality, where sometimes things don't go according to plan. The last lines, "But I know hope dies last of all, Hope dies last of all," is a message of optimism. The singer is saying although life can be difficult and plans can fail, there is always hope.


Line by Line Meaning

What are you hunting here?
What is your pursuit?


Child I hunt what will not stand.
I pursue what cannot be destroyed.


I bring home the Northern Lights The ocean and the twisting sand
I capture the beauty of nature and bring it back with me.


I’ve seen the arrow, climb, climb, climb I know it finds my heart every time.
I've witnessed the pain of loss, but I still allow myself to love.


You’re taking it too hard Remember the night When the fire didn’t answer to the flame (x2)
You're dwelling too much on the past, remember that even fire can fail.


There’s no miles in the city now Promises, I’ve made no promises There’s just the grey and the emptiness as it is As it is – I make no small plans, my love But I know hope dies last of all Hope dies last of all (x2)
The city is stagnant, I have not promised anything, and it is bleak. However, I am not one to make small goals. Despite challenges and setbacks, I hold onto hope until the end.


I have mapped my falling sky, Harper’s Ferry to the Gauley Bridge, Wichita to Omaha and Indianapolis But I’ve made it too hard By forgetting the night That the fire didn’t answer to the flame (x2)
I've charted my own course and journeyed far, but I've made it harder on myself by forgetting a time when the impossible occurred.


Josephine (x8)
Repetition of a name, possibly a reference to a person who holds significance or comfort.




Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions