Hope Dies Painless
Rome Lyrics


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time the great deadener
returning hard kisses at last
a love etched in blood
a love has come to pass

i glued the letter to your mouth
as treason climbed all over your face
like a kitten, yet not so playfully
do not play with me

i glued the letter to your hand
to consecrate the moment
this too shall end in fire
this too shall end

she wore mourning like a graceless flower
blind to each sign of fear
so insecure
so unaware of me

i glued the letter to your heart
crimson flowered redemption
November washed away the smoke
November washed it all away

all the guilt and all the glory
all the stories overheard




forever entwined, yet forever enthroned
hope dies painless with me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Rome's song "Hope Dies Painless" are richly cryptic and require a deep level of interpretation. The song is sung in a mournful tone with an ethereal quality that leaves the listener with a sense of loss and melancholy. The opening line, "time the great deadener," sets the tone for the song as an exploration of the weight of time and death. The singer observes how hard kisses can return after time apart and that love, once a beautiful thing, has now become a thing of the past, etched in blood.


The singer talks of how they "glued the letter" to different body parts of their loved one as a way of consecrating the moment. The treason mentioned in the lyrics may refer to the love that has died, and the singer seems to be asking their lover not to play with them as they try to move on. The mourning that the lover wears is described as being "like a graceless flower." This description of the mourner adds another layer to the theme of death and dying.


The final lines of the song mention guilt, glory, and stories, which seem to be the remnants of the love that has ended. The singer seems to be suggesting that these things become a part of us forever, even if the relationship has ended. The phrase "hope dies painless with me" may suggest that the singer has lost hope in finding love again, and that they will carry the burden of that loss with them into the future.


Line by Line Meaning

time the great deadener
Time is a powerful force that ultimately leads to death.


returning hard kisses at last
Death is an inevitable reality that cannot be avoided.


a love etched in blood
Love is a passionate and intense emotion that can be both beautiful and destructive.


a love has come to pass
Love can be fleeting and temporary, and eventually come to an end.


i glued the letter to your mouth
The artist is trying to silence the person they are addressing, possibly to prevent them from revealing something.


as treason climbed all over your face
The other person's expression reveals that they may be disloyal or untrustworthy.


like a kitten, yet not so playfully
The other person is acting in a way that is both cute and dangerous.


do not play with me
The artist is warning the other person not to underestimate or manipulate them.


i glued the letter to your hand
The artist is trying to make a significant moment more permanent or memorable.


to consecrate the moment
The moment is being given a special or sacred status.


this too shall end in fire
The situation or relationship is likely to end in chaos or destruction.


this too shall end
No matter how difficult or painful the situation may be, it will eventually come to a conclusion.


she wore mourning like a graceless flower
The woman being described is grieving in a way that is awkward or unnatural.


blind to each sign of fear
The woman is oblivious to any warnings or indications that something is wrong or dangerous.


so insecure
The woman lacks confidence or self-assurance.


so unaware of me
The woman is not cognizant of the artist's presence or feelings.


i glued the letter to your heart
The artist is trying to appeal to the other person's emotions or conscience.


crimson flowered redemption
The singer may be seeking forgiveness or trying to make amends for something.


November washed away the smoke
Time has passed and things are starting to clear up.


November washed it all away
The past is being put behind and new opportunities are arising.


all the guilt and all the glory
The artist may be reflecting on both the good and the bad aspects of a situation or relationship.


all the stories overheard
The artist may have gained insight into the lives of others through eavesdropping or observation.


forever entwined, yet forever enthroned
Memories or experiences, even if they are painful, will always be a part of who we are.


hope dies painless with me
The artist may have lost hope, but they are accepting of the situation and the fact that things will eventually get better.




Contributed by Ellie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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