The band were founded at the University of Dundee in 1994 by Lightbody, Mark McClelland, and Michael Morrison of Shrug. After briefly using the name Polarbear, releasing the EP Starfighter Pilot (1997) and losing Morrison as a member, the band became Snow Patrol in 1997 and added Quinn to its lineup. Their first two studio albums, Songs for Polarbears (1998) and When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up (2001), released by the independent record label Jeepster Records, were commercially unsuccessful. The band then signed to the major record label Polydor Records in 2002.
Connolly joined Snow Patrol in 2002, and after their major-label debut album, Final Straw, the following year, with "Run", the album's biggest hit, the band rose to national fame. The album was certified 5x platinum in the UK. Their next studio album, Eyes Open (2006), and its hit single, "Chasing Cars"—reported in 2019 to be the most-played song of the 21st century on UK radio—propelled the band to greater international fame. The album topped the UK Albums Chart and was the best-selling British album of the year. In 2008, Snow Patrol released their fifth studio album, A Hundred Million Suns; then, in 2009, they released their first compilation album, Up to Now; and, in 2011, their sixth studio album, Fallen Empires, was published. The band released their seventh album, Wildness, on 25 May 2018.
During the course of their career, Snow Patrol have won seven Meteor Ireland Music Awards and been nominated for six Brit Awards and one Grammy. Final Straw, Eyes Open, and A Hundred Million Suns have sold ten million copies worldwide, combined.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_Patrol
Studio albums
Songs for Polarbears (1998)
When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up (2001)
Final Straw (2003)
Eyes Open (2006)
A Hundred Million Suns (2008)
Fallen Empires (2011)
Wildness (2018)
Half the Fun
Snow Patrol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I lose my breath and what's worse
Is I don't think I'm the first
Any way you like, you can do no wrong
Please just give me five minutes dear
Let's just pray it's not near
I'll die trying
Will you suffer a little with me?
But you would never
With a second chance I'd mess it up again
But I'd do it worse than before
Cos I've learned so much more
About the way we fertilise the roses
That were bought to show us how much you care
Now it's easier to care
Getting past this -- you have to take it
I will wait here
Please believe me, just stop running
Say you'll get help
I caught the last flight, I had to see ya
It can't wait longer
He's not your father, just a doctor
So lick your own wounds
The lyrics of Snow Patrol's "Half the Fun" display a sense of vulnerability and surrendering control. The first verse portrays a perpetual state of catching up, the feeling of always lagging behind. The singer admits to losing their breath and acknowledges the possibility that they are not the first to feel this way. This confession is made without a sense of shame or guilt but instead with a certain poetic acceptance of reality. The second verse requests five precious minutes, urging the companion to treasure the passing of time, and to pray that the end is not near. The singer's desire to stay forever, despite their inability to withstand the length of time, showcases the idea that pain and disappointment are better than emptiness. The bridge speaks of the imperfection of human nature and how, even with a second chance, they would mess it up again. However, they would do it more passionately as they have learned so much more about themselves.
The song portrays a shift in the meaning of love by acknowledging that this emotion is not just the good times but involves suffering too. The singer wants their companion to suffer, to share in their agony, but at the same time, is secure in the knowledge that they would never want to cause harm intentionally or unintentionally. The usage of the metaphor of fertilizing roses shows how love requires nurturing and care to thrive. However, it does not come without a certain amount of pain, just as fertilizer stings and causes pain to those applying it. The chorus displays a hint of desperation, requesting the companion to stop running and get help.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of honest, raw emotions, with metaphors and symbols that perfectly paint a picture in the audience's minds. The use of poetic devices such as repetition, metaphor, and imagery makes the lyrics even more powerful and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Half the fun of it is that I can't keep up
The challenge of this experience is what makes it enjoyable for me.
And I lose my breath and what's worse
It's difficult and exhausting, but that's not the worst part.
Is I don't think I'm the first
Others have likely experienced it before me, but that doesn't make it any less difficult.
Any way you like, you can do no wrong
Your choices are completely acceptable to me; there is no right or wrong way to proceed.
Please just give me five minutes dear
Allow me a brief moment to process.
Let's just pray it's not near
Hopefully we don't face this situation again in the near future.
Stay forever; I won't last it
I wish you would stay with me always, but I am aware that I won't be able to endure the pain for very long.
I'll die trying
I am willing to put forth my best effort, even if it results in my own demise.
Will you suffer a little with me?
Can you empathize with me and share in my suffering?
But you would never
I know you won't be able to fully comprehend or appreciate what I'm going through.
With a second chance I'd mess it up again
If given the opportunity to do it over again, I would likely make the same mistakes.
But I'd do it worse than before
In fact, I would probably make things even more difficult for myself.
Cos I've learned so much more
Despite that, I have gained valuable knowledge and insights from what I've experienced.
About the way we fertilise the roses
I've learned how to nurture and care for the things we love.
That were bought to show us how much you care
The roses were a demonstration of your love and affection.
Now it's easier to care
I am better equipped to love and care for you because of what I've learned.
Getting past this -- you have to take it
We must face this head-on to move beyond it.
I will wait here
I'll be here waiting for you when you're ready.
Please believe me, just stop running
Trust me and don't try to avoid or escape from this situation.
Say you'll get help
Promise me you'll seek out help and support to overcome this.
I caught the last flight, I had to see ya
I went to great lengths to see you and be here with you.
It can't wait longer
I couldn't delay this any further, it was too important.
He's not your father, just a doctor
The person you thought was your father is actually a doctor.
So lick your own wounds
You'll have to deal with your own problems and face your own pain.
Contributed by Lucas B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Memory_Perfection
No doubt one of the best on Final Straw. I love this song! Brings back great memories.
American Slim
God its still good after all these years!!
phillip cisneros
Why is this song not available on any streaming service!?
Miss Darkness
The secret song of cd ❤❤❤
МунчелевичутеКристина
I like this song
didier genin
Chords are : A#, E, B, G, F#, again G, F# for the intro, then B, A , E, G and F#; and again. Easy to play on rythm guitar.
Michael Guerreri
i lik it
jacobericroberts
tune
Bohs
choooooooooooooooooon