Neil Hannon, Originally from Derry, has been the only ever-present member of the band, being its founder in 1989 when he was joined by John McCullagh and Kevin Traynor. Their first album, the heavily R.E.M.-influenced and now-deleted Fanfare for the Comic Muse, enjoyed little success though. A couple of equally unsuccessful EPs - Timewatch (1991); Europop (1992) - were to follow, with newly-recruited member John Allen handling lead vocals on some tracks. After the commercial failure of the latter EP, this line-up soon fell apart.
Hannon, however, was not deterred in his efforts and re-appeared in 1993 with Liberation. Featuring a fairly diverse musical outlook that goes from the tongue-in-cheek synth pop of Europop(nearly unrecognisable from the previously-released version) to the classical stylings of Timewatching.
Indeed, it was only some minor success in France that really enabled Hannon to proceed to his second effort Promenade. Released in 1994, this was heavily driven by classical influences, with Michael Nyman's stylings clearly an influence. Hannon himself acknowledged this when he apparently sent a copy of his new album to the composer, jokingly asking him not to sue. Essentially a concept album about a day spent by two lovers, it also received similar critical acclaim to that which Liberation was afforded. Commercial success, though, was not forthcoming.
At around the same time, Hannon also wrote and performed the theme music for the TV sitcom Father Ted (which would subsequently be incorporated into the song Songs of Love on the album Casanova), and later wrote the music for the deliberately bad mock-Eurovision song My Lovely Horse for one episode. Hannon resisted widespread requests from fans to release the track as a single for the Christmas market, but it was eventually released in 1999 as the third track on the CD-single Gin Soaked Boy. This would not be the only time they would be responsible for a TV theme, as In Pursuit Of Happiness was also used by the BBC science and technology show, Tomorrow's World. Hannon also recently composed the music for the comedy series "The IT Crowd".
The album Casanova (1996), and in particular the single Something for the Weekend led to the band's first major successes, with Neil Hannon becoming a distinctive, albeit unlikely, popstar in an immaculate suit, and always appearing the elegant dandy. At the height of their commercial success, the band put out A Short Album About Love (a reference to the Krzysztof Kieślowski movie A Short Film About Love), recorded live at soundcheck with the Brunel Ensemble in preparation for a concert at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, from which several songs were released as b-sides. It was aptly released on Valentine's Day in 1997. Subsequently, the band contributed a reworking of Noel Coward's I've Been to a Marvellous Party to a compilation of covers of the writer's songs, with Hannon affecting a Cowardesque lilt (albeit interspersed with an aggressive electronic musical backing).
The foppish image, but not the suit, was ditched for the more sombre album Fin De Siècle in 1998, although its biggest hit, the jaunty National Express, a song about the national coach operators, belied its more intimate, soul-searching tone. Maintaining the balance between these poles, 1999's Secret History - the Best of The Divine Comedy included a re-recording of Liberation track The Pop Singer's Fear of the Pollen Count and two new songs (Gin-Soaked Boy and Too Young to Die) alongside the band's main hits. In the same year, the band also collaborated with Tom Jones on a cover version of Portishead's All Mine, featured on his album Reload.
A serious side to the band was also in evidence in 2000's collaboration with Ute Lemper on her album Punishing Kiss, most of which featured The Divine Comedy as Lemper's backing band.
The 2001 album Regeneration attempted to remove the band still further from its association with comedy. Hannon hired famous producer Nigel Godrich to "remake" the band. Neil ditched the suit and donned the Britrock band image. However, the album was a greater critical than commercial success, and soon after its release it was announced that The Divine Comedy were splitting up. However within a year Hannon was touring again with a revised band line-up, playing a series of joint-headline gigs in the USA, UK and Ireland featuring both The Divine Comedy and Ben Folds, who would cover The Divine Comedy's Songs of Love on his Sunny 16 EP.
Eventually a new album surfaced in the form of 2004's Absent Friends. Striking a balance between the occasionally earnest sound of the band's later material and the lighter tone of the more popular releases, it encapsulated the essence of The Divine Comedy. 2004 saw two dates of particularly acclaimed performances, one at the London Palladium (which was later released as a live DVD) and one at the Royal Albert Hall.
In January 2005, Hannon announced that he had acquired the worldwide copyrights to all of his recorded output with his former record label, Setanta Records. He declared on the band's official website that he would be launching his own record label Divine Comedy Records in order to re-release his 1990s output.
Hannon's ninth album under the Divine Comedy moniker, Victory for the Comic Muse (a reference to his debut), was released in June 2006. It is suggested by fans to be less personal and more free-approach in tone than his most recent albums. The bulk of the record was recorded in just two weeks, hence the more spontaneous sound, and features appearances from Travis bass player Dougie Payne.
Hannon collaborated with Thomas Walsh of Pugwash to create an album themed around the sport of cricket. Released under the alias The Duckworth Lewis Method, the self-titled album was released in 2009 to critical acclaim.
The following year saw the tenth Divine Comedy album and first on his own label, Bang Goes the Knighthood.
Sweden
The Divine Comedy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When my work is done
Where the snow lies crisp and even
'Neath the midnight sun
Safe and clean and green and modern
Bright and breezy, free and easy
Sweden, Sweden, Sweden, in Sweden
I am gonna live in Sweden
Please don't ask me why
For if I were to give a reason
It would be a lie
Tall and strong and blonde and blue eyed
Pure and healthy, very wealthy
Sweden, Sweden, Sweden, in Sweden
I'll grow wings and fly to Sweden
When my time is come
Then at last my eyes shall see them
Heroes everyone
Ingmar Bergman
Henrik Ibsen
Karin Larsson
Nina Persson
Sweden, Sweden,Sweden
In Sweden
The Divine Comedy's song "Sweden" is about the singer's desire to live in Sweden, a country that has always fascinated him. The lyrics include references to the country's natural beauty, its modernity, its healthy lifestyle, and its famous inhabitants. The song's opening lines, "I would like to live in Sweden, when my work is done, where the snow lies crisp and even, 'neath the midnight sun," evoke the image of a picturesque country covered in snow, bathed in sunlight even at night, and free from the stress of modern-day work life.
The chorus of the song, "Safe and clean and green and modern, bright and breezy, free and easy, Sweden, Sweden, Sweden, in Sweden" reflects the singer's admiration for the country's modern infrastructure, its clean and green environment, and the relaxed lifestyle of its inhabitants. The singer's reference to the Swedish people's physical attributes, "Tall and strong and blonde and blue eyed, pure and healthy, very wealthy," reflects the singer's admiration for the country's healthy and wealthy population.
The song concludes with the lyrics, "I'll grow wings and fly to Sweden, when my time is come, then at last my eyes shall see them, heroes everyone. Ingmar Bergman, Henrik Ibsen, Karin Larsson, Nina Persson, Sweden, Sweden, Sweden, in Sweden," reminisces about the great personalities of Sweden and how the dream of living in Sweden is a metaphor for the paradise he wishes for in life.
* The song was released on The Divine Comedy's 1998 album "Fin de Siècle."
* The song was never released as a single, but it's widely considered to be one of The Divine Comedy's most popular songs.
* The song was written by Neil Hannon, the lead vocalist, and songwriter for The Divine Comedy.
* The song uses a lot of Swedish imagery and references, including the names of famous Swedish personalities such as Ingmar Bergman, Henrik Ibsen, Karin Larsson, and Nina Persson.
* Neil Hannon has stated in interviews that the song was inspired by his love for the Swedish language and culture.
* The song's chorus includes the repeated phrase "Sweden, Sweden, Sweden, in Sweden," which is both catchy and humorous.
* The song's music video features footage of Neil Hannon performing the song while various Swedish landscapes and landmarks are shown in the background.
* The song has been covered by several artists, including the Swedish singer-songwriter Charlotte Eriksson, who released her own version of the song in 2015.
* The song has been used in several TV shows and films, including the Swedish TV series "Solsidan."
* The song remains a popular and beloved song in Sweden, where The Divine Comedy has a dedicated fanbase.
Chords: The song is played on Capo 4
Chords:
G, Em, Am, G
G, Em, Am, G
C, D, Am, G (Play twice)
Chorus:
G, Am, C, D (Play twice) Highest registry.
Line by Line Meaning
I would like to live in Sweden
Expressing a desire of living in Sweden
When my work is done
Exhaustion from work which signifies the need for a new environment
Where the snow lies crisp and even
Preferring the climate quality of Sweden
'Neath the midnight sun
Referring to the ability to witness the midnight sun phenomenon
Safe and clean and green and modern
Emphasis on the standard of living in Sweden
Bright and breezy, free and easy
Highlighting the relaxing environment in Sweden
Sweden, Sweden, Sweden, in Sweden
Repeating the word Sweden as a symbol or representative of the desire to live there
I am gonna live in Sweden
A confident statement of the desire to eventually live in Sweden
Please don't ask me why
Not able to express a concrete logic for the decision
For if I were to give a reason
The belief that there may not be a reason that can be put into words
It would be a lie
Emphasizing the uncertainty of the reason for the decision to live in Sweden
Tall and strong and blonde and blue eyed
Description of the physical characteristics of the people in Sweden
Pure and healthy, very wealthy
Emphasis on the well-being and status of the people in Sweden
Sweden, Sweden, Sweden, in Sweden
Symbol or representative of the desire to live in the country
I'll grow wings and fly to Sweden
Visualizing the desire to move to Sweden in an exciting and imaginative way
When my time is come
Depicting the idea of moving to Sweden when everything aligns perfectly
Then at last my eyes shall see them
The opportunity of getting to experience everything there is to see and explore in Sweden
Heroes everyone
Acknowledging the historical and cultural significance of the people named as heroes
Ingmar Bergman
Celebrated filmmaker from Sweden that is recognized worldwide
Henrik Ibsen
Influential playwright and theatre director from Norway
Karin Larsson
Swedish interior designer and artist known for bringing folk art and crafts to a higher standard
Nina Persson
Swedish singer and songwriter, known as the lead singer of the band The Cardigans
Sweden, Sweden,Sweden
Reiteration of the desire to live in Sweden
In Sweden
Location being reiterated, emphasis on the desired country to live in
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NEIL HANNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind