After Lars was added, and realizing that he had found what he had been looking to do musically with Ina, Kristoffer, Magnus, and Jon, the band was named (by Magnus) and recording began on what is to date their only release - "The Lights Are On But This Dance Never Ends".
While their shows were few and far between, they drew many of the Stockholm youth who had been looking for a local band in the vein of City of Caterpillar, Botch, Neurosis, Fear Before the March of Flames, and Envy, as well as attracting a small, but loyal listening fanbase in Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States.
The story has slowed after Lars' departure from Sweden after Migrationsverket (Sweden's Migration Board) refused to let him stay in the country despite having learned Swedish and lived in Stockholm for over three years, but the band is far from dead. Future recordings are being planned, with the Atlantic Ocean seen as merely an obstacle and not a barrier in the future of the band.
Their 'last show' was played with longtime friends Devotion to Trust, Iisole, and When We Fall, three of the Swedish bands the group respected most, before Lars' departure from Sweden in Summer 2005. The Hope and the Failure have plans to record and release a follow up to "The Lights Are On...", which will not be derailed by transatlantic distances.
Kristoffer, Jon, and Lars also played with Swedish-Finnish singer-songwriter Pekka Pörtfors in What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas.
Violet
the hope and the failure Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In back of the barn where he gave her a
Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs,
And told her that she has such beautiful
Manners that suited a girl of her charms,
A girl that he'd like for to take in his
Washing and ironing, and then if she did,
They could get married and raise lots of
[Chorus]
Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses,
Covered all over from head to toe,
Covered all over with sweet violets.
The girl told the farmer that he'd better stop,
And she told her father and called a
Taxi which got there before very long,
For someone was doing his little girl
Right for a change, and so here's what he said:
"If you marry her, son, you're better off
Single 'cause it's always been my belief,
Marriage can bring a man nothing but
[Chorus]
The farmer decided he'd wed anyway,
And started in planning for his wedding
Suit which he'd purchased for only one buck,
But then he found out he was just out of
Money and so he got left in the lurch,
Standing and waiting in front of the
End of this story, which just goes to show,
All a girl wants from a man is his
[Chorus]
The lyrics of the song "Violet" by The Hope and the Failure tell a story about a farmer who tries to seduce a young woman by giving her a lecture about farming, while praising her manners and beauty. He proposes to her, suggesting that they could get married and have a happy life together, surrounded by sweet violets. However, the girl refuses and alerts her father, who comes to her rescue. He tells the farmer that marriage can be a miserable experience, and advises him not to pursue his daughter. The farmer ignores his advice and decides to go ahead with the wedding, but he discovers that he's not financially prepared to do so. The song ends with the realization that women don't need men's money or possessions; they merely seek their love and devotion.
The lyrics of "Violet" explore themes of love, marriage, and materialism. The farmer represents the traditional male stereotype who uses money and possessions to secure a woman's affection, while the young woman represents the modern, independent woman who refuses to be objectified or commodified. The father's warning about marriage highlights the social and economic pressures that often accompany marital relationships, undermining the idea that marriage is always a happy, romantic affair. Ultimately, the song suggests that true love is priceless and cannot be bought or sold.
Overall, "Violet" is a humorous and satirical take on the age-old trope of boy meets girl. It critiques the superficiality of traditional gender roles and exposes the vulnerabilities and anxieties that underlie romantic relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
There once was a farmer who took a young miss
A farmer once took a young woman behind the barn for a romantic rendezvous.
In back of the barn where he gave her a Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs,
Behind the barn, he spoke to her about farming and showed her the animals.
And told her that she has such beautiful Manners that suited a girl of her charms,
He complimented her on her lovely manners, which matched her charming personality.
A girl that he'd like for to take in his Washing and ironing, and then if she did,
He wanted her to work for him doing laundry and chores, with the possibility of marriage if it worked out.
They could get married and raise lots of Sweet violets,
He imagined them being happily married and surrounded by fields of sweet violets.
[Chorus] Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses, Covered all over from head to toe, Covered all over with sweet violets.
The chorus describes the beauty and sweetness of the violets that surround the imagined couple.
The girl told the farmer that he'd better stop,
The girl realized the farmer's intentions and told him to stop.
And she told her father and called a Taxi which got there before very long,
She reported the farmer's behavior to her father and left the scene in a taxi.
For someone was doing his little girl Right for a change, and so here's what he said:
The girl's father was pleased that someone stood up for his daughter and advised the farmer to stay single.
If you marry her, son, you're better off Single 'cause it's always been my belief, Marriage can bring a man nothing but
He warned the farmer that marriage was not worth it and that he should remain single.
[Chorus] Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses, Covered all over from head to toe, Covered all over with sweet violets.
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the beauty of the violets.
The farmer decided he'd wed anyway,
Despite the warnings, the farmer still wanted to marry the girl.
And started in planning for his wedding Suit which he'd purchased for only one buck,
He bought a cheap suit for his wedding day but was excited to start his new life with his bride.
But then he found out he was just out of Money and so he got left in the lurch,
Unfortunately, he realized he didn't have enough money to pay for the wedding and was left in a difficult situation.
Standing and waiting in front of the End of this story, which just goes to show,
The story ends with the farmer standing alone, without the girl or the violets, as a cautionary tale.
All a girl wants from a man is his [Chorus] Sweet violets, sweeter than the roses, Covered all over from head to toe, Covered all over with sweet violets.
The final line repeats the chorus, suggesting that the farmer's desire for the girl overshadowed his understanding of what she truly wanted and deserved.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Grean, Cy Coben
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hope Failure
2015-10-24
The Hope and The Failure is back. We have started rehearsing again after a 10 year hiatus and it’s awesome. We have started writing new songs as well as rehearsing old ones.
Upcoming shows:
Stockholm, 23 April
Berlin, Miss the Stars Fest, 6-7 May
The Hope and The Failure
saphique
3:05 to end is one of the best pieces of music ever! <3
Boda Maisenmann
thank you so much for this<3<3<3
dario caccia
why is this so underrated and unknown? i can't find an Lp or something else anywhere
Coax Me Don't Coax Me
dario caccia Because everybody in the skramz scene only look up to pretentious hipster bands like Envy, Pianos Become The Teeth, La Dispute, Young Mountain.
Taimir Gore
+Cesar Laser Dude........envy's awesome doe....
Antonio Gallardo
A girl who likes hardcore