Hours by TV on the Radio Lyrics Meaning – The Poignant Intersection of Despair and Hope
Lyrics
Said yourself beatufiul
Just too bad they stare
Just too bad they stare
Broke up your crown
Called you unusable
See how well you fair
Stole underground
To keep your heart around
Banished from above
Banished from above
Forgot yourself
Go home and shot your health
Left it all for love
And all their lips
Delirious quipps
Last seen with friends
Wishing them well
You
You listen for the truth
Just too bad they lied
Just too bad they lied
Oh come around
Inform our future youth
Summon from the sky
The future is cruel
Unusual fools
Leave them to rule in hollow point hell
Now listen to the truth
Cradle and a cry
Cradle and a cry
Your light will shine
Keep your head on high
Keep your head on high
You walk around
Know you are beautiful
Aimless and alive
Broken and defined
Walk around know you are future youth
Summon to the sky
In a world saturated with fast-paced pop anthems, TV on the Radio stands as a beacon of lyrical depth and musical innovation. The track ‘Hours’ from their 2006 release ‘Return to Cookie Mountain’ offers a stark, compelling narrative that threads a fine line between a personal and a collective experience of adversity and redemption. The band’s signature blend of eclectic sounds and atmospheric production sets the stage for a profound exploration of human resilience.
The beauty of ‘Hours’ lies not only in its layered instrumentation but also its emotionally charged lyrics. They serve as a raw commentary on the trials of self-identity and the power struggles within the realm of love and societal expectations. Each verse unfolds like a poetic confession, exposing the inner turmoil of the subject while simultaneously hinting at a universal human condition.
Unraveling the Crown of Desperation
The opening lines of ‘Hours’ paint a vivid picture of vulnerability and the shattering of a perceived self-worth. ‘Broke up your crown’ insinuates a fall from grace or a stripping away of vanity. This deconstruction of persona is a common theme in TV on the Radio’s work, where the quest for identity often leads to a confrontation with one’s own brokenness. Yet, there is a defiance in acknowledging the stare of the others – a refusal to be diminished by external judgment.
The repetition of ‘Just too bad they stare’ serves as a mantra, a reminder that recognition, even when steeped in negativity, cannot sway the true essence of a person. The crown, once a symbol of authority and beauty, becomes cumbersome and ‘unusable’— a metaphor for the failed expectations and the pressure to conform that we all encounter.
From the Underground to the Upper Reaches of Love
Delving deeper into the narrative, ‘Stole underground to keep your heart around’ implies a protective retreat—a sanctuary for the heart amidst a barrage of emotional onslaught. TV on the Radio often explores themes surrounding the dichotomy of visibility and invisibility, and here it underscores the lengths to which one might go to preserve their core in a harsh environment…
‘Banished from above’ resonates with a sense of exile, not just from the heavens but perhaps from the lofty ideals that once were held. Yet, in this emotional purgatory, there lies a heartfelt realization of what one is willing to sacrifice for love, an element that has always been an intrinsic force in the band’s songwriting.
Echoing the Delirious Labyrinths of Deception
Not shying away from the social and interpersonal complexities, ‘And all their lips, delirious quipps’ might refer to the fickle nature of human relationships—a cacophony of voices that fail to uplift but instead mislead with their falsehoods. The presence of friends and well-wishers is fleeting, and in a twist, those once close become distant as the fabric of trust unravels.
The repetition of ‘Just too bad they lied’ amplifies the sting of betrayal that permeates the song. The advice given to ‘inform our future youth’ suggests a passing down of wisdom, perhaps learned from these very deceptions. TV on the Radio confronts the hard truths, always nudging listeners to seek honesty even amongst the lies.
A Prophetic Glimpse into the ‘Cruel Future’ of Youth
The lyrics speak directly to the generation tasked with inheriting the world’s complexities by casting them as ‘future youth.’ This term layers the song’s subjects as being both ambassadors of what’s to come and vessels of the ongoing legacies of their forbearers. ‘The future is cruel, unusual fools’ might be interpreted as a grim forewarning, an observation of the stark realities looming over the horizon.
Yet, in the face of this daunting image, the song calls for resilience and summons strength from the sky—implicating a celestial or transcendental source of hope that can infuse the young with the light necessary to press forward. TV on the Radio has always flirted with esoteric references, embedding them within their music as tokens of inspiration.
Rising to the Euphoric Crescendo of Self-Acceptance
In a climactic turn, ‘Walk around know you are beautiful’ transitions from a tale of rue into an anthem of affirmation. TV on the Radio shifts perspective from the introspection of suffering to the reclaiming of dignity. ‘Aimless and alive, broken and defined’ might very well encapsulate the paradoxical gift of living—a sacred mixture of directionless energy and beautifully scarred identity.
‘Keep your head on high’ is the poignant battle cry that repeats and resolves the ballad of ‘Hours.’ It’s a powerful closure that rounds out the song’s journey through the cycle of despondence and defiance. It is in these memorable lines that the listener finds solace, as the band crafts a lyrical testament to the indomitable spirit housed within the music—and, by extension, within us all.
