Hope then strife
The Go-Betweens · Other Songs - The Go-Betweens
I can tell by the way she grins.
She put the postcards up on the head of our bed,
I can see Algiers.
She said "don't the streets on Sunday look great,
The way they open up their windows
And offer you things you know you'll never buy."
Lord I'm tired, I'm just so tired.
Don't say that you agree
With the price you paid
For your captivity.
Sweet surrender and your
Poison pen are gonna take you
And make you whole again.
Never gonna be the one
Who said you were the one
Who liked the lonesome life.
All the times you stayed
And prayed and thought you
Had it made it was for
Hope then strife.
So I went and asked my friend the doctor
"What is it I've got this time?'
He said "apart from that albatross
Around your neck, the tests are
Negative, you really are quite fine".
So I went out to the airport
To play for my ticket
And someone comes up to me and says
"Hey man, they don t pay for that any more
Lord I'm tired, I'm just so tired.
Don't say that you agree
With the price you paid
For your honesty.
Sweet surrender and your
Poison pen are gonna take you
And make you whole again.
Never gonna be the one
Who said you were the one
Who liked the lonesome life.
All the times vou stayed
And prayed and thought you
Had it made it was for
Hope then strife.
Lord I'm tired, I'm just so tired.
I should retire.
Don't say that you agree
With the price at the end
Of hostility.
Sweet surrender and your
Poison pen are gonna take you
And make you whole again.
Never gonna be the one
Who said you were the one
Who liked the lonesome life.
All the times you stayed
And prayed and thought you
Had it made it was for
Hope then strife.
Hope then Strife - The Go-Betweens
Released by The Go-Betweens, 'Hope then Strife' stands as a defining track from the Australian indie rock band's early catalog. The song exemplifies the group's signature blend of melodic pop sensibilities with introspective, often melancholic lyrics. Written by the band's primary creative force, it captures the tension between optimism and disillusionment that permeated their work during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The recording features the band's characteristic guitar-driven sound, characterized by intricate harmonies and a driving rhythm section that propelled them to international recognition. As a staple of their discography, the track remains a touchstone for fans of the genre, illustrating how The Go-Betweens balanced catchy hooks with deeper emotional narratives.