Failure

Swans' song 'Failure' is a raw and unflinching exploration of the human condition, particularly the feelings of inadequacy and despair that accompany a life perceived as unsuccessful. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a person who feels trapped in a cycle of failure, unable to escape the burdens that weigh them down. The repeated references to being 'lonely,' 'blind,' and having 'learned nothing' suggest a deep sense of hopelessness and self-recrimination. The metaphor of pushing a stone up a hill, reminiscent of the myth of Sisyphus, underscores the futility and endless struggle the narrator feels.

The song delves into the societal pressures and personal experiences that contribute to this sense of failure. The narrator speaks of working hard all their life, only to see money slip through their hands, and the reflection in the mirror offers no solace. The imagery of a 'goddamned slaveship' and the 'null and void pit' evokes a sense of being trapped in a dehumanizing and inescapable situation. The mention of violence, ideals, and unrealistic images of life highlights the external forces that exacerbate the narrator's internal struggles.

The personal anecdotes, such as seeing a father cry and a mother break her hand, add a poignant layer to the narrative, suggesting that this sense of failure is not just personal but generational. The song's climax, where the narrator speaks of kissing money's 'green skin' and calling it the 'fuel that fires the engine of failure,' encapsulates the bitter irony of striving for something that ultimately perpetuates their misery. The final lines, which mention the physical and mental toll of carrying this burden, leave the listener with a haunting sense of the inescapable nature of failure.