Hope by Descendents

Album: Milo Goes To College (1982)

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This two-minute punk rocker from the Los Angeles-based Descendents is about a guy who's in love with a girl, but she doesn't see it because she is blinded by her boyfriend, who treats her like garbage. He's been friend-zoned, but still, he'll be there for her. Eventually she'll realize that he's the guy who cares for her and loves her and they will get together. At least that's his hope.
This song was written by Descendents lead singer Milo Aukerman. It's part of the group's first album, which is titled Milo Goes To College because he really was leaving the band for academic pursuits. Aukerman attended the University of California, San Diego, and became a biochemist at DuPont while also dabbling in the Descendents. The group released their next album (with Aukerman) in 1985.
In punk fashion, there is no chorus in this song and no instrumental breaks. The title doesn't show up in the lyrics either.
In a Songfacts interview with Milo Aukerman, he explained how he wrote this song with help from the group's drummer, Bill Stevenson: "I put together this chord progression or the series of chords, and I showed them to Bill and said, 'Here's my song.' Of course, realizing that a song needs lyrics, I just figured I'd show it to Bill, and he goes, 'Ah, I like that. It kind of inspires hope.' And I thought, 'Well, OK, that's the name of the song, 'Hope.'' And then I had to write lyrics along that theme. And as luck would have it, I was breaking up with my girlfriend at the time, so that provided a good theme for a song about hope."

Comments: 3

Henryincel song goes hard though
Torrey from Vista CaI love this song it is really good and helps you believe good can happen anywhere at anytime. It really does bring hope to the world
Mike from St.catharines, CanadaSublime Covered This Song On Their Album
"40oz To Freedom"

see more comments

More Songfacts:

The CaveMumford & Sons

"The Cave" by Mumford & Sons is based on the philosophy of Plato and his work called "Allegory of the Cave."

London CallingThe Clash

"London Calling" by The Clash was written amid widespread fears that the Thames River was going to flood the city.

Detroit Rock CityKiss

Kiss sing about "movin' fast on 95" in "Detroit Rock City," but I-95 doesn't go through Detroit (I-75 does) so they published the lyric as "Movin' fast, doin' 95."

RelaxFrankie Goes to Hollywood

The Frankie Goes To Hollywood hit "Relax" is, as the band says, about "shagging." It was banned by the BBC, which sent it to #1 in the UK as listeners flocked to record stores to buy it.

We Built This CityStarship

Elton John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin wrote the original lyrics for Starship's "We Built This City." It was the first Hot 100 Top 10 hit Taupin wrote without John.

Katy Perry's "Dark Horse" was co-written by Sarah Hudson, who was a member of the pop group Ultraviolet Sound. Though Sarah isn't related to Katy (whose real name is Katy Hudson), she is the first cousin of another famous person with the same name, the actress Kate Hudson.