The Community of Hope

Album: The Hope Six Demolition Project (2016)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a single from The Hope Six Demolition Project, an album inspired by PJ Harvey's trips to Washington, DC, Kosovo and Afghanistan with photographer Seamus Murphy. The record was named after the US Department Of Housing And Urban Development's HOPE VI program, which is a controversial policy of demolishing public housing projects and building mixed-income communities in their place.
  • This song paints a dreadful picture of Ward 7, an underdeveloped and economically depressed urban environment immediately surrounding the DHUD's headquarters in Washington D.C. ("Now this is just drug town, just zombies. But that's just life."). The lyrics were inspired by a tour of the city that Harvey and Murphy made with The Washington Post's Paul Schwartzman.
  • Various DC politicians criticized Harvey's lyrics. Former mayor Vince Gray said: "I will not dignify this inane composition with a response."
  • The Hope Six Demolition Project was Harvey's first ever UK #1 album. The singer's previous highest-charting UK release was her 1993 LP Rid Of Me, which peaked at #3.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Rob Halford of Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford dives into some of his Judas Priest lyrics, talking about his most personal songs and the message behind "You've Got Another Thing Comin'."

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Gavin Rossdale of Bush

Gavin Rossdale of BushSongwriter Interviews

On the "schizoid element" of his lyrics, and a famous line from "Everything Zen."

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.