People won't be people
When they hear this sound
That's been glowing in the dark at the edge of town

People won't be people
No, the people won't be people when they hear this sound
Won't you show me what begins at the edge of town

People won't be people
When they hear this sound
That's been glowing in the dark at the edge of town

People won't be people
No, the people won't be people when they hear this sound
Won't you show me what begins at the edge of town

Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh
Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh
Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh
Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh

Kitchen is the cook, whoa, ey, oh
Scissors are the barbers, whoa, ey, oh
Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh
The chorus full of actors

People won't be people
When they hear this sound
That's been glowing in the dark at the edge of town

People won't be people
No, the people won't be people when they hear this sound
Won't you show me what begins at the edge of town

People won't be people
When they hear this sound
That's been glowing in the dark at the edge of town

People won't be people
No, the people won't be people when they hear this sound
Won't you show me what begins at the edge of town

Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh
Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh
Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh
Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh

Kitchen is the cook, whoa, ey, oh
Scissors are the barbers, whoa, ey, oh
Singer is a crook, whoa, ey, oh
The chorus full of actors

People won't be people
When they hear this sound
That's been glowing in the dark at the edge of town

People won't be people
No, the people won't be people when they hear this sound
Won't you show me what begins at the edge of town

People won't be people
When they hear this sound
That's been glowing in the dark at the edge of town

People won't be people
No, the people won't be people when they hear this sound
Won't you show me what begins at the edge of town


Lyrics submitted by Cubizmo

Atlas Lyrics as written by David Konopka Tyondai Braxton

Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Atlas song meanings
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71 Comments

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  • +9
    My Interpretation

    I think this song is Battles commenting on the use of technology in music diminishing or changing the role of musicians. People aren't people when they hear the sound, because the sound is so dehumanised after being run through machines.

    The singer is a crook, because he can be replaced by a machine that does his job better. The theme in the second verse is about the tools taking over the role of the person who uses the tools - the scissors become the barbers, the kitchen becomes the cook. It's a statement about "what begins at the edge of town" - a musical movement outside the mainstream that challenges the traditionally-defined role of musicians.

    bittersweetmeon April 15, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    wow,I didn't even know this song contained audible words. it's an excellent song though. And the video is sickk. (L)

    fxcking_turtleon April 29, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Yeah, funkymonkey, thats what i hear or a very filtered "repeating on" for the first bit. This is what i vaguely hear.

    People will be people People will be people when the air...???? Wondering in the dark ??????........ travel

    People will be people X 3 People will be people when the Won't you show me the beginning ??????........ travel

    amazing song though.

    ElbowCrumbson May 30, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Bittersweetme's interpretation is absolutely perfect. And to add onto their interpretation: the musicians emphasize the meaning of the song by the crazy auto-tuned, altered, mechanical sound that they use for the voice. The voice is so altered that it doesn't even sound like a person and it doesn't even sound like a human language, let alone English. Also, the person below me said that the beginning of the song isn't the sound of voice but the sound of guitar, also emphasizing how mechanical the voice sounds. We can barely even tell the difference between the guitar and the voice. Beautiful song.

    yaunie13on September 15, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Tyondai told me after one of his shows. He told me that he was going to reveal the rest of the song later in the year. Maybe August.

    too bad this part doesn't really matter.

    but it still sounds cool.

    SilentZephyron May 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    There's more lyrics to this isn't there?What's here is kind of witty in an ironic way, but I swear there is more there. The vocals remind me of Animal Collective, but the whole thing is so dark and propulsive. Strange and Amazing song.

    indie-YYYon May 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    There are a lot of lyrics in this, but it is nearly impossible to make out. I think it says "people will be people when the air is still...." and then i lose it.

    funkeymonkeymanon May 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Here is my attempt:

    Atlas (Repeat X)

    People will be people when the air is stagnant Wonder in the dark We'll begin to travel People will be people will be People will be people When the end is here Won't you show me the beginning We'll begin to travel (Repeat X 2)

    singer is a crook, oh-ay-oh singer is a crook, oh-ay-oh singer is a crook, oh-ay-oh singer is a crook, oh-ay-oh

    kitchen is for cook, oh-ay-oh sissors at the barber, oh-ay-oh singer is a crook, oh-ay-oh The chorus doesn't matter

    Some of their other songs have words two like: DDiamondd

    tarquinnff3on June 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    people won't be people when they hear these samples.

    how's that?!

    iamnothing2uon June 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Here's my version of what i think it is:

    people wont be people when they hear this sound thats rolling in the dollar, up the air it will travel people wont be people wont be people wont be people when they hear this sound wont you show me where to begin? and up the air it will travel

    singer is a crook, oh-ay-oh (x4)

    kitchen is a cook, oh-ay-oh scissors are for barbers, oh ay oh singer is a crook, oh ay oh the chorus doesn't matter

    ...my other interpretation is "people wont be people when they eat a sandwich" and "roll it in the dollar, up the air we'll travel..." these could be drug references

    ballisticapeon June 24, 2007   Link

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