| Flobots – Handlebars Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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"I can ride my bike with no handlebars No handlebars No handlebars I can ride my bike with no handlebars No handlebars No handlebars Look at me, look at me" The theme throughout the song. Look at me, look what I can do! Kids say this to get attention, but it applies throughout the rest of the song: people drunk on power / ignorant of global issues / doing dangerous things without regard to safety. Look at me, I think, is the main point he's trying to get across. "hands in the air like it's good to be ALIVE" he says "LIKE" it's good to be alive. The video the band endorses for the song has a lot of images of kids interspersed with global atrocities. He's painting the image of someone ignorant of world views. "and I'm a famous rapper even when the paths're all crookedy" Rappers usually get famous from following a crooked path of the gangsta lifestyle, but it doesn't matter to the world. "I can show you how to do-si-do I can show you how to scratch a record" I'm not sure if this is directly relating to something in the world; do-si-do'ing is something common in conservative backwater areas in america. Scratching a record is from hip-hop and electronica, although I'm not sure what's negative about this. "I can take apart the remote control And I can almost put it back together" I can disassemble the Iraqi government even though I'm not there ("remote control" being wordplay; remotely taking apart the control that's already in place), and then fail to follow through and have a stable government in place. Also showing ignorance of the complexities of a situation before diving in. "I can tie a knot in a cherry stem" Look at me, I'm a good kisser. "I can tell you about Leif Ericson" I think this is has double meaning. Leif Ericson was a nordic explorer first thought to "discover" the Americas. Leif Erickson was also an american actor in the 30s through 60s best known for being a macho husband who made fun of his son for being a sissy in Tea and Sympathy (as well as other roles typically of a macho nature). "I know all the words to "De Colores" And "I'm Proud to be an American"" De Colores was used as an anthem for the United Farm Workers organization, many of whom were killed in picket lines or beaten by local law officials for their protests. I'm Proud To Be An American was a country song touting the "I'm better than you". It pretty plainly paints americans as ignorant and arrogant. "Me and my friend saw a platypus Me and my friend made a comic book And guess how long it took I can do anything that I want cuz, look:" I'm awesome, look at me and be envious. "I can keep rhythm with no metronome No metronome No metronome I can see your face on the telephone On the telephone On the telephone" More "look at me", with some Big Brother thrown in at the end. "Look at me Look at me Just called to say that it's good to be ALIVE" More arrogance and "LOOK AT ME" syndrome. "In such a small world All curled up with a book to read I can raise funds open up a thrift store I can make a living off a magazine I can design an engine sixty four Miles to a gallon of gasoline I can make new antibiotics I can make computers survive aquatic conditions I know how to run a business And I can make you wanna buy a product" Bragging about how awesome it is to be able to pursue the american dream. Possibly to someone who's destitute? "Movers shakers and producers Me and my friends understand the future I see the strings that control the systems" I know what the world is like (although he's talking mostly about Corporate America here), and he's acting arrogant about it. "I can do anything with no assistance" I can ride my bike with no handlebars, and I'm so good at everything that I'm going to ignore you "I can change the nation with a microphone With a microphone With a microphone" I don't think this is so much protesting as it is gaining power. To gain the support of the unwashed masses, you do things like tout your arrogance in a convincing manner. "Look over here! I can control the future, you should support me". "I can split the atoms of a molecule Of a molecule Of a molecule" Nuclear weapons. Pretty straightforward. "Look at me Look at me Driving and I won't stop And it feels so good to be Alive and on top" I can ride my bike with no handlebars, and now I can speed around in my car without regard to the safety of others. Also, Look at me some more, I'm important. Arrogance. "My reach is global My tower secure My cause is noble My power is pure" At this point, he's gotten enough power and he's bragging. He's also in the mindset that he's doing the 'right thing', when the next few lyrics are more showing that he's in fact drunk on power. "I can hand out a million vaccinations Or let'em all die in exasperation Have'em all healed from their lacerations Have'em all killed by assassination" Absolute power corrupts absolutely. "I can make anybody go to prison Just because I don't like'em and I can do anything with no permission I have it all under my command" More of the same "I can guide a missile by satellite By satellite By satellite and I can hit a target through a telescope Through a telescope Through a telescope" War references, and the power people have. "and I can end the planet in a holocaust In a holocaust In a holocaust In a holocaust In a holocaust In a holocaust In a holocaust" Usually not something one brags about. Completely drunk on power at this point. "I can ride my bike with no handlebars No handle bars No handlebars I can ride my bike with no handlebars No handlebars No handlebars" Just hammering the point home that it's arrogance and ignorance that grows into corruption. |
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| The Killers – Tranquilize Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I like the idea of it being about a soldier in a foreign war. The fact that he distinctly mentions "bushes and the bombs" says this. It's probably all about the politics in the world, and how he got drug into it even though he was perfectly content without it. "I was just sipping on something sweet, I don't need political process". ** I also liked the religious undertones throughout the entire song. I'm sure it wasn't accidental. Most of the amazing lyricists/poets in the world thrive on intentionally making works that can be interpreted different ways (partly to appeal to a larger audience, but partly because word play is a difficult skill for people to master). |
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| Kanye West – Everything I Am Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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"Man, killing's some wack shit Oh, I forgot, except for when niggas is rappin'" The whole song is pretty much saying "I'm not gangsta, and I'm comfortable with that. Gangsta rap is messed up and I want no part of it" |
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