| The Killers – Somebody Told Me Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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To me, this song embodies the Marxist manifesto through the ironic lens of a capitalist rebel in a communist state. By utilizing this point-of-view, the artist is able to fabricate a sense of empathy between the listener and the capitalist rebel, thus emphasizing the absurdity of capitalism as compared to efficient communism. Through literary elements such as verisimilitude and metaphor, the author promotes communism through unorthodox means. "Breaking my back just to know your name" first and foremost describes the character in a struggling position. Desperate to discover his own identity, he begs the acknowledgement and affirmation of those around him. In this way, the author displays the overwhelming anonymity of the communist system. Though efficient, the homogeneous structure of communism feels oppressive to freedom fighters, who declare that "heaven ain't close in a place like this". The character thus feels dread in despair, afraid that his dreams may never come to pass. To cope with this, he drinks copious amounts of vodka in the gulag. When he does so, he tells the others to 'Bring [your cups] back down, bring [them] back down tonight". This illegal alcohol, or "moonshine", is again referenced when the author mentions how he "never thought [he'd] let a rumor ruin his moonlight (moonshine)". The rumor, in this case, is communism. Delirious and almost mad with desire, the character convinces himself that the system is indeed a myth. a fabrication of hearsay and gossip. The sentiment of anonymity culminates in the first chorus, when the author describes the "boyfriend who look[s] like a girlfriend". The juxtaposition of the two genders emphasizes that the author cannot tell the difference between the two disparate groups. In this way, the artist demonstrates the sweeping power of communism over nature - under it, all are equal, and none stand out. The February, at first thought, seems to refer to valentine's day. However, it actually refers to the communist-infused revolution, the "February Revolution". This event, which resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, sparked radical change in the Russian system. In the same way, the artist reflects on how, before February, his life was more peaceful and simple. But everything changed when the fire nation attacked. The speaker embodies capitalist, and (in the context of communism) rebellious ideals. He states that "It's not confidential, I've got potential". The author, then, truly believes in a future, one where he is free to do as he wishes. This sentiment is reflective of the capitalist mindset, which teaches children to dream and achieve, and ultimately to be who they wish to be. The next half of the chorus is the artist talking to himself, repeating the same ideas. In "Somebody Told Me" by The Killers, the artist takes on the persona of a capitalist supporter amidst a communist state. Through description, comparison, and metaphor, he fabricates a believable sense of awe for the power of communism, which sweeps across the nation and stops for none. The artist, it seems, is the only one who recognizes the the government in its most primitive form draws power from the population, and thus without the people the communism, and thus the illusion, must fall. |
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