Robert's got a quick hand
He'll look around the room, he won't tell you his plan
He's got a rolled cigarette
Hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid
Yeah found a six shooter gun
In his dad's closet, oh in a box of fun things
I don't even know what
But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet

Daddy works a long day
He be coming home late, and he's coming home late
And he's bringing me a surprise
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice
I've waited for a long time
Yeah the sleight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger
I reason with my cigarette
And say your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet


Lyrics submitted by evenabird, edited by kitty17moo, indierox, Paymaan, MycroftJr, bobbywasabi123, smartboiii420, haylo740, tobyoakes

Pumped Up Kicks Lyrics as written by Mark Derek Foster

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Pumped Up Kicks song meanings
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  • +6
    General Comment

    Dont'cha just love reading everyone's comments? This song's meaning is basically controversial. (Unless you watch the FTP interviews!!) I posted on here about three times already, but I wanna post a fourth time. Ok, so wanna know what Pumped Up Kicks is really about?? (Got this info from watching FTP interviews --That what I always do in my spare time) Ok, so Mark said that he heard more and more on the news about kids doing something violent, like bringing guns and other weapons to school - And he said it bothered him. He didn't get how, and WHY, kids (preferably ages 12-17) would ever even think considering doing something violent. So, he wanted to "get inside the head of a kid who was going insane". Mark was tryig to think of what would cause a kid to act that way, whether it being bullying, isolation, etc. He was trying to write from the perspective of that kid.

    In one interview, he said, "There are two sides to a tragedy. One being the victim, of course... One being the side of the shooter [killer]..."

    So, all in all, the song is describing what's going on in a kid's life that makes him think violent thoughts. For example, in the second verse, "Daddy works a long day, he be comin, home late, he's comin' home late"... I think that part is trying to say that his dad works a lot, is hardly ever home... Leaving the kid with no one to talk to. I bet all he needs is closure, but he's basically fending for himself. And obviously, he's taunting the victims... "Better run, better run, outrun my gun!"

    I honestly don't get why some people say this is a bad song. Clearly, it's not trying to influence you in ANY way, shape or form. It's written as a story. Ok, if ya don't get that, think of it like this: You're reading a story. A murder mystery, to be exact. Someone dies mysteriously, police are trying to find the killer. Would you say that the author of that book is trying to influence murder?? I doubt it.

    So yeah... That being said, I LOVE Pumped Up Kicks!! It's my most favorite song. EVER :D

    HEYItsEurekaon March 15, 2012   Link

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