I can't help but want to go into every single line of this short song. I learned long ago that, with any good song, every line and word serves a purpose, and this song is full of it. The trickiest part is that they use a lot of words people might not know as metaphors, so I'll just simplify each line so that the message is obvious. I'll do the first stanza or whatever for right now.
"There's a war going on for your mind"
-Person above me already addressed that.
"Media mavens mount surgical strikes from trapper keeper collages and online magazine racks"
-A maven is someone who is incredibly skilled in just about everything. A journalist used to be known as a "Jack of all trades" because of the wide variety of people and issues they dealt with. "Media maven" is someone in the media with a formidable array of skills. "Surgical" can be defined as "very precise", so "Media mavens mount surgical strikes" means that the incredibly talented Media is making very precise moves and attacks on us from "trapper keeper collages [a "trapper keeper" is a brand of loose leaf binders] and online magazine racks." That last part must be alluding to the move of informative media going from print to online.
"Cover girl cutouts throw up pop-up ads"
-This is likely talking about the typical advertising strategy to include an attractive woman smiling ridiculously or dressed scantily for the sake of calling our attention to a body spray, car insurance, or even yogurt.
Infecting victims with silicone shrapnel
-The media, intentionally or not, ends up defining "beauty" for many people in society. The phrase "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" seems to mean little these days as it's not uncommon for Hollywood or fad producing corporations to decide what's hot and what's not. Silicone is used in many things, including plastic surgery as the gel for breast implants. Gee, ever notice how all the girls in advertisements and TV shows have huge boobs and "perfect" bodies? Well, everyone else notices, and they want to be Just Like Them. If you can't get it naturally, why not just see the neighborhood surgeon so that you can fit societies definition of "Beauty" rather than your own?
Worldwide passenger pigeons deploy paratroopers
-Not a hundred percent sure on this one, but I think it's just using imagery. Pigeons were once used as a common way to move messages around, and I imagine "Worldwide passenger -thing that flies-" makes many people think of giant airplanes. "Deploy paratroopers" gives an image and feel of war. So, armed soldiers using large planes for war? Possible 9/11 reference, anyone?
Now it's raining pornography
Lovers take shelter
-Sort of seems to tie in with the line above, but I decided to do it separately. Pornography is everywhere, and it's normal for anyone and everyone to be looking at it on their off time. Whether or not you think it's harmful or bad is a personal matter, but pornography can actually be addicting, and can seriously disfigure people's understanding on what romance and intercourse is like in the real world. The line "Lovers take shelter" may be a warning, telling those that are in love to beware of pornography, and the drastic ways it can effect your perception. It may sound silly, but porn can desensitize you, and make you much more passive of sex and what it should be like. Life is more than sex, no matter what impression pornography might give.
Post-production debutantes pursue you in nascar chariots
-A debutante can be defined as a higher class woman making her formal appearance, or debut, into society. Basically, coming of age. NASCAR race cars are known by all to be absolutely covered from front to back with advertisements. As mentioned before, it's not uncommon to use women in some fashion to try and push a product, and the younger the better. "Post-production" has to do with movies and such, where filming has ended and it's in the editing stages. Many women are covered with make up, filtered with lighting and angle tricks of the camera, possibly even edited with programs like "Photoshop" to look as amazing as possible. So, this could be referring to the over-done, barely legal girls milked for advertising, pushed on to surface that a poster or logo can stick to, and endlessly chasing after us. NASCAR cars are [duh] really fast, so maybe this is sending across the message that these advertisements are almost inescapable.
They construct ransom letters from biblical passages and bleed mascara into holy water supplies
I understand this first part to be alluding to the "Holy" terrorists invading the world in such a glorious spotlight today. Terrorists use religions to attract new people and add to their force, manipulating and transforming something representing the greater good and using it for personal gain [probably what the "ransom letters from biblical passages" is about]. This second part might mean something different to you, but here's how I take it: I have always thought of make up as a disgusting, vain mask. Make up is used to cover, to hide, to make peoples face appear differently than they actually are. Women everywhere apply mass amounts to themselves, convinced by the endless models on TV, on print and electronic media, on every advertisement, that it makes them look better. It is used for vanity, and so, in a sense, can be seen as a corrupting product. People apply it to themselves thinking that they are lacking without it, and become fooled by this idea that they need paint on their face to look good. "Holy water" represents purity. Make up covers up, infects, corrupts the purity of natural beauty, and makes things be something they're not for selfish reasons. A girl that simply wants to be accepted and thought of as attractive becomes a walking clown in the latest, hip fashions.
Sorry if that was sort of long, but I hope it shows how much depth there is in these songs. Look at the length of this, and know that it is all just from ONE stanza of a two minute song. I'll do the rest later, if anyone cares to read my nonsense, but it's late, so that's all for now.
Please, do write an analysis for the rest of the song. I think your interpretation of it so far is spot on, and very insightful. I agree with everything you said, and I even shared some of your thoughts prior to reading this.
While I understand the meaning of most of the song, I am at a loss with the test tube babies line. The sentence doesn't really make sense to begin with, because I don't believe the word "slang" was used as it normally would. Also, everything past the barbed curtain part is unclear.
Please, do write an analysis for the rest of the song. I think your interpretation of it so far is spot on, and very insightful. I agree with everything you said, and I even shared some of your thoughts prior to reading this.
While I understand the meaning of most of the song, I am at a loss with the test tube babies line. The sentence doesn't really make sense to begin with, because I don't believe the word "slang" was used as it normally would. Also, everything past the barbed curtain part is unclear.
I find the...
I find the "We are the insurgents" part kind of freaky. I interpret that part as the "bad guys" breaking into the transmission of the good message to spread their evil. Man's ability to think and act for themselves will be put to the test.
I had no idea anyone had even read this. If someone'll read it, I'll gladly define the rest of the song to the best of my understanding.
I had no idea anyone had even read this. If someone'll read it, I'll gladly define the rest of the song to the best of my understanding.
I'll get it at the end, but hearing that last part, it sort of freaked me out a bit, too. At first, anyways. It just ends the song so abruptly. The beat, the violin, the drums, the rhythm-- It's all suddenly gone, interrupted by static and a foreboding, even threatening, statement: "We are the insurgents."
I'll get it at the end, but hearing that last part, it sort of freaked me out a bit, too. At first, anyways. It just ends the song so abruptly. The beat, the violin, the drums, the rhythm-- It's all suddenly gone, interrupted by static and a foreboding, even threatening, statement: "We are the insurgents."
An Insurgent is basically a rebel. More specifically, an Insurgent is someone who is armed and...
An Insurgent is basically a rebel. More specifically, an Insurgent is someone who is armed and is rising against the constituted authority. So, put simply, The Flobots are quickly calling themselves Insurgents, and setting themselves up against Government and the ruling preconceptions of our society within the first two minutes of their album. The sudden break of static could be used to signify their deliberate interruption of your daily, routine media. They have infiltrated the mainstream media with "Handlebars," and they are plainly stating their position. Imagine if you heard this on the radio.
Might freak you out now, but I can't help but wonder if all this was their intention. I wonder how many people really knew what they were getting when they bought that album. Make no mistake, they are here to "free your mind," if you believe in that sort of thing.
The public will view us as the bad guys because we oppose all that they have come to know. All that they have come to be comfortable in. Those that listened to this album must have had their worlds flipped upside down. It's not convenient, but the truth rarely is, and that's what we do.
Hi Naota391, really interested in what you think about the rest of the song, im right there with fidgetingfinch and like your insight thus far. Im also writing an analysis on this song and am wondering if you would mind if I used some of the information you have provided?
Hi Naota391, really interested in what you think about the rest of the song, im right there with fidgetingfinch and like your insight thus far. Im also writing an analysis on this song and am wondering if you would mind if I used some of the information you have provided?
@ Naota391
As far as the line "Worldwide passenger pigeons deploy paratroopers" goes, here is my insight; I believe the passenger pigeons to be an illusion to planes, passenger pigeons once flew in flocks that numbered in the billions that would black out the sky for hours. I believe its an ominous warning of a time they see coming when planes pouring forth paratroopers will black out the sky. As far as the rest of your analysis goes, i found it highly interesting and insightful; keep writing, I, for one, would be interested in what you have to say.
@ Naota391
As far as the line "Worldwide passenger pigeons deploy paratroopers" goes, here is my insight; I believe the passenger pigeons to be an illusion to planes, passenger pigeons once flew in flocks that numbered in the billions that would black out the sky for hours. I believe its an ominous warning of a time they see coming when planes pouring forth paratroopers will black out the sky. As far as the rest of your analysis goes, i found it highly interesting and insightful; keep writing, I, for one, would be interested in what you have to say.
...
@ fidgetingfinch
I believe the line is referring to the human gene alterations that are so controversial. "Test tube babies" are the children that the corporations are being pitched as if they were just another product, children that are designer made. Born with predetermined eye, skin, and hair color. Children CREATED based upon how tall they will grow, their mental acuity. Children made with specific traits, chosen to fit the needs of the consumer.
Hi, I have a little different opinion on what the whole NASCAR part is, I think it's supposed to symbolize the growing ignorance in America. Cause who are most of the people that watch NASCAR? Low rent "Redneck" types. I also think this is tied in with the part "They construct ransom letters from biblical passages and bleed mascara into holy water supplies". I think this also is showing that the less educated Tea Party types are using Religion, as a way to keep people fearful and are thus tainting religion. I think your reason is great too though....
Hi, I have a little different opinion on what the whole NASCAR part is, I think it's supposed to symbolize the growing ignorance in America. Cause who are most of the people that watch NASCAR? Low rent "Redneck" types. I also think this is tied in with the part "They construct ransom letters from biblical passages and bleed mascara into holy water supplies". I think this also is showing that the less educated Tea Party types are using Religion, as a way to keep people fearful and are thus tainting religion. I think your reason is great too though.
@Naota391:
I would love to see that. Every time I sit down and either try to interpret the lyrics or read other people's interpretations, I see how there is so much MORE to this song. I think you had everything dead on. I was kinda surprised at the collage of metaphors behind the last two lines in the first section.
@Naota391:
I would love to see that. Every time I sit down and either try to interpret the lyrics or read other people's interpretations, I see how there is so much MORE to this song. I think you had everything dead on. I was kinda surprised at the collage of metaphors behind the last two lines in the first section.
Also, it's kinda strange how the third section seems to take on a more unified meaning than the rest of the sections... maybe I'm just reading it wrong, but it seems to point at the invasion of the Middle East...
Also, it's kinda strange how the third section seems to take on a more unified meaning than the rest of the sections... maybe I'm just reading it wrong, but it seems to point at the invasion of the Middle East over nuclear weapons that didn't really exist.
I can't help but want to go into every single line of this short song. I learned long ago that, with any good song, every line and word serves a purpose, and this song is full of it. The trickiest part is that they use a lot of words people might not know as metaphors, so I'll just simplify each line so that the message is obvious. I'll do the first stanza or whatever for right now.
"There's a war going on for your mind" -Person above me already addressed that.
"Media mavens mount surgical strikes from trapper keeper collages and online magazine racks" -A maven is someone who is incredibly skilled in just about everything. A journalist used to be known as a "Jack of all trades" because of the wide variety of people and issues they dealt with. "Media maven" is someone in the media with a formidable array of skills. "Surgical" can be defined as "very precise", so "Media mavens mount surgical strikes" means that the incredibly talented Media is making very precise moves and attacks on us from "trapper keeper collages [a "trapper keeper" is a brand of loose leaf binders] and online magazine racks." That last part must be alluding to the move of informative media going from print to online.
"Cover girl cutouts throw up pop-up ads" -This is likely talking about the typical advertising strategy to include an attractive woman smiling ridiculously or dressed scantily for the sake of calling our attention to a body spray, car insurance, or even yogurt.
Infecting victims with silicone shrapnel -The media, intentionally or not, ends up defining "beauty" for many people in society. The phrase "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" seems to mean little these days as it's not uncommon for Hollywood or fad producing corporations to decide what's hot and what's not. Silicone is used in many things, including plastic surgery as the gel for breast implants. Gee, ever notice how all the girls in advertisements and TV shows have huge boobs and "perfect" bodies? Well, everyone else notices, and they want to be Just Like Them. If you can't get it naturally, why not just see the neighborhood surgeon so that you can fit societies definition of "Beauty" rather than your own?
Worldwide passenger pigeons deploy paratroopers -Not a hundred percent sure on this one, but I think it's just using imagery. Pigeons were once used as a common way to move messages around, and I imagine "Worldwide passenger -thing that flies-" makes many people think of giant airplanes. "Deploy paratroopers" gives an image and feel of war. So, armed soldiers using large planes for war? Possible 9/11 reference, anyone?
Now it's raining pornography Lovers take shelter -Sort of seems to tie in with the line above, but I decided to do it separately. Pornography is everywhere, and it's normal for anyone and everyone to be looking at it on their off time. Whether or not you think it's harmful or bad is a personal matter, but pornography can actually be addicting, and can seriously disfigure people's understanding on what romance and intercourse is like in the real world. The line "Lovers take shelter" may be a warning, telling those that are in love to beware of pornography, and the drastic ways it can effect your perception. It may sound silly, but porn can desensitize you, and make you much more passive of sex and what it should be like. Life is more than sex, no matter what impression pornography might give.
Post-production debutantes pursue you in nascar chariots -A debutante can be defined as a higher class woman making her formal appearance, or debut, into society. Basically, coming of age. NASCAR race cars are known by all to be absolutely covered from front to back with advertisements. As mentioned before, it's not uncommon to use women in some fashion to try and push a product, and the younger the better. "Post-production" has to do with movies and such, where filming has ended and it's in the editing stages. Many women are covered with make up, filtered with lighting and angle tricks of the camera, possibly even edited with programs like "Photoshop" to look as amazing as possible. So, this could be referring to the over-done, barely legal girls milked for advertising, pushed on to surface that a poster or logo can stick to, and endlessly chasing after us. NASCAR cars are [duh] really fast, so maybe this is sending across the message that these advertisements are almost inescapable.
They construct ransom letters from biblical passages and bleed mascara into holy water supplies
Sorry if that was sort of long, but I hope it shows how much depth there is in these songs. Look at the length of this, and know that it is all just from ONE stanza of a two minute song. I'll do the rest later, if anyone cares to read my nonsense, but it's late, so that's all for now.
Please, do write an analysis for the rest of the song. I think your interpretation of it so far is spot on, and very insightful. I agree with everything you said, and I even shared some of your thoughts prior to reading this. While I understand the meaning of most of the song, I am at a loss with the test tube babies line. The sentence doesn't really make sense to begin with, because I don't believe the word "slang" was used as it normally would. Also, everything past the barbed curtain part is unclear.
Please, do write an analysis for the rest of the song. I think your interpretation of it so far is spot on, and very insightful. I agree with everything you said, and I even shared some of your thoughts prior to reading this. While I understand the meaning of most of the song, I am at a loss with the test tube babies line. The sentence doesn't really make sense to begin with, because I don't believe the word "slang" was used as it normally would. Also, everything past the barbed curtain part is unclear.
I find the...
I find the "We are the insurgents" part kind of freaky. I interpret that part as the "bad guys" breaking into the transmission of the good message to spread their evil. Man's ability to think and act for themselves will be put to the test.
I had no idea anyone had even read this. If someone'll read it, I'll gladly define the rest of the song to the best of my understanding.
I had no idea anyone had even read this. If someone'll read it, I'll gladly define the rest of the song to the best of my understanding.
I'll get it at the end, but hearing that last part, it sort of freaked me out a bit, too. At first, anyways. It just ends the song so abruptly. The beat, the violin, the drums, the rhythm-- It's all suddenly gone, interrupted by static and a foreboding, even threatening, statement: "We are the insurgents."
I'll get it at the end, but hearing that last part, it sort of freaked me out a bit, too. At first, anyways. It just ends the song so abruptly. The beat, the violin, the drums, the rhythm-- It's all suddenly gone, interrupted by static and a foreboding, even threatening, statement: "We are the insurgents."
An Insurgent is basically a rebel. More specifically, an Insurgent is someone who is armed and...
An Insurgent is basically a rebel. More specifically, an Insurgent is someone who is armed and is rising against the constituted authority. So, put simply, The Flobots are quickly calling themselves Insurgents, and setting themselves up against Government and the ruling preconceptions of our society within the first two minutes of their album. The sudden break of static could be used to signify their deliberate interruption of your daily, routine media. They have infiltrated the mainstream media with "Handlebars," and they are plainly stating their position. Imagine if you heard this on the radio.
Might freak you out now, but I can't help but wonder if all this was their intention. I wonder how many people really knew what they were getting when they bought that album. Make no mistake, they are here to "free your mind," if you believe in that sort of thing.
The public will view us as the bad guys because we oppose all that they have come to know. All that they have come to be comfortable in. Those that listened to this album must have had their worlds flipped upside down. It's not convenient, but the truth rarely is, and that's what we do.
We are the insurgents.
I think the line about pigeons refers to the world fighting wars over belief.
I think the line about pigeons refers to the world fighting wars over belief.
Hi Naota391, really interested in what you think about the rest of the song, im right there with fidgetingfinch and like your insight thus far. Im also writing an analysis on this song and am wondering if you would mind if I used some of the information you have provided?
Hi Naota391, really interested in what you think about the rest of the song, im right there with fidgetingfinch and like your insight thus far. Im also writing an analysis on this song and am wondering if you would mind if I used some of the information you have provided?
@ Naota391 As far as the line "Worldwide passenger pigeons deploy paratroopers" goes, here is my insight; I believe the passenger pigeons to be an illusion to planes, passenger pigeons once flew in flocks that numbered in the billions that would black out the sky for hours. I believe its an ominous warning of a time they see coming when planes pouring forth paratroopers will black out the sky. As far as the rest of your analysis goes, i found it highly interesting and insightful; keep writing, I, for one, would be interested in what you have to say.
@ Naota391 As far as the line "Worldwide passenger pigeons deploy paratroopers" goes, here is my insight; I believe the passenger pigeons to be an illusion to planes, passenger pigeons once flew in flocks that numbered in the billions that would black out the sky for hours. I believe its an ominous warning of a time they see coming when planes pouring forth paratroopers will black out the sky. As far as the rest of your analysis goes, i found it highly interesting and insightful; keep writing, I, for one, would be interested in what you have to say.
...
@ fidgetingfinch I believe the line is referring to the human gene alterations that are so controversial. "Test tube babies" are the children that the corporations are being pitched as if they were just another product, children that are designer made. Born with predetermined eye, skin, and hair color. Children CREATED based upon how tall they will grow, their mental acuity. Children made with specific traits, chosen to fit the needs of the consumer.
Hi, I have a little different opinion on what the whole NASCAR part is, I think it's supposed to symbolize the growing ignorance in America. Cause who are most of the people that watch NASCAR? Low rent "Redneck" types. I also think this is tied in with the part "They construct ransom letters from biblical passages and bleed mascara into holy water supplies". I think this also is showing that the less educated Tea Party types are using Religion, as a way to keep people fearful and are thus tainting religion. I think your reason is great too though....
Hi, I have a little different opinion on what the whole NASCAR part is, I think it's supposed to symbolize the growing ignorance in America. Cause who are most of the people that watch NASCAR? Low rent "Redneck" types. I also think this is tied in with the part "They construct ransom letters from biblical passages and bleed mascara into holy water supplies". I think this also is showing that the less educated Tea Party types are using Religion, as a way to keep people fearful and are thus tainting religion. I think your reason is great too though.
Man. I guess I should probably give the rest of this song the same treatment, huh?
Man. I guess I should probably give the rest of this song the same treatment, huh?
@Naota391: I would love to see that. Every time I sit down and either try to interpret the lyrics or read other people's interpretations, I see how there is so much MORE to this song. I think you had everything dead on. I was kinda surprised at the collage of metaphors behind the last two lines in the first section.
@Naota391: I would love to see that. Every time I sit down and either try to interpret the lyrics or read other people's interpretations, I see how there is so much MORE to this song. I think you had everything dead on. I was kinda surprised at the collage of metaphors behind the last two lines in the first section.
Also, it's kinda strange how the third section seems to take on a more unified meaning than the rest of the sections... maybe I'm just reading it wrong, but it seems to point at the invasion of the Middle East...
Also, it's kinda strange how the third section seems to take on a more unified meaning than the rest of the sections... maybe I'm just reading it wrong, but it seems to point at the invasion of the Middle East over nuclear weapons that didn't really exist.