While the term โindieโ had been used for some time to describe artists on independent labels (and the labels themselves), the key moment in the naming of the genre was the release of NME's C86 tape in 1986. Although featuring a wide range of bands including Primal Scream, Bogshed, Half Man Half Biscuit, and The Wedding Present, it over time became shorthand for a genre known by a variety of terms. Initially it was dubbed 'C86' (after the tape itself), the more ambiguous indie pop, Cutie or a term coined by John Peel: shambling bands. Retrospectively, especially in the United States, the terms twee and twee pop were used, initially ironically, due to what commentators called the "revolt into childhood" of its followers.
Musically its key characteristics were jangling guitars, a love of sixties pop and often fey, innocent lyrics. The UK label Sarah Records and its most popular band The Field Mice, although more diverse than the label indicates, were probably its most typical proponents. It was also inspired by the DIY scene of punk and there was a thriving fanzine, label and club and gig circuit. Scenes later developed in the United States particularly around labels such as K Records. Genres such as Riot Grrrl and bands as diverse as Nirvana, Manic Street Preachers, and Belle and Sebastian have all acknowledged its influence.
In the mid to late 80s, indie pop was criticized for its tweeness and underachievement but many now argue that C86 and the birth of the genre was a pivotal moment for independent music in the UK. It continues to have a strong following and inspire musicians, not just in the UK but around the world with new labels, clubs and bands devoted to the sound.
Pumped Up Kicks
Foster the People Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
The lyrics to this song, Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People, present a disturbing narrative of a young boy, Robert, who has access to a gun and plans to use it on his classmates. The first verse describes Robert's preparation as he smokes a rolled cigarette and finds a six-shooter gun in his dad's closet. The chorus then warns the listener that all the other kids with "pumped up kicks" better run faster than Robert's gun. In the second verse, we learn that the singer's father works long hours and brings home a surprise, dinner packed in ice. The singer has been waiting a long time and has now become the one with the "quick pull trigger," reasoning with his cigarette and accusing someone of "losing their wits."
It's almost impossible to miss the warning and frightening thoughts behind these lyrics, that someone is going to perform an act of violence. The phrase "pumped up kicks" likely refers to designer footwear that is considered trendy and popular, but the song portrays them in a more ominous light - as a symbol of privilege and a target for violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Robert's got a quick hand
Robert is skilled and adept at handling objects quickly.
He'll look around the room, he won't tell you his plan
He's observing his surroundings, but keeping his intentions hidden.
He's got a rolled cigarette
He has a lit cigarette in his mouth.
Hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid
He's casually smoking and seems to have a rebellious, carefree attitude.
Yeah found a six shooter gun
Robert discovered a revolver.
In his dad's closet, oh in a box of fun things
The revolver was hidden away among unrelated objects in the father's closet.
I don't even know what
The singer of the song is unaware of what else was in that box.
But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you
Robert intends to use the revolver against someone.
Daddy works a long day
The father works a full and tiring schedule.
He be coming home late, and he's coming home late
The father comes home very late from work.
And he's bringing me a surprise
The father has a gift or present as a surprise for the singer.
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice
The father brought home dinner that needs to be refrigerated.
I've waited for a long time
The singer has been eagerly awaiting this moment.
Yeah the sleight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger
The singer now sees his manual dexterity and quick reflexes as an advantage to using a firearm.
I reason with my cigarette
The singer justifies his actions with reflection while smoking a cigarette.
And say your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah
The artist taunts his victims, suggesting they are panicked and unable to react.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
The other young people around him are confident and assertive.
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
The singer forewarns his potential targets that they need to run quickly to escape his firearm.
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
The singer predicts that he will fire his gun if they don't outrun him.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
The same as above
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
The same as above
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
The same as above
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
The same as above
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
The same as above
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
The same as above
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
The same as above
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
The same as above
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
The same as above
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
The same as above
You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
The same as above
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
The same as above
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mark Derek Foster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@foxthep
โ@@billy4734
ะญะผะฐะปะธัะพะฒะฐะฝะฝะพะต ััะดะฝะพ
ะะบะพัะบะพ, ััะผะฑะพัะบะฐ, ะบัะพะฒะฐัั
ะะธัั ััะถะตะปะพ ะธ ะฝะตัััะฝะพ
ะะฐัะพ ัััะฝะพ ัะผะธัะฐัั
ะญะผะฐะปะธัะพะฒะฐะฝะฝะพะต ััะดะฝะพ
ะะบะพัะบะพ, ััะผะฑะพัะบะฐ, ะบัะพะฒะฐัั
ะะธัั ััะถะตะปะพ ะธ ะฝะตัััะฝะพ
ะะฐัะพ ัััะฝะพ ัะผะธัะฐัั
ะ ัะธั ะพ ะบะฐะฟะฐะตั ะธะท ะบัะฐะฝะฐ
ะ ะถะธะทะฝั ัะฐััััะฟะฐะฝะฐ, ะบะฐะบ ะฑะปัะดั
ะัั ะพะดะธั ะบะฐะบ ะฑั ะธะท ััะผะฐะฝะฐ
ะ ะฒะธะดะธั: ััะผะฑะพัะบะฐ, ะบัะพะฒะฐัั
ะ ั ะฟััะฐััั ะฟัะธะฟะพะดะฝััััั
ะฅะพัั ะฒ ะณะปะฐะทะฐ ะตะน ะฟะพะณะปัะดะตัั
ะะทะณะปัะฝััั ะฒ ะณะปะฐะทะฐ ะธ ัะฐะทััะดะฐัััั
ะ ะฝะธะบะพะณะดะฐ ะฝะต ัะผะตัะตัั, ะฝะธะบะพะณะดะฐ ะฝะต ัะผะตัะตัั
ะะธะบะพะณะดะฐ ะฝะต ัะผะตัะตัั
ะะธะบะพะณะดะฐ ะฝะต ัะผะตัะตัั
ะะธะบะพะณะดะฐ ะฝะต ัะผะตัะตัั
ะะธะบะพะณะดะฐ ะฝะต ัะผะตัะตัั
ะญะผะฐะปะธัะพะฒะฐะฝะฝะพะต ััะดะฝะพ
ะะบะพัะบะพ, ััะผะฑะพัะบะฐ, ะบัะพะฒะฐัั
ะะธัั ััะถะตะปะพ ะธ ะฝะตัััะฝะพ
ะะฐัะพ ัััะฝะพ ัะผะธัะฐัั
ะญะผะฐะปะธัะพะฒะฐะฝะฝะพะต ััะดะฝะพ
ะะบะพัะบะพ, ััะผะฑะพัะบะฐ, ะบัะพะฒะฐัั
ะะธัั ััะถะตะปะพ ะธ ะฝะตัััะฝะพ
ะะฐัะพ ัััะฝะพ ัะผะธัะฐัั
@7clouds
What brand are your favorite kicks? Mine are Nike ๐
@GKPYR
Probably Nike
@awaiskhan4661
Jordans shoes
@AvenOfStratagems
Diadora
@tatianavelasco1335
Skechers
@rumeysabakr5362
Black White Nฤฑke๐
@jsrsnz
For anyone whose confused about the meaning of this song, he wasnโt joking/ promoting school shootings, he was raising an awareness of them. He was trying to raise concern about the topic, not encourage it.
@L0vey_ducks
Yea
@pedgarage
Oh.
Ooooh damn... ๐
@TwistedGlitter
Thanks. I thought it was about a kid running from a group of bullies because I couldn't hear the words clearly. Seeing the lyrics plus your explanation makes much more sense