Ryan Met explained in a Spotify Track-by-Track Commentary episode:
"The production is definitely my favorite on the album. I think we definitely took inspiration from Kanye (West)’s "Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy". In terms of production, it’s the kind of huge 808 drums under an opera, a lot of minor chords. I think what makes the song really cool is that the lyrics and melody feel really hand in hand with the production. I can’t think of any other production with this story we’re telling!"
In a past YouTube live stream, “Breaking down the production of Karma & Pitchfork Kids” on the brothers' official channel, Ryan explained the thought process of this song and even went into detail on the production of the song itself.
Around forty minutes in, Ryan says
"I think we like to go back and say “Pitchfork Kids” would be probably our favorite song from Living Room… Lyrically, writing a song about pitchfork.com was kind of a big deal for us. We wrote it about how we were coming to grips with ‘ok, AJR is a certain kind of band for a certain kind of people, wait that’s a good thing’. We have people that care about us. We don’t need to be the coolest band."
Pitchfork Kids
AJR Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's gotta have it, gotta have it oh with her hipster friends
Ooh, ooh, she's the rough and the rowdiest kid
Ooh, ooh, and there's more where she lives
And why should I spend time running for my life?
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
The moon is upon us, gaining on us
She's crossed there, to stay
We had to part, couldn't break her heart 'cause their blood pumps through her veins
Ooh, ooh, she's the rough and the rowdiest kid
Ooh, ooh, and there's more where she lives
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
Ooh
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
The lyrics of AJR's "Pitchfork Kids" talk about a girl whom the singer once knew, but he couldn't keep her, and her wild spirit is now with her hipster friends. The singer is not running away from her or her group of friends, despite the fact that others might. He and his group are "not the pitchfork kids," and they're not afraid of anything. They sing the same song, despite their fears.
The chorus repeats the notion that they're not afraid of the pitchfork kids, and that their lives are lonely, but this loneliness doesn't scare them. They're not running away from it, and they embrace it. They know that they're singing the same song as everyone else, and they don't need a pitchfork to do it.
Overall, the meaning of the song is that the group of people that AJR is representing is not afraid of judgment, danger, or social pressure. They're not running from their fears, and they embrace their individuality. In the end, the bond that they share and their willingness to push back against societal norms and rules make them stronger and more resilient.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't know her, couldn't hold her, bones didn't settle in
The singer didn't know this girl well, and there was no real chemistry between them.
She's gotta have it, gotta have it oh with her hipster friends
The girl is obsessed with fitting in with her hipster friends and being trendy.
Ooh, ooh, she's the rough and the rowdiest kid
The girl is rebellious and wild.
Ooh, ooh, and there's more where she lives
There are more people like her in her area or social circle.
And why should I spend time running for my life?
The singer doesn't want to waste his time trying to impress or keep up with the girl or her clique.
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
No matter what happens or what others say, the singer will still stick to his beliefs and values.
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
The singer acknowledges that he and others who think like him are not accepted by the girl and her group, but they're not bothered by it.
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live
The singer recognizes that being different comes with a sense of isolation and loneliness.
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
Despite the pressure to conform and fit in, the singer and his friends refuse to join the girl and her group of trendy hipsters.
The moon is upon us, gaining on us
Time is running out, things are changing quickly, and the situation is becoming more urgent.
She's crossed there, to stay
The girl has made her choice to stay with her hipster friends and lifestyle.
We had to part, couldn't break her heart 'cause their blood pumps through her veins
The singer had to part ways with the girl because he knows she would never truly fit in with him and his friends, as their values and beliefs are different.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Adam Brett Metzger, Jack Evan Metzger, Ryan Joshua Metzger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ernad395
[Verse 1]
I didn't know her, couldn't hold her
Bones didn't settle in
She's gotta have it, gotta have it
Oh, with her hipster friends
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh oh, she's the rough and the rowdiest kid
Oh oh, and there's more where she lives
[Chorus]
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Oh oh, it's the loneliest life that we live
Oh oh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
[Verse 2]
The moon is upon us, gaining on us
She's crossed there, to stay
We had to part, couldn't break her heart 'cause their blood pumps through her veins
[Pre-Chorus]
Oh oh, she's the rough and the rowdiest kid
Oh oh, and there's more where she lives
[Chorus]
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Oh oh, it's the loneliest life that we live
Oh oh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
[Outro]
And why should I spend time running for my life?
It's the loneliest life that we live
We're not running with the pitchfork kids
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Oh oh, it's the loneliest life that we live
Oh oh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
@isaacsanchezcomedy
Lyrics: I didn't know her, couldn't hold her, bones didn't settle in
She's gotta have it, gotta have it oh with her hipster friends
Ooh, ooh, she's the rough and the rowdiest kid.
Ooh, ooh, and there's more where she lives.
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live.
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
The moon is upon us, gaining on us.
She's crossed there, to stay.
We had to part, couldn't break her heart 'cause their blood pumps through her veins
Ooh, ooh, she's the rough and the rowdiest kid.
Ooh, ooh, and there's more where she lives
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live.
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
Ooh
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live.
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
@shrimpfried7530
Pitchfork Kids
AJR
I didn't know her, couldn't hold her, bones didn't settle in
She's gotta have it, gotta have it oh with her hipster friends
Ooh, ooh, she's the rough and the rowdiest kid.
Ooh, ooh, and there's more where she lives.
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live.
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
The moon is upon us, gaining on us.
She's crossed there, to stay.
We had to part, couldn't break her heart 'cause their blood pumps through her veins
Ooh, ooh, she's the rough and the rowdiest kid.
Ooh, ooh, and there's more where she lives
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live.
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
Ooh
And why should I spend time running for my life?
And when the skies are open, we'll still be singing this
I know they're coming for me, we're not the pitchfork kids
Ooh, ooh, it's the loneliest life that we live.
Ooh, ooh, we're not running with the pitchfork kids
@justclownin7574
This is AJR's strangest song. Like its good yes, but it somehow mysteriously becomes people's favorite...
@csheeto
JustClownin lmao no Thirsty is probably their weirdest song, they even said that in the description of the Thirsty MV. (But it's ok I still love their songs no matter how weird.)
@kayleeteixeira6973
CyanAttack lol I was just about to say that XD
@avabeop
ikr i love i tho
@xZexionIenzox
it's just eternally in my head lately
@kidweird2093
m0thwings same
@bronzeowlbooks563
adds to Halloween playlist
@phishboots8897
right??
@arwensperry6463
TRUTH
@yourdailydoseofdumb
doots in E sharp