The song's name is actually "Pioneers", the band have stated it was due to an error printing the album covers that it was called "The Pioneers".
A cover of this song was later released by bands such as the Mystery Jets and Tunng.
the video was made by the company "mini vegas" and directed by aoife mcardle
The Pioneers
Bloc Party Lyrics
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It's all under control
If it can be lost then it can be won, if it can be touched then it can be turned
All you need is time
We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?
A sense of purpose and a sense of skill, a sense of function but a disregard
You said you were going to conquer new frontiers,
Go stick your bloody head in the jaws of the beast
We promised the world, we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?
Breath in, breath out
So here we are reinventing the wheel
I'm shaking hands with a hurricane
It's a colour that I can't describe,
It's a language I can't understand
Ambition, tearing out the heart of you
Carving lines into you
Dripping down the sides of you
We will not be the last.
Bloc Party's "The Pioneers" is a thought-provoking song about humanity's insatiable desire to control everything around them. The song begins with the lines "If it can be broke then it can be fixed, if it can be fused then it can be split, it's all under control." This gives the impression that humanity believes they have the power to control everything, from splitting atoms to mending broken hearts. The lyrics then go on to say that if something can be lost, it can also be won, and if it can be touched, it can be turned, alluding to the idea that everything is within our reach.
The chorus of the song is where the true meaning of the lyrics comes out. It is apparent that humanity has promised to tame the world, but the lyrics ask "what were we hoping for?" This suggests that we have forgotten humility in our desire for control. The lyrics then talk about ambition, and how it can tear "out the heart of you" and "carve lines into you." This imagery evokes the idea that our need for control and power can come at a great cost to ourselves.
The final lines of the song drive home the message that humanity's need for control is never-ending. "We will not be the first, we won't. You said you were going to conquer new frontiers, go stick your bloody head in the jaws of the beast. We promised the world, we'd tame it, what were we hoping for? Breath in, breath out." These lines suggest that humanity will always strive to be explorers, seeking new frontiers to conquer, and that we must remember to take a breath and appreciate what we already have.
Line by Line Meaning
If it can be broke then it can be fixed, if it can be fused then it can be split
Anything that can be broken is repairable, and anything that can be fused is also separable
It's all under control
We are confident that we have the situation under control
If it can be lost then it can be won, if it can be touched then it can be turned
Anything that can be lost can also be won, and anything that can be touched can also be manipulated
All you need is time
Given enough time, anything can be achieved
We promised the world we'd tame it, what were we hoping for?
Why did we believe that we could tame the world?
A sense of purpose and a sense of skill, a sense of function but a disregard
We have the knowledge and ability to achieve our goals, but we lack proper motivation
We will not be the first, we won't
We are not the first to attempt this, and we won't be the last
You said you were going to conquer new frontiers, Go stick your bloody head in the jaws of the beast
You claimed to be a trailblazer, so go face the dangers of the unknown
Breath in, breath out
Take a deep breath and relax
So here we are reinventing the wheel
We are trying to redo something that has already been done before
I'm shaking hands with a hurricane
I am facing an unstoppable force that is tearing everything apart
It's a colour that I can't describe, It's a language I can't understand
This is something that I cannot comprehend or express properly
Ambition, tearing out the heart of you, Carving lines into you, Dripping down the sides of you
The desire to succeed can be both motivating and damaging
We will not be the last
Our attempts will inspire others to follow in our footsteps
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gordon Moakes, Kele Okereke, Matt Tong, Russell Lissack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind