Five Iron Frenzy started as a local side-project of Reese, Keith, Micah, and Scott's band Exhumator. Although the original intent was for the band to stay local and help support the local music scene, Five Iron Frenzy (FIF, or Five Iron) signed to Frank Tate's 5 Minute Walk records in 1995 and was touring nationally within a year. They reached the peak of their fame around 2000, with the release of All The Hype That Money Can Buy. They were known for dressing up in wacky costumes and fundraising for social causes. In December 2002, they announced that they would be breaking up after a final tour. They played the final show of the tour on November 22, 2003 at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, which was recorded for The End Is Here (disc 2) (this disc features that show in its entirety and was sold with the band's album, The End is Near). This show had an attendance of over 4,000 people.
On November 22, 2011, they announced via social media outlets and a week-long online scavenger hunt that they were recording a new album. The entire project was crowd funded in under an hour and met with a reunion show and touring. The results of the endeavor, Engine of a Million Plots, was released on November 26th, 2013. All members of the 2003 lineup participated in the project, with the exception of bassist Keith Hoerig, who was replaced by original guitarist Scott Kerr (who had left the band in 1998).
American Kryptonite
Five Iron Frenzy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
his trigger finger clicks remotes, as carbohydrates slowly bloat.
not fragile, or brittle. he's seeking an acquittal.
no scruples, no meekness, he has but one great weakness.
all the world must have a price,
save yourself from sacrifice,
everything will end alright,
his might hands will hardly fail, his intellect is barely frail,
he moves his lips in perfect sync, demanding an espresso drink.
with passion, he searches, he'll make another purchase.
familiar you know him, he's saying that you owe him.
it was like the manifest destiny all over again, except,
instead of taking and consuming everything in their paths for god,
they did so with the same fervor
and sense of entitlement for their new god...themselves.
buy, take, break, throw it away.
The lyrics of "American Kryptonite" by Five Iron Frenzy seem to be a critique of the consumerist culture of contemporary America, particularly focusing on the shallow values and excesses associated with this lifestyle. The song characterizes an individual who is the embodiment of this culture, who is powerful and seemingly invincible on the surface but deeply flawed and vulnerable underneath. He is able to control others with ease through his technological devices and his consumption habits, which are depicted as self-destructive (carbohydrates slowly bloat). However, he is ultimately seeking redemption and acquittal from his morally questionable behavior, though he lacks the humility to admit his own weaknesses and mistakes.
The song also critiques the wider societal values that have led to this situation, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth and material goods has become an end in itself, divorced from any sense of morality or social responsibility. The repeated refrain of "all the world must have a price" emphasizes this theme, as the song seems to imply that everything is ultimately for sale in this culture. The final lines of the song present a bleak and cynical view of this system, as the singer suggests that American society has become a destructive force akin to the Manifest Destiny of colonialism, demanding more and more without regard for the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
he is the icon of our times, solution to our modern crimes.
He represents the epitome of our era and is supposed to solve all contemporary problems.
his trigger finger clicks remotes, as carbohydrates slowly bloat.
He spends his days zapping through TV channels and consuming unhealthy food, eventually leading to weight gain.
not fragile, or brittle. he's seeking an acquittal.
He appears confident and strong, but is actually trying to justify his actions and seeking forgiveness for his wrongdoings.
no scruples, no meekness, he has but one great weakness.
He has no morals or humility, but is vulnerable to his one major flaw.
all the world must have a price, save yourself from sacrifice, everything will end alright, american kryptonite
People are willing to pay any cost to have what they want, even if it means not sacrificing anything, and they believe everything will be okay with the influence of American culture.
his might hands will hardly fail, his intellect is barely frail, he moves his lips in perfect sync, demanding an espresso drink.
He rarely fails physically or mentally, and can convincingly demand what he wants without needing to explain himself thoroughly.
with passion, he searches, he'll make another purchase.
He has an insatiable appetite for shopping, and is always looking for something to buy.
familiar you know him, he's saying that you owe him.
You know someone like him, who always demands things from you and expects you to pay him back.
it was like the manifest destiny all over again, except, instead of taking and consuming everything in their paths for god, they did so with the same fervor and sense of entitlement for their new god...themselves.
People continue to be just as greedy and entitled towards fulfilling their personal desires as they were in the era of Manifest Destiny, but they now idolize themselves instead of a higher power.
buy, take, break, throw it away.
People buy things they don't need, use them up quickly or break them, and then discard them without a second thought.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mr_Dragon
Anyone else here because they keep pulling songs from Spotify? :(
Bob Jones
oh thats why i cant fund it lmao
Pop Punk'd
Yes 😎😜