Are You What You Want to Be?
Foster the People Lyrics


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I woke up on Champs-Élysées to the Djembe of Ghana
A fine lady from Belize said "You got the spirit of a Fela"
A young one dripping make-up put her hands out to holla
I gave her what I got but couldn't handle her broken heart
The right words in the hands of dissidents with the fire
Will rip apart the marrow from the bone of the liars
Well I'm afraid of saying too much and ending a martyr
But even more so I'm afraid to face god and say I was a coward, yeah

Will all these things I wait for revelation
These things make me want to duck for cover
With all these things I wait for revolution
These things ask the biggest question to me
And it's are you what you want to be
So are you what you want to be?

The war machines will put out both its hands for a dollar
It's drinking at the table with the chrome hand guerrillas
The young ones dripping make-up lift her leg up to holla
Well, I told her what she's got should be protected in the arms of love
The right things in the hands of dissidents with the fire
Will rip apart the marrow from the bone of the liars
Well I'm afraid of saying too much and ending a martyr
But even more so I'm afraid to face god and say I was a coward

Will all these things I wait for revelation
These things make me want to duck for cover
With all these things I wait for revolution
These things ask the biggest question to me
And it's are you what you want to be
So are you what you want to be?

Are you what you want to be

Are you what you want to be
Are you what you want to be?




Are you what you want to be
Are you what you want to be?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Foster the People's song "Are You What You Want to Be" express an existential crisis about personal identity and purpose in a world full of societal and political issues. The song begins with the singer waking up in a foreign location to the sound of African drums and receiving compliments from strangers about his inner spirit. Despite this, he feels he cannot handle the broken heart of a woman he encounters. The second verse talks about the corrupt nature of war and politics, where money and power override morality and the value of human life, and how that affects the youth.


The chorus poses the question, "are you what you want to be?" It reflects the uncertainty that the singer feels about his place in the world and the direction he wants his life to take. He is waiting for a revelation or revolution, something that will help him make sense of the chaos around him and give him a sense of purpose.


Overall, the song can be interpreted as a call to action and self-reflection. The singer is grappling with moral dilemmas and societal issues, and he encourages listeners to do the same. The use of African drums and references to Fela Kuti, a Nigerian musician and activist, suggest a connection to African culture and its history of fighting against injustice.


Line by Line Meaning

I woke up on Champs-Élysées to the Djembe of Ghana
I woke up in a place of luxury and beauty, surrounded by the rhythm of an African drum


A fine lady from Belize said "You got the spirit of a Fela"
A woman from Belize praised my energy and creativity by comparing me to the Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti


A young one dripping make-up put her hands out to holla
A young woman wearing makeup and seeking attention reached out to me


I gave her what I got but couldn't handle her broken heart
I tried to comfort her but couldn't fix her emotional pain


The right words in the hands of dissidents with the fire
The power of words can be used by activists who are passionate and rebellious


Will rip apart the marrow from the bone of the liars
Words can expose and weaken those who deceive and manipulate others


Well I'm afraid of saying too much and ending a martyr
I'm concerned that speaking out too strongly may put me at risk of persecution or death


But even more so I'm afraid to face god and say I was a coward, yeah
But I'm even more afraid of facing judgement from a higher power and admitting that I didn't live up to my potential


Will all these things I wait for revelation
I'm hoping for a moment of clarity that reveals the truth about myself and the world


These things make me want to duck for cover
These thoughts and experiences make me want to protect myself and retreat from the world


With all these things I wait for revolution
Despite my fears, I still hope for a significant change in society and the world


These things ask the biggest question to me
These experiences and uncertainties force me to confront the most important question about myself


And it's are you what you want to be
Am I living up to my own desires and aspirations for myself?


So are you what you want to be?
This question is directed both to oneself and to the listener, asking if we are truly living our best lives


The war machines will put out both its hands for a dollar
Industries involved in war and violence prioritize profit above all else, regardless of the consequences


It's drinking at the table with the chrome hand guerrillas
It's as if these powerful entities are casually enjoying their wealth and status while controlling others with an iron fist


The young ones dripping make-up lift her leg up to holla
Still, there are young people seeking attention and approval through physical appearance and behavior


Well, I told her what she's got should be protected in the arms of love
I tried to encourage her to value herself and to find someone who would truly care for her




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GREG KURSTIN, MARK FOSTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Loginnamufc

I woke up on Champs-Élysées to the Djembe of Ghana
A fine lady from Belize said "You got the spirit of a Fela"
A young one dripping make-up put her hands out to holla
I gave her what I got but couldn't handle her broken heart
The right words in the hands of dissidents with the fire
Will rip apart the marrow from the bone of the liars
Well I'm afraid of saying too much and ending a martyr
But even more so I'm afraid to face god and say I was a coward, yeah

Will all these things I wait for revelation
These things make me want to duck for cover
With all these things I wait for revolution
These things ask the biggest question to me
And it's are you what you want to be
So are you what you want to be?

The war machines will put out both its hands for a dollar
It's drinking at the table with the chrome hand guerrillas

The young ones dripping make-up lift her leg up to holla
Well, I told her what she's got should be protected in the arms of love
The right things in the hands of dissidents with the fire
Will rip apart the marrow from the bone of the liars
Well I'm afraid of saying too much and ending a martyr
But even more so I'm afraid to face god and say I was a coward

Will all these things I wait for revelation
These things make me want to duck for cover
With all these things I wait for revolution
These things ask the biggest question to me
And it's are you what you want to be
So are you what you want to be?

Are you what you want to be

Are you what you want to be
Are you what you want to be?
Are you what you want to be
Are you what you want to be?



All comments from YouTube:

@fpl_bailey

Still gets me returning to this song after all these years. Fifa 15 gem!

@AquasVII

FIFA 15 was the shit bro..

@criggall1874

@Aquas VII bruh fifa 15 was legendary the peak of my childhood

@AquasVII

@ConnorAVFC wrd!

@manchesterunited5614

It gives the nostalgia and what a hit!

@88srt

I remember bidding on Messi with this song ☹️

4 More Replies...

@daviddanielian9525

This is by far the most underrated song and the most underrated band in existance

@cooscoos9989

Look at it this way...

If they we're as popular as people like Minaj and Iggy they'd just produce crap auto tuned meaningless music like most things mainstream...

@daviddanielian9525

Marise Corrigan hmmm... good point but I think it is more their style of music than the actual band that is underated

@quando9226

Le Dinkie Not the most underrated band. They have a pretty sizeable amount of fans, check out their FB page.

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