The track received considerable attention after it was posted online in 2010 as a free download, and it helped the group garner a multi-album record deal with Columbia Records imprint Startime International. "Pumped Up Kicks" proved to be a sleeper hit; in 2011, after receiving significant airplay on modern rock stations, the song crossed-over onto contemporary hit radio stations. The song spent eight consecutive weeks at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, making it the first Billboard Alternative Songs number-one single to crack the U.S. top 5 since Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" in 2009. The song was widely praised by critics, and it has been licensed for use in a wide range of popular media since its release. "Pumped Up Kicks" received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
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 kicksYou'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 Foster the People's song "Pumped Up Kicks" tell the story of a troubled teenager who has found a gun in his father's closet and is now planning to use it. The first verse introduces us to Robert, who is described as a "cowboy kid" with a "quick hand." He has a gun and a cigarette, and the singer warns that he's coming for someone, although we don't know who yet. The chorus then repeats the phrase "all the other kids with the pumped up kicks," implying that there are other kids who might be in danger as well.
The second verse brings in another character, the singer's father, who works long hours and comes home late with a surprise. The surprise turns out to be food that's "packed in ice," suggesting that the father might work in a profession that requires him to transport perishable goods. The singer then reveals that they've been "waiting for a long time" and that their "slight of hand is now a quick pull trigger." It's clear that they've been planning to use the gun for some time, and the reference to "slight of hand" suggests that they've been practicing with it.
The chorus repeats multiple times throughout the song, adding a sense of urgency and danger to the narrative. The repetition of the phrase "you'd better run, better run" implies that the singer is chasing someone and that they need to get away quickly. Overall, the lyrics to "Pumped Up Kicks" tell a dark story about youth violence and the consequences of access to firearms.
Line by Line Meaning
Robert's got a quick hand
Robert is quick on the draw
He'll look around the room, he won't tell you his plan
Robert is secretive
He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid
Robert is smoking and acting tough
Yeah found a six shooter gun
Robert has found a gun
In his dad's closet hidden oh in a box of fun things, I don't even know what
Robert found the gun in his dad's closet among other items
But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you
Robert is planning to use the gun on someone
Daddy works a long day
Robert's father works long hours
He be coming home late, he's coming home late
Robert's father comes home late
And he's bringing me a surprise
Robert's father is bringing him a surprise
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice
Robert's father has brought home a frozen dinner
I've waited for a long time
Robert has been waiting for a long time
Yeah the slight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger
Robert is now skilled with a gun
I reason with my cigarette
Robert is smoking to calm himself down
And say your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah
Robert is taunting his victim
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
All the other kids who are wearing trendy shoes
You'd better run, better run, out run my gun
Robert is threatening them with his gun
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
Robert is warning them to run faster than his bullet
Lyrics Ā© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Mark Derek Foster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ardripstar4675
Lyrics: dark asf
Song: happy asf
@itzyoboiidee8505
You got that from that Instagram post didnāt you
@ardripstar4675
Yhhhh never knew it until thenšš
@LollOl-ps4yy
ARDRIPSTAR ? School: dead af
@ardripstar4675
Loll Ol all my life I thought this song was up-filling. I WAS WRONG.
@linkskywalker5417
@@ardripstar4675 Unless the perspective the song is portraying is that of someone who enjoys killing so much that the song sounds happy to symbolize his sick enjoyment in killing described by the lyrics.
@kohenstoke5758
Me: Why is your bag so heavy, is it full of books?
Quiet Kid: Naw, magazines..
@HaXaW5150
That's funny and sick at the same time.
@violettethekawaii9417
Y'all i saw this 7 times and as a 15 year old im confused
@pudding8829
@@violettethekawaii9417 Magazines can be referred as those advertisement books, but they're also these things that hold gun bullets, so basically, this person asked the quiet kid if he had any books in his backpack, but he said he only had magazines. Anyone would think he meant "advertisement books" but he meant "gun bullet holders".