"Pumped Up Kicks" is a song by American indie pop band Foster the People. I… Read Full Bio ↴"Pumped Up Kicks" is a song by American indie pop band Foster the People. It was released as the group's debut single in September 2010, and the following year was included on their EP Foster the People and their debut album, Torches. "Pumped Up Kicks" became the group's breakthrough hit and was one of the most popular songs of 2011. The song was written and recorded by frontman Mark Foster while he was working as a commercial jingle writer. Contrasting with the upbeat musical composition, the lyrics describe the homicidal thoughts of a troubled youth.

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 ↴

Robert's got a quick hand
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 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

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to this song, Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People, present a disturbing narrative of a young boy, Robert, who has access to a gun and plans to use it on his classmates. The first verse describes Robert's preparation as he smokes a rolled cigarette and finds a six-shooter gun in his dad's closet. The chorus then warns the listener that all the other kids with "pumped up kicks" better run faster than Robert's gun. In the second verse, we learn that the singer's father works long hours and brings home a surprise, dinner packed in ice. The singer has been waiting a long time and has now become the one with the "quick pull trigger," reasoning with his cigarette and accusing someone of "losing their wits."

It's almost impossible to miss the warning and frightening thoughts behind these lyrics, that someone is going to perform an act of violence. The phrase "pumped up kicks" likely refers to designer footwear that is considered trendy and popular, but the song portrays them in a more ominous light - as a symbol of privilege and a target for violence.

Line by Line Meaning

Robert's got a quick hand
Robert is skilled and adept at handling objects quickly.

He'll look around the room, he won't tell you his plan
He's observing his surroundings, but keeping his intentions hidden.

He's got a rolled cigarette
He has a lit cigarette in his mouth.

Hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid
He's casually smoking and seems to have a rebellious, carefree attitude.

Yeah found a six shooter gun
Robert discovered a revolver.

In his dad's closet, oh in a box of fun things
The revolver was hidden away among unrelated objects in the father's closet.

I don't even know what
The singer of the song is unaware of what else was in that box.

But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you
Robert intends to use the revolver against someone.

Daddy works a long day
The father works a full and tiring schedule.

He be coming home late, and he's coming home late
The father comes home very late from work.

And he's bringing me a surprise
The father has a gift or present as a surprise for the singer.

'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice
The father brought home dinner that needs to be refrigerated.

I've waited for a long time
The singer has been eagerly awaiting this moment.

Yeah the sleight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger
The singer now sees his manual dexterity and quick reflexes as an advantage to using a firearm.

I reason with my cigarette
The singer justifies his actions with reflection while smoking a cigarette.

And say your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah
The artist taunts his victims, suggesting they are panicked and unable to react.

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
The other young people around him are confident and assertive.

You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
The singer forewarns his potential targets that they need to run quickly to escape his firearm.

You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
The singer predicts that he will fire his gun if they don't outrun him.

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
The same as above

You'd better run, better run, outrun my gun
The same as above

You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet
The same as above