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 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
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
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
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
Lyrics ยฉ 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 didnโt you
@ardripstar4675
Yhhhh never knew it until then๐๐
@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".