Combining elements of Rap, Folk and Indie, the two men have created a superb thinking man's melodic hip hop record. Songs range from the happy pop like chorus of '21st Century Pop Song' and the minimal sadness of 'Lightning Bolts and Man Hands'.
21st Century Pop Song
Hymie's Basement Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A set of bones gone quietly still.
And in a lab under every flag right now,
Some one's splitting atoms and inventing new breakfast cerals in the shape of their nation's borders
And drawing brand new maps, discreetly expanding their nation's borders
(chorus): It's root root root for the home team
Shout like yoru dad at the TV screen
The fee to flee what you can't see
Yo, I agree with glee with me
Somebody told me when the bomb hits
Everybody in a 2-mile radius will be instantly sublimated,
But if you lay face down on the ground for some time,
Avoiding the residual ripples of heat, you might survive,
Permantly fucked up and twisted like you're always underwater refracted
But if you do go gas, there's nothing you can do when the air that was once you
Is mingled and mashed with the kicked-up molecules of the enemy's former body
Big-kid-tested, motherfucker approved.
(chorus)
You put your life in the hands of the highway designers, your stride an unforseen side effect of the urban planner realized bluepreint dream.
Our font's bigger than your font. Our font- so straight, so legible, and tall and impentrable, like a fortress, like a column, a skyscraper. Our found with crush your font. We like our font just fine. One font under god under god under god
(chorus)
The song "21st Century Pop Song" by Hymie's Basement talks about the paradoxical aspects of the modern world. The first verse describes the destructive power of technology, which can lead to the annihilation of human beings, reducing them to piles of flesh and bones. At the same time, nations are performing scientific and technological advancements, expanding their boundaries and establishing their cultural identities with the invention of items like breakfast cereal.
The chorus seems to be commenting on the desensitization of our culture towards violence and destruction. The lines, "root root root for the home team; shout like your dad at the TV screen," suggest that we have become passive spectators and cheerleaders for events that could potentially destroy us. The final sentence, "The fee to flee what you can't see; Yo, I agree with glee with me," suggests that we've become numb to risks and danger, blindly accepting events like the violence that can come with sporting events, and agreeing with it.
The second verse continues to address the consequences of technological advancement in the modern world. Discussing the effects of a bombing, the song notes that even if you survive, it will result in major physical deformation. The song concludes with a comment on modern design, comparing the power of fonts to the power of military prowess, as a way of suggesting that design, and ultimately, culture, can be just as destructive as weapons.
Line by Line Meaning
The one true resolve of the flame and the bullet is a pile of flesh like an unmanned puppet;
Violence only results in destruction of human life, leaving behind a lifeless and helpless body.
A set of bones gone quietly still.
The aftermath of violent action leads to silent, lifeless remains.
And in a lab under every flag right now,
Some one's splitting atoms and inventing new breakfast cerals in the shape of their nation's borders
And drawing brand new maps, discreetly expanding their nation's borders
In labs across the world, new scientific advancements and cultural expressions are shaping nations and territories, often through clandestine means.
(chorus): It's root root root for the home team
Shout like yoru dad at the TV screen
Tie a dollar bill around a circus flea
The fee to flee what you can't see
Yo, I agree with glee with me
The chorus uses tongue-in-cheek imagery and playful language to suggest the absurdity of blindly supporting a patriotic cause or idolizing celebrity culture.
Somebody told me when the bomb hits
Everybody in a 2-mile radius will be instantly sublimated,
But if you lay face down on the ground for some time,
Avoiding the residual ripples of heat, you might survive,
Permantly fucked up and twisted like you're always underwater refracted
But if you do go gas, there's nothing you can do when the air that was once you
Is mingled and mashed with the kicked-up molecules of the enemy's former body
Big-kid-tested, motherfucker approved.
The song describes the gruesome and hopeless effects of nuclear war and chemical attacks, with a sarcastic tone towards those advocating for these destructive forces.
You put your life in the hands of the highway designers, your stride an unforseen side effect of the urban planner realized bluepreint dream.
The song critiques the ways in which societal structures and infrastructure shape our daily lives, often without our awareness or consent.
Our font's bigger than your font. Our font- so straight, so legible, and tall and impentrable, like a fortress, like a column, a skyscraper. Our found with crush your font. We like our font just fine. One font under god under god under god
The song uses the concept of typeface design to comment on national pride, suggesting that even the style of a country's lettering can be a powerful tool for conveying strength and superiority over neighboring nations.
(chorus)
The chorus repeats, highlighting the song's overall tone of ironic commentary on patriotism, technology, and societal norms.
Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.