The band gained recognition in the United Kingdom and United States during 2006 and 2007 due to the success of their single "Young Folks", whilst staying virtually unknown in their homeland, Sweden.
100 M Of Hurdles
Peter Bjorn and John Lyrics
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-"Work is the essence of life!"
We can't accept that it will stay there,
With me rubbing my hands against my temple,
And the laughing at something funny beyond
To be oh so sarcastic doesn't work every hour,
Every hour of the year
Like the rest of us, -"Be kind be real or get out of my sight"
It's hard to carry those facts,
Especially when they're either fiction
Or standardized moralities
Like 100 meters of hurdles
Have distance to the subject that matters,
Strangle common lies in case
I'm not reciting from an already existing tragedy
Catch me lying down, playing dead and buried
Or dig me up when I'm really gone
It's favourable when it lies,
But it's not like your wrestling partner
You can't walk out and kick it down,
Like 100 meters of hurdles
You'll have to shuffle small talk to pin it down
I'm sarcastic and reply in that manner,
But I can't get to the point
Why should the underdog, even take his brushes out
When they already play duets from the western canon,
By Krishna and the west wind, there in something funny
Beyond, something funny beyond
The song "100 M Of Hurdles" by Peter Bjorn and John is a reflection on the complexities of life and the struggles that come with it. The opening lyrics set the tone for the song, with the singer hearing his own steps echoing in the woods and pondering the essence of work in life. The song then goes on to explore the idea that it's difficult to carry the facts and truths of life, especially when they're obscured by lies or "standardized moralities" like the hurdles of a race. The singer acknowledges their own sarcasm, but struggles to get to the point and make sense of the world around them.
The lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and futility, as the singer grapples with the challenges of life and their own inability to make sense of it. The idea of "something funny beyond" suggests a sense of humor or irony in the absurdities of life, but it's also a reminder that there's always more to the story than what's on the surface. The closing lines, with references to Krishna and the western canon, suggest the idea of cultural and spiritual dissonance, as the singer struggles to reconcile conflicting traditions and beliefs.
Line by Line Meaning
I can hear my own stpes echoing in the woods
I am alone with my thoughts and contemplating about life.
-"Work is the essence of life!"
Working hard is crucial to living a good life.
We can't accept that it will stay there,
We can't be content with just staying still - we must continue to progress.
With me rubbing my hands against my temple,
I am stressed and trying to think of a solution to a problem.
And the laughing at something funny beyond
Despite my stress, I find joy and humor in life.
To be oh so sarcastic doesn't work every hour,
Being sarcastic is not effective in every situation at all times.
Every hour of the year
Sarcasm is not a universal solution.
You fall off when the seat has been taken
It's hard to keep your place when someone else takes over.
Like the rest of us, -"Be kind be real or get out of my sight"
We should all aim to be sincere and genuine with each other.
It's hard to carry those facts,
It's difficult to deal with reality.
Especially when they're either fiction
It's even harder to deal with things that are not true.
Or standardized moralities
Societal norms can be oppressive and limit individuality.
Like 100 meters of hurdles
Life is full of obstacles that we must overcome.
Have distance to the subject that matters,
We should keep our emotions in check when dealing with important matters.
Strangle common lies in case
We should stop the spread of common lies to prevent further harm.
I'm not reciting from an already existing tragedy
I don't want to repeat past mistakes or misfortunes.
Catch me lying down, playing dead and buried
I might pretend to be dead or inactive to avoid confrontation or responsibility.
Or dig me up when I'm really gone
When I am truly gone, remember me and the impact I had.
It's favourable when it lies,
Sometimes lying can be useful.
But it's not like your wrestling partner
Lying is not a reliable ally, like a wrestling partner would be.
You can't walk out and kick it down,
You can't confront and defeat a lie in the same way as a physical opponent.
Like 100 meters of hurdles
Overcoming lies and obstacles in life is difficult and requires effort.
You'll have to shuffle small talk to pin it down
To catch a lie or deception, you might have to engage in a lot of idle conversation or small talk.
I'm sarcastic and reply in that manner,
I often use sarcasm to respond to things.
But I can't get to the point
I often struggle to communicate my thoughts and feelings clearly.
Why should the underdog, even take his brushes out
Why should the disadvantaged even bother trying to compete?
When they already play duets from the western canon,
When the mainstream is already busy with established traditions and norms.
By Krishna and the west wind, there in something funny
There is always something humorous or ironic happening, even in serious situations.
Beyond, something funny beyond
There is always something more to life - something greater or beyond our immediate understanding.
Contributed by Gabriel K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.