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.
The Fan
Peter Bjorn and John Lyrics
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How do you define yourself, it's a must for me to know
If you don't know how to do it, you shouldn't do it at all
That's true, come on and step, climb, fall over me
Narrow-minded boy, looking straight ahead
Too much chemicals shut out empathy in your head
If I shall respect you, you'll have to respect me too
Definng my self as too, growing just like you
Look up to you, you look down on me
Until you can't see, what I used to be
High-tension stomach-aches ain't always perfect art
But you can do anything, pretentious, dumb or smart
So what is your answer to the so-called eternal return
We won't get rid of it, neither of us will
Until our self-esteem is thicker than big chill
I'm still the fan in front of the band
And you are the man in front of the band
The song "The Fan" by Peter Bjorn and John starts with a question about the importance of defining oneself. The singer emphasizes that knowing how to define oneself is crucial and necessary for him to understand. He implies that if someone does not know how to define themselves, then they should not try to do it. The singer then invites the listener to come close to him, to step, climb, and fall over him. He urges the listener to know themselves more and define their identity.
The second verse talks about a narrow-minded boy who is not empathetic towards others. The singer insists that for him to respect the boy, the boy must also respect him. The singer does not value technical skills as much as he values the person's identity and growth. He expresses that he, too, is growing like the boy but is often looked down upon by him. The singer then concludes with a statement that he is still the fan in front of the band, and the boy is the man in front of the band.
The song touches on themes of self-awareness, growth, and respect for others. It implies that knowing and understanding oneself is critical, and defining oneself is necessary for growth. Interestingly, the singer does not emphasize technical skills or talents but the person's character, identity, and growth. The song also addresses the need for respect between two people, and that respect is for growth, not technical skills. The song's title- "The Fan" suggests that it could be about the singer and the listener, where the singer is the fan and the listener is the person in front of the band.
Line by Line Meaning
How do you define yourself, it's important to know
It's crucial to understand your own identity
How do you define yourself, it's a must for me to know
It's necessary for me to know who you are
If you don't know how to do it, you shouldn't do it at all
If you can't define yourself, you shouldn't pretend to be someone else
That's true, come on and step, climb, fall over me
That's correct, be yourself and experience life, even if it means making mistakes
Narrow-minded boy, looking straight ahead
You're closed-minded and lacking in empathy
Too much chemicals shut out empathy in your head
Your drug use is impacting your ability to connect with others
If I shall respect you, you'll have to respect me too
Respect is a two-way street
Not for my technical skills, but for what I am
You should respect me for who I am as a person, not just my abilities
Definng my self as too, growing just like you
I'm also defining myself and growing as a person, just like you
Look up to you, you look down on me
I admire you, but you see me as inferior
Until you can't see, what I used to be
Until you stop judging me for my past mistakes
High-tension stomach-aches ain't always perfect art
Creating art shouldn't always be a painful process
But you can do anything, pretentious, dumb or smart
You have the ability to create anything, whether it's silly or serious
So what is your answer to the so-called eternal return
What do you believe about the idea of everything repeating itself?
We won't get rid of it, neither of us will
We can't escape this concept
Until our self-esteem is thicker than big chill
We need to build self-confidence to overcome our doubts and fears
I'm still the fan in front of the band
I'm still a dedicated fan of your music
And you are the man in front of the band
You are the lead singer
Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Neil Rebel
Ello from the Philippines!