It's A Hit
Rilo Kiley Lyrics

Any chimp can play human for a day.
Anyone can pretend to be something they are not, just like a chimp pretending to be a human.

Use his opposable thumbs to iron his uniform,
Taking advantage of what makes you different from other creatures to perform tasks suited for humans.

And run for office on election day,
A chimp can even run for a position in power, just like any human being.

Fancy himself a real decision maker,
A chimp in this scenario envisions himself as capable of making important choices like a true leader.

And deploy more troops than salt shakers.
This phrase highlights the absurdity of a chimp leading a nation and making critical military decisions.

But it's a jungle when war is made,
The battlefield is often comparable to a jungle, wild and dangerous.

And you'll panic and throw your own shit at the enemy.
In times of panic, people can become irrational and resort to primitive actions, similar to how a chimp throws feces.

The camera pulls back to reveal your true identity.
Our true selves can be exposed in moments of crisis and chaos.

Look, it's a sheep in wolf's clothing.
Someone who appears tough and strong is really just vulnerable and weak when they face true adversity.

A smoking gun holding ape.
A metaphor to convey how foolish it is to trust a chimp with something as powerful as a gun.

Any asshole can open up a museum.
Anyone can be pretentious and create something meant to showcase their interests, even if nobody cares about them.

Put all of the things he loves on display
This phrase emphasizes how the museum is just an extension of the owner's ego, showcasing things they value.

So everyone could see them.
The owner wants others to know and appreciate their interests and possessions.

The house, a car, a thoughtful wife
The exhibit contains items that we see often in society as symbols of success or status.

Ordinary moments in his ordinary life.
Despite having these possessions, the museum owner's life is still ordinary.

But if she breaks a smile, she'll give you away
The slightest deviation from the expected, even a smile, can reveal the truth behind the facade.

Cause no one wants to pay to see your happiness.
People are more interested in the struggles and failures of others, rather than their happiness and success.

No one wants to pay to see your day to day
Routine and mundane activities are not interesting enough to warrant attention or admiration.

And I'm not buying it either
The singer is not impressed or fooled by the act of showing off possessions.

But I'll try selling it anyway.
Even though the artist thinks showcasing possessions is way overrated, they still acknowledge that people still try to do it.

Any idiot can play Greek for a day
Anybody can pretend to be smart and well-educated, like someone who immersed themselves in ancient Greek teachings and culture.

And join a sorority or write a tragedy
It is easy to fit in with a certain group or create something that seems like it would be important, such as writing a tragedy.

And articulating all that pain
Expressing one's emotions to others through art or speech.

And maybe you'll get paid.
If people are impressed and impacted by what is being said, the artist can get paid for their work.

But it's a sin when success complains,
Complaining about success, the desired outcome of one's actions, is insulting, ungrateful, and a waste of time.

And your writers block-it don't mean shit.
Writer's block, or the inability to write, is not an excuse to not produce meaningful work.

Just throw it against the wall and see what sticks.
Give anything that comes to mind a try when facing an obstacle in hopes that at least something will resonate with the audience.

Gotta write a hit
It is necessary to produce something well-received, even if success cannot be guaranteed.

I think this is it
The songwriter wrote this song, which they think will be a success.

It's a hit.
The song is a smash hit, becoming widely popular.

And if it's not,
Despite the hope that the song becomes well-regarded, there is always a possibility of failure.

Then it's a holiday for hanging
If the song is unsuccessful, the songwriter will be hung out to dry.

Yeah it's a holiday for hanging
The failure would be a spectacle for others to see and celebrate, mocking the attempts of the songwriter.

Any fool can play executioner for a day,
Anyone can pretend to enforce justice, even if they do not have the qualifications to carry out the act.

And say with fingers pointed in both directions
Pointing fingers and blaming others is easy, rather than taking responsibility for one's actions.

'he went thataway'
Passing blame and deflecting guilt to make someone else take the fall.

It's only a switch or syringe,
Taking someone's life seems simple enough when the tools are right in front of you, like using a switch or a syringe.

Aww, exempt from eternal sins.
Despite taking someone's life, the executioner thinks their actions will be forgiven in the afterlife.

But you still wear a cross,
Wearing a religious symbol, despite taking part in such an act, can be justified through claims of forgiveness and redemption.

And you think you're gonna get in.
The executioner is overconfident in their salvation and thinks their sins are forgivable.

Ah, but the pardons never come from up-stairs.
Salvation does not come from being granted a pardon, as it is something that cannot be bought or earned by any action a person takes.

They're always a moment too late,
The chance to be pardoned always comes too late for anyone to take advantage of it.

But it's entertainment
The world's cruelness can be entertaining for people, making light of the darkness in the world.

Keep the crowd on their toes,
Keeping things under wraps creates a sense of anticipation in people, who want to know what will happen next.

It's justice, we're safe.
The executioner is a symbol of authority and justice, providing security and safety for those who are protected under their custody.

It's not a hit, it's a holiday
If something is unsuccessful, it becomes a laughing stock, almost like a holiday.

Shoo-bop-shoo-bop my baby
A nonsensical phrase, maybe just to add an extra element of whimsy or humor to the song.

It's a holiday for hanging, yeah
This phrase brings the song full circle, repeating the chorus that celebrates failure and disappointment.