The Hives are a garage rock band from Fagersta, Sweden that emerged in the … Read Full Bio ↴The Hives are a garage rock band from Fagersta, Sweden that emerged in the US and the UK in the early 2000s, but existed for nearly a decade before that, playing punk rock.

The Hives are:
"Howlin" Pelle Almqvist (vocals)
Nicholaus "Arson" Almqvist (guitar)
Mikael "Vigilante Carlstroem" Karlsson (guitar)
Johan"The Johan and Only" Gustavsson (bass)
Christian "Chris Dangerous" Grahn (drums)

The band claims that their songs are written by an honorary "sixth Hive", Randy Fitzsimmons. Since Nicholaus Almqvist can be found listed under the pseudonym Randy Fitzsimmons in the archives of STIM (the Swedish equivalent of the Performing Right Society) many believe Fitzsimmons is 'fictional'. (Nicholaus Almqvist vehemently denies this.) The band are also known for their energetic live performances, with Howlin' Pelle running around stage and saying outrageous things, and with everyone strictly dressed in black and white.

The Hives formed in 1993 (originally they wanted to call themselves 'The HIVs', but decided to change it slightly resulting in their current name) and released their debut recording, the EP Oh Lord! When? How? in 1996, followed by 1997's Barely Legal LP, and 1998's a.k.a. I.D.I.O.T. EP on the Swedish skate punk oriented record label Burning Heart Records.

Soon after, they began touring in the US and finally released their 2000 US breakthrough album, Veni Vidi Vicious; the album included the hit singles "Main Offender" and "Hate to Say I Told You So". Their UK breakthrough, Your New Favourite Band, a greatest-hits compilation, was released on the Poptones label in 2001. This was followed by extensive touring, as well as the re-release of previous recordings in the US.

Their next album, entitled Tyrannosaurus Hives and released on July 20 2004, was a slight departure from earlier releases. It has been described as a sound similar to what it might sound like if the band taught robots how to play their music, and then re-learned it from the robots to record, because of its rigid/rapid-fire arrangement, yet the band kept their distinctive blend of garage and punk influences. The album includes the hit singles Walk Idiot Walk, Two-Timing Touch And Broken Bones, and A Little More For Little You.

The Hives' next record, titled The Black and White Album, was released on October 15, 2007 (November 13 in the U.S.). The band said they've recorded 20 to 30 songs (including seven recorded with producer Pharrell Williams) for this album and are currently choosing the best. Other tracks have been produced by Jacknife Lee and Dennis Herring. Sessions were held with Timbaland, with whom the band produced the song Throw It On Me, but took place too late for any of the resultant tracks to make the record. They hope to use these songs as b-sides, although Throw It On Me was released as a single on Timbaland's album Shock Value.

The Go Right Ahead Songfacts reports news detailing Swedish rock group, The Hives’, fifth studio album Lex Hives was announced on March 12, 2012. The record is composed of twelve self-produced tracks, with a deluxe version containing bonus songs produced by Josh Homme.

Outsmarted
The Hives Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I used to be the kid who always got caught.
I used to be the one who never let thought.
Interact one bit with.

Intellectual shit, diversity and wit.
You used to be the kid who waited in line.
For an opportunity to waste away time.
Trying to be so cool out no suspicion no clue.

You've been.

Outsmarted, I'm selling you for scrap.
Now I'm the kid who put the shit back in place
and I'm the one who threw it back in your face.
It took a little bit of intellectual shit, diversity and wit.
Now you're the kid who put the "L" back in lame
and you're the one who always fitted the frame.
No suspicion, no clue.

You've been.
Outsmarted, I'm selling you for scrap.
You're outsmarted, yeah!
That's what I said, yeah!

Only throwing back what you've been putting in my face.
Outsmarted.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Hives' song "Outsmarted" speak to a power shift in a relationship. The singer used to be the one who always got caught and never interacted with intellectual ideas or diversity, while the subject of the song was a follower who waited in line for opportunities to waste time and be cool. However, the singer has had a change of heart, putting "the shit back in place" and using intellectualism, diversity, and wit to become the one who outsmarted the other person. The subject of the song is now the "kid who put the 'L' back in lame," always fitting the frame and having no suspicion or clue. The song is a celebration of the singer's newfound power and the subject's demotion.

Additionally, the song speaks to the idea of intellectualism and diversity as strengths instead of weaknesses. The singer's ability to use their wit and knowledge to outsmart someone else is valued over the other person's desire to be cool and blend in. The use of the phrase "intellectual shit" reinforces this idea, as the singer sees the value in intellectual pursuits that others might dismiss as boring or uncool. Ultimately, the song is a manifesto for being true to oneself and valuing one's intelligence and uniqueness over conforming to expectations.

Line by Line Meaning

I used to be the kid who always got caught.
In the past, I was someone who was always getting caught doing something wrong.

I used to be the one who never let thought.
I was a person who didn't think much before taking action.

Interact one bit with.
I didn't really engage or interact much with others.

Intellectual shit, diversity and wit.
I now value intellectual topics, diversity, and wit.

You used to be the kid who waited in line.
You used to be someone who followed the crowd and waited for your turn.

For an opportunity to waste away time.
You waited for a chance to waste time without purpose.

Trying to be so cool out no suspicion no clue.
You tried to be cool without anyone noticing or realizing that you didn't really know what you were doing.

You've been. Outsmarted, I'm selling you for scrap.
I have outsmarted you and now you are no longer of use to me.

Now I'm the kid who put the shit back in place and I'm the one who threw it back in your face.
I am now the one who has put everything in order and I am not afraid to show you what you have been wrong about.

It took a little bit of intellectual shit, diversity and wit.
I attribute my success to having a little bit of intellect, diversity, and wit.

Now you're the kid who put the "L" back in lame and you're the one who always fitted the frame.
Now you are the one who is uncool and always follows the same old pattern.

No suspicion, no clue.
You didn't see it coming and you still don't understand how it happened.

You've been. Outsmarted, I'm selling you for scrap.
You have been outsmarted and I have no use for you anymore.

You're outsmarted, yeah!
You have been outsmarted by me, and it feels great.

That's what I said, yeah!
I'm sticking to the fact that I have outsmarted you.

Only throwing back what you've been putting in my face.
The only thing I am doing right now is returning the same energy you have given me before.

Outsmarted.
I have outsmarted you completely.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RANDY FITZSIMMONS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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