Miss Atomic Bomb
The Killers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You were standing with your girlfriends in the street
Falling back on forever, I wonder what you came to be
I was new in town, the boy with the eager eyes
I never was a quitter, oblivious to schoolgirls' lies

When I look back on those neon lights
The leather seats, the passage rite
I feel the heat, I see the light

Miss Atomic Bomb
Making out, we've got the radio on
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Racing shadows under moonlight
Through the desert on a hot night
And for a second there we'd won
Yeah, we were innocent and young

Cast out of the night, well you've got a foolish heart
So you took your place but the fall from grace was the hardest part
It feels just like a dagger buried deep in your back
You run for cover but you can't escape the second attack
Your soul was innocent, she kissed him and she painted it black
You should have seen your little face, burnin' for love
Holdin' on for your life

All that I wanted was a little touch,
A little tenderness and truth, I didn't ask for much, no
Talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time

Miss Atomic Bomb
Making out we've got the radio on
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

Racing shadows under moonlight
We're taking chances on a hot night
And for a second there we'd won
Yeah we were innocent and young

The dust cloud has settled, and my eyes are clear
But sometimes in dreams of impact I still hear
Miss Atomic Bomb, I'm standing here
Sweat on my skin
And this love that I've cradled
Is wearing thin (Miss Atomic Bomb)
But I'm standing here and you're too late
Your shock-wave whisper has sealed your fate

It feels just like a dagger buried deep in your back (it's a proving ground)
You run for cover but you can't escape the second attack (and you turn it to chance)
Your soul was innocent, she kissed him and she painted it black (on a loser's game)
You should have seen your little face, burning for love,
(Miss Atomic Bomb)

Holdin' on for your life
But you can't survive (All that I wanted was a little touch)




When you want it all (A little tenderness and truth, I didn't ask for much)
There's another side (Talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time)

Overall Meaning

The Killers' "Miss Atomic Bomb" is a song about a man reflecting upon a past relationship. He remembers a time when he was new in town and met a girl named Miss Atomic Bomb (a reference to the beauty pageant that used to be held in Las Vegas). They fell in love, but their relationship was not meant to last long. As time went on, she cheated on him, and he was left heartbroken.


The song has a melancholic, regretful tone, as the singer looks back on the relationship with nostalgia and longing for something that is now lost. The song also speaks to the idea of innocence lost, as the singer reflects on how, at the time, they were "innocent and young." However, as time passed, they both made mistakes that ultimately ended their relationship.


Overall, "Miss Atomic Bomb" is a song about the bittersweet nature of looking back on a past relationship. It captures the feelings of nostalgia, regret, and longing that often accompany such reflections.


Line by Line Meaning

You were standing with your girlfriends in the street
You were surrounded by peers in public


Falling back on forever, I wonder what you came to be
Reflecting on one's past and what the future holds


I was new in town, the boy with the eager eyes
A newcomer with a sense of curiosity


I never was a quitter, oblivious to schoolgirls' lies
Never giving up despite not seeing through others' dishonesty


When I look back on those neon lights
Recalling memories of bright and flashy sights


The leather seats, the passage rite
The comfort and luxury of a customary ritual


I feel the heat, I see the light
Sensing energy and illumination


Miss Atomic Bomb
Referring to a captivating woman, possibly with explosive qualities


Making out, we've got the radio on
Kissing passionately while listening to music


You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Predicting that the artist will be missed after they leave


Racing shadows under moonlight
Moving quickly through darkness illuminated by the moon


Through the desert on a hot night
Travelling across a barren landscape during warm weather


And for a second there we'd won
Experiencing a brief moment of triumph


Yeah, we were innocent and young
Being naive and youthful


Cast out of the night, well you've got a foolish heart
Being rejected or excluded due to misguided emotions


So you took your place but the fall from grace was the hardest part
Accepting a new role but struggling with the consequences of losing status


It feels just like a dagger buried deep in your back
Experiencing emotional pain and betrayal


You run for cover but you can't escape the second attack
Attempting to avoid further harm, but it's inevitable


Your soul was innocent, she kissed him and she painted it black
Having pure intentions, but being led astray by a deceitful love interest


You should have seen your little face, burnin' for love
Expressing a sense of pity for someone who is infatuated


All that I wanted was a little touch
Desiring physical contact


A little tenderness and truth, I didn't ask for much, no
Wishing for affection and honesty


Talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time
Being in an unfortunate predicament due to bad timing


The dust cloud has settled, and my eyes are clear
Time has passed and clarity has been gained


But sometimes in dreams of impact I still hear
Having flashbacks and memories in dreams


Sweat on my skin
Feeling perspiration on the body


And this love that I've cradled
The affection that the singer has held onto


Is wearing thin (Miss Atomic Bomb)
Losing strength or coming to an end


But I'm standing here and you're too late
Staying put and moving on, regardless of what someone else does


Your shock-wave whisper has sealed your fate
The impact of someone's words or actions have determined their outcome


It's a proving ground
A challenging environment to test oneself


And you turn it to chance
Taking a risk and leaving the outcome to fate


On a loser's game
Being involved in a situation that is doomed to fail


Holdin' on for your life
Clutching onto something tightly as if one's survival depended on it


But you can't survive
Realizing that holding on is doomed to fail


When you want it all
Desiring everything and not being satisfied with less


There's another side
There are other aspects to consider or explore




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandon Flowers, Dave Brent Keuning, Mark August Stoermer, Ronnie Jr. Vannucci

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@joirwin2636

This was my dad's favorite song of the Killers. He came to know them much later in life (he was 67) and it was probably the coolest thing to get in his truck and hear him say "You've gotta hear this song!" and it turns out being one of the songs I'd known for years. For at least the past year, right up until his death in February, this was the only song he'd play in his truck. It came to be known as "Track 17" (he had a friend make a compilation for him). He'd play it as loud as possible, restart it as soon as it was over, and— no matter how many times he'd already done it— give the longest and most in-depth analysis of it. It was hilarious and wonderful and one of my favorite things.
I'll never listen to the Killers the same way again. I'll always appreciate them in a different way and cherish the joy they brought to my dad in his later years. Thanks guys. Keep writing these beautiful songs.





~

EDIT 2020: So I haven't gotten any notifications for this comment in awhile, and after stopping in to watch the video, I'm just so surprised by all the likes and beautiful comments and love you guys have shared. Some 4.4 thousand people have read this and liked it and I just can't fathom that it's touched so many people. it's mind boggling. Thank you so much for taking a moment to read my story and to comment, and thank you even more to those who hold my father close to you in some way after reading this. Yesterday was five years since we lost him and I didn't realize how badly I needed these comments and the love they exude. It's like a soothing balm to the perpetual ache. I can't wait to share these comments with my family. Thank you all so so much. You have my gratitude forever. Sending you so much love 💙



@34BigPete

This song actually connects with Mr. Brightside, The Man and Just Another Girl.

The trailer in this song that the old man ends up in is the same one used in "The Man." Which is the beginning of the story.

Brandon Flowers is established as being super confident but having a distorted view of reality. He isn't as great of a singer as he believes he is, he gets kicked out of the casino, etc. Both "Miss Atomic Bomb" and "The Man" show that he believes he's against the world.

His luck starts to turn around when he falls in love with a ballet dancer. But he believes that she cheats on him "and it's all in my head but she's touching his chest now." to get ahead in her career and he loses her.

He tries to get over her but he sees her everywhere he goes and he becomes old and miserable which are in the lyrics to "Just Another Girl." "All of my friends say I should move on. She's just another girl. Don't let her stick it to your heart so much."

He fantasies that she ends up dumped by the rich guy and chooses him. She writes him a letter and then they get together and he envisions a future with her. But it turns out that she never wrote a letter and it's just a wasted fantasy.

"When You Were Young" "Mr. Brightside" "Miss Atomic Bomb" aren't straight forward romance songs. They're more like cautionary tales of not wasting your life by loving someone that will never love you back.



@bikasad6151

You were standing with your girlfriends in the street
Falling back on forever, I wonder what you came to be
I was new in town, the boy with the eager eyes
I never was a quitter, oblivious to schoolgirls' lies
When I look back on those neon lights
The leather seats, the passage rite
I feel the heat, I see the light
Miss Atomic Bomb
Making out, we've got the radio on
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Racing shadows under moonlight
Through the desert on a hot night
And for a second there we'd won
Yeah, we were innocent and young
Cast out of the night, well you've got a foolish heart
So you took your place but the fall from grace was the hardest part
It feels just like a dagger buried deep in your back
You run for cover but you can't escape the second attack
Your soul was innocent, she kissed him and she painted it black
You should have seen your little face, burnin' for love
Holdin' on for your life
All that I wanted was a little touch,
A little tenderness and truth, I didn't ask for much, no
Talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time
Miss Atomic Bomb
Making out we've got the radio on
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
Racing shadows under moonlight
We're taking chances on a hot night
And for a second there we'd won
Yeah we were innocent and young
The dust cloud has settled, and my eyes are clear
But sometimes in dreams of impact I still hear
Miss Atomic Bomb, I'm standing here
Sweat on my skin
And this love that I've cradled
Is wearing thin (Miss Atomic Bomb)
But I'm standing here and you're too late
Your shock-wave whisper has sealed your fate
It feels just like a dagger buried deep in your back (it's a proving ground)
You run for cover but you can't escape the second attack (and you turn it to chance)
Your soul was innocent, she kissed him and she painted it black (on a loser's game)
You should have seen your little face, burning for love,
(Miss Atomic Bomb)
Holdin' on for your life
But you can't survive (All that I wanted was a little touch)
When you want it all (A little tenderness and truth, I didn't ask for much)
There's another side (Talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time)



@OrlanAranguibel08

You were standing with your girlfriends in the street 
Falling back on forever 
I wonder what you came to be 
I was new in town, the boy with the eager eyes 
I never was a quitter 
Oblivious to schoolgirls' lies 
And when I look back on those neon nights 
The leather scene, the passage right 
I feel the heat, I see the light 
Of Miss Atomic Bomb 

Making out we've got the radio on 
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone 
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone 
Racing shadows in the moonlight 
Through the desert on a hot night 
And for a second there we'd won 
Yeah we were innocent and young 

Cast out of the night, well you've got a foolish heart 
So you took your place but the fall from grace was the hardest part 
It feels just like a dagger buried deep in your back 
You run for cover but you can't escape the second attack 
Your soul was innocent, she kissed him, she painted it black 
You shoulda' seen your little face, burnin' for love 
Holding on for your life 
Well all that I wanted was a little touch, a little tenderness and truth 
I didn't ask for much, no 
Talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time... 

Miss Atomic Bomb 
Making out we've got the radio on 
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone 
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone 

Racing shadows in the moonlight 
And taking chances on a hot night 
And for a second there we won 
Yeah we were innocent and young 

The dust cloud has settled, and my eyes are clear 
But sometimes in dreams of impact I still hear 
Miss Atomic Bomb 

I'm standing here 
Sweat on my skin 
And this love that I've cradled, is wearing thin 

But I'm standing here 
And you're too late 
Your shockwave whisper, it sealed your fate 

It's a proving ground 
And you took a chance 
On a losing game 

But you can't survive 
When you want it all 
There's another side



All comments from YouTube:

@Argie_the_Rottie

I'm leaving this comment here so that after a week or a month or a year when someone likes it, I'll get reminded of this masterpiece

@aninatepnadze7476

Here is your reminder ❤

@ManuelThomas-ew8oi

Here's another reminder

@kennethadkins7915

I agree 100%. It is a masterpiece! 💜

@Knewak27

I think it’s their best song. I just wish they performed it more live…I imagine it’s very taxing to sing.

@juanrae4429

Stop stealing comments u fool😂😂😂

10 More Replies...

@joirwin2636

This was my dad's favorite song of the Killers. He came to know them much later in life (he was 67) and it was probably the coolest thing to get in his truck and hear him say "You've gotta hear this song!" and it turns out being one of the songs I'd known for years. For at least the past year, right up until his death in February, this was the only song he'd play in his truck. It came to be known as "Track 17" (he had a friend make a compilation for him). He'd play it as loud as possible, restart it as soon as it was over, and— no matter how many times he'd already done it— give the longest and most in-depth analysis of it. It was hilarious and wonderful and one of my favorite things.
I'll never listen to the Killers the same way again. I'll always appreciate them in a different way and cherish the joy they brought to my dad in his later years. Thanks guys. Keep writing these beautiful songs.





~

EDIT 2020: So I haven't gotten any notifications for this comment in awhile, and after stopping in to watch the video, I'm just so surprised by all the likes and beautiful comments and love you guys have shared. Some 4.4 thousand people have read this and liked it and I just can't fathom that it's touched so many people. it's mind boggling. Thank you so much for taking a moment to read my story and to comment, and thank you even more to those who hold my father close to you in some way after reading this. Yesterday was five years since we lost him and I didn't realize how badly I needed these comments and the love they exude. It's like a soothing balm to the perpetual ache. I can't wait to share these comments with my family. Thank you all so so much. You have my gratitude forever. Sending you so much love 💙

@leit0cl

Jo Irwin beautiful story

@MonkeyGoatLicker

Leonardo Cortes a sad one also ; [

@joirwin2636

Leonardo Cortes Hudx Hawk3000 Thank you both. I listen to the song with nothing but love and joy in my heart now. I hear my own interpretation while keeping my dad's in mind. Things like this help me stay positive and uplifted when the inevitable sadness creeps around the corner, so it's not really bad for too long. Have a nice day and thank you for your words :)

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