The Killers rock in ways that other bands can only wish to emulate. My favorite song on Hot Fuss is All These Things That I’ve Done. I guess I can relate to the lyrics right now for a variety of reasons.
My interpretation of the lyrics? Well, I’m glad you asked. On the one hand, the song is about who you are, who you want to be, and asking help from those around you to reach your goals. I don’t ask for help. I never ask for help. The Red Queen has at one time or another pleaded with me to ask for help… to ask for… anything… something. I’d apologize, but I don’t know what to apologize for in this instance… For those of you tuning in late, I raised myself because my mother was a virtual no show for my formative years. I actually don’t really mind that particular period of my life since it made me independent and virtually maintenance free.
On the other hand, the one you need to balance out the previous paragraph? Well, the song is also about not knowing what to do, how to do it, and whether you should do it at all. It’s about fearing the unknown to the extent that it paralyzes you into inaction. I’ve been there and since I’m being so open, I’ll let you in on a secret… I’m afraid of success. I’ve known this for some time, but only lately am I willing to admit it. Not because I don’t think I’m worthy of success, but because I’m afraid that I’ll change… I pride myself on being down to Earth, accessible, gracious, and humbled before the eyes of my peers, but I know that if I do what I want to do, and I get the recognition I imagine will result from what I have held back from submitting to those who make decisions about these types of things, I’ll fall victim to my own hype… I’ll forget all of you like I’ve forgotten AP Calculus. Sorry, but that’s the truth…
Anyway, the best part of the song? The righteous gospel-like choir interlude near the end… I love a good gospel choir like Oprah loves an all-you-can-eat buffet.
All These Things That I’ve Done
When there’s nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know – no you don’t, you don’t
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out
And when there’s nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain’t changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out
You’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the back burner
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
Over and in, last call for sin
While everyone’s lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I’ve done
All these things that I’ve done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on
wow you are an interesting character. I think I will have to come back more often. btw, ass-holes don’t scare me – I am married to one.
Id like to to know; is the Red Queen a christian ? She surely is in line for sainthood…:p
She is a non-practicing Christian, which is another way of saying she is a practicing sinner… and anyone who knows me and lets me be me is clearly in line for canonization.
I’ve always thought the use of the word “practice” curious in this and other instances. It kind of implies that someone is new to something and not very good at it. Quite alarming in the UK where Doctor’s surgeries are called “Practices”.
And here law offices are practice as are those of physicians. In order to best fit within your paradigm of commiting Sunday posts toward higher learning, let me say that the word “practice” originates from the Greek “Praktikos” which simply means to do, act, or perform habitually.