Kudos to Sawall for pulling out the biblical allusions in this song. Sawall must have been an English Lit. major, or possess intimate knowledge of the bible.

When interpreting any type of art, it is impossible to get into the head of the artist. When I first heard this song, I thought it about somebody dealing with the pain off addiction.

The only really explicit reference to religion is the, “I got soul, but I'm not a soldier” line. The rest of the song is really open to interpretation, but any argument that focuses on a troubled person, trying to define a relationship with God, would certainly be credible.

IMHO, the song is a multi-layered (in terms of meaning,) finely crafted piece of pop art. The Killers are the best power/pop group to emerge in 15 years.

It was argued that Flowers is neither Dylan nor Springsteen. Quite true, but the Killers are basically at the sophomore stage of their career. I would argue that 99% + of professional musicians never write a song of this quality in their whole career.

wincott,

I think you have done an excellent analytical interpetation.

Part of the brilliance of this song is that it has different meanings to different people. Only Brandon can say what it means to him, but if no one listens to a song it has no validity.

I completely agree when you say “. . .any argument that focuses on a troubled person. . .” and I stand by my earlier comments regarding my interpetation. I definitelly see a troubled person putting all his efforts into music, loosing a girlfriend in the process, but driven on this course. He knew he would “shine on.”

However I totally disagree with your comparison with Dylan and Springsteen. To me this song goes far beyond anything that those two have ever done.

i totaly love this song and agreed with most of you about him asking for help and it having something to do with god, but i watched the music video and i think its stupid that its about the cowboy thing. Brandon in the shower is totaly hot, omg. but i dont think that the video doest follow the song

This song is really killer (no pun intended)

The song is about someone in lots of trouble and needs help and thinks that is only option is thru a spiritual power, although they aren't always a spiritual person. they also don't believe that they're a bad person either.. hence the lines: "i got soul but i'm not a soldier."-->absolutley brilliant

"i got soul but i'm not a soldier."

^^ why does everyone love that line. It ruins the song. Mr Brightside is better than this.

Oh no!!!!! You're all so crazy!!! I hadn't noticed that there were so many people who thinks that this song is about god. Yeah he is a mormon, and he believes in god, but, DID ANYONE EVEN SAW THE MUCH MUSIC AWARDS WHEN THEY PERFORMED THIS SONG???? Brandon says at the beginning, that the song is for the parents, and if you see it from there, you'll find a very different meaning. About problems with your parents, family, brothers and sisters..... Not just god.....

Dear Ms Jane Doe,

THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING A MISSING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE. I had thought this was about a girlfriend, but I understand exactly what you say. I still stand by my original interpretation, but it was the parents (and, still maybe a girlfriend) that were unable to realize what great things would happen.

The entire song is between “I wanna stand up...” and “...no no no no.”
Everything else is just “window dressing” and doesn’t matter. Still, I would rather “I’ve got soul, but I’m not your savior,” but it doesn’t matter--whatever.

I think this song is about a man who keeps breaking up with people and breaking their hearts, not because he's a bad person, but because there's a limit to how much he can feel. I know this seems like a stretch at first, and sort of a panzy interpretation.. However, everything fits with this theme, for me anyways.. and I think some of the lines are brilliant.

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

- for me these lyrics are explained more later…

I wanna stand up, I wanna let go

- wants to do the right thing

You know, you know - no you don't, you don't

- not sure what that is, keeps thinking he knows, and then a thought or feeling contradicts what he thought it was. Could also be that people think they know that he’s a good person, but really they don’t, because they don’t know how ruthless he is in his feelings sometimes (inside).

I wanna shine on in the hearts of men

- wants to be a good person. Wants to be someone he would admire…

I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand

- wants to learn something from all the past-failed relationships, and everything else that he’s done that has hurt other people (this problem goes beyond relationships)


Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take

- he’s getting older, and nothing seems different.. he keeps hurting people (and subsequently himself), and he’s accumulating baggage and it’s wearing him out

And my affection, well it comes and goes

- this is one of the main problems. Sometimes he cares, and other times he doesn’t. And when he doesn’t care on an emotional level, he does on an intellectual, or is at least aware that he should care.

I need direction to perfection, no no no no

- and then he thinks maybe he just hasn’t met the right one. A person that will live up to all his expectations.. he needs to just keep going in that direction, looking for the perfect mate that he will have affection for and not want to leave… but then he thinks about some of the people who have came before, and how good they were, and himself, and how he is imperfect, and thinks that’s not it.. another contradiction (you know, you know, no you don’t)

Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out, yeah

-This might seem like he’s making a plea to someone else to not ignore him, and help him out. But I don’t think that’s it. I think this is his problem, his inability to get close to person, to become emotionally connected on a deeper level… making the plea. In other words, he’s making a plea to himself, saying not to ignore the problem anymore.

And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son

- when he has no idea what to do, is there room for a confused child, who has nothing figured out, who makes mistakes.

These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be

- he remembers when he was younger , and he was completely cold-hearted and that he’s gradually realized it, and thought he was growing from it, but, he’s still the same cold-hearted person, the only difference is that he realizes it.

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out, yeah
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down

- don’t ignore this, even it hurts, even it’s hard to face it, don’t just hope it goes away, and go on to the next relationship and hope that one will be different, figure out what the problem is now. “bring yourself down!” let it depress it you if it has to, and fix it.


I got soul, but I'm not a soldier (x10)

- with the war in Iraq, when this first came out, I thought it related to that. But, for me now, it just seems to be him saying that he cares about being cold-hearted and hurting people (“I got soul”, or “I have a soul”), but he’s not able to do a good job, make the right decisions, stand in line, his heart waivers and drifts. He’s not good at this.

(Time, truth and hearts)

- to me, throwing this in, is sort of a clue that the song is really about this stuff, rather than a more general theme, although the lyrics can easily be interpreted many ways.

Over and out, 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
(Time, truth and hearts)
If you can hold on
If you can hold on

- keep trying? With the hope that he will eventually learn what the problem is, even if he ends up hurting more people. Or, even if he ends up losing everyone that cares about him, at least, in the end, hopefully, he’ll understand why.

oxejin,

i pretty much agree.

“Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out, yeah

-This might seem like he’s making a plea to someone else to not ignore him, and help him out. But I don’t think that’s it. I think this is his problem, his inability to get close to person, to become emotionally connected on a deeper level… making the plea. In other words, he’s making a plea to himself, saying not to ignore the problem anymore.”

but whad’a think about when he goes on to say “you’re gonna bring yourself down.”

In my opinion, this is the best song on Hot Fuss. I could listen to it for ten times in a row and not get tired of it. As for my view of what it means, I'd say that it's about a guy who's pretty worn down by life and relationships and just wants to do something, anything that he feels is right. He's so concerned and afraid of making mistakes ("Another head aches") and hurting people ("Another heart breaks") that he needs someone's confidence and faith in him to help him "stand up" and "let go." He doesn't want to be forgotten or left out or ignored by the people he knows and loves ("I wanna shine on in the hearts of men," "Don't put me on the backburner"). He has friends, but they don't understand his problems even though they say they do, only because that's what friends are supposed to do ("You know, you know - no you don't, you don't") . He wishes he could find both direction and a clear purpose ("I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand") for his life because he's tired of making mistakes and getting injured in the process; this makes him question if he's really on the right path in life. Perhaps the narrator of this song's greatest flaw is that he's too concerned about what people make of him and getting things right, so much so that it makes him less sure of himself. Maybe he's too unrealistic in his goal of striving for perfection. He also has low self-esteem ("You're going to bring yourself down"), probably from all those years he strove for perfection (or at least what he perceived to be perfection). He proclaims that although he may have spiritual strength and lofty dreams, he doesn't have inner strength and raw toughness to make them reality without someone by his side cheering him onward ("I got soul, but I'm not a soldier").

i sorta have the idea what this song is about but i dont NOT get the video at all.

*do

I don't really get the video either but I think at the start he's in that puddle remembering what happened to him earlier before he fell into the puddle, which happens at the end of the video. So there's something with the "Killersluts" sign that they have that gets shortened to "Killers"... And the women throwing those boomerang things at the men and the last goes down with a fight... I don't know.

Jane Doe is totally right. Why do all the Christians think that every song is about God? Shoot, I played SOAD's Chop Suey for this Christian girl and she thought SOAD was a Christian band! lol

Anyway, this song is told from two sides: the son and the parents.

I want to stand up, I want to let go, I want to shine on in the hearts of men: Everyone grows up and distances themselves from their parents. They make choices about their lives that their parents think are wrong, like becoming an artist (shining on in the hearts of men).

You're gonna bring yourself down; Another head aches, another heart breaks: -- The parents' perspective. They have the experience to see that you're making mistakes but they can't really stop you. All the headaches of worrying about you. Not to mention the heartbreak of seeing you grow up and then start to distance yourself from them.

When there's no one else to run to; Yeah, you know you got to help me out, Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner: when you're in big big trouble and all your friends desert you, who do you run to? Your parents. You can go from cold heartedly pushing your parents away to clinging desperately to them because there's nobody else to turn to.

If you can hold on, If you can hold on; : It's not easy for your parents to hold on, but that's what being a parent is all about.

The whole song is them recognizing that they've been cruel to their parents, but that's a part of growing up. It's a tribute to their parents for sticking by them.

The critical question of the day. about the video for this song is:

"The Asian girl's boobs: fake, or real?" lol.

i think this point has been missed... but the "i got soul but im not a soldier" is a old thing from gospel churches in the 60's. its not written by the killers.

I am quite the science and math nerd, and interpreting art has always been difficult for me. But the first time I heard this song I knew it was just amazing and had such a deeper meaning than the rest of the mess out there.

Anyways, my favorite books to read are war-based fiction. Examples include All Quiet on the Western Front and A Farewell to Arms. So when I heard this song it imediately made me think of all of the war books I have read over the years.

War is a horrible experience, especially if you are a soldier out there on the front doing all of the dangerous work. The soldier can't run away from the war, although he really wants to(when there's no where else to run). He desperately desires to go home to his family, since all of the boys on the front are sons of their parents sitting at home waiting their arrival(is there room for one more son). He is trying to hold on to his sanity and be able to cope with the troubles of war. He wants to get up and leave(I want to stand up, I want to let go), and everyone on the home front doesn't know the troubles he is experiencing and can't fully interpret his hardships(you know no you don't)The soldier wants to do something honorable(I want to shine on in the hearts of men), and all of his pains and ailments aren't going to stop him(back of my broken hand)

the head aches and heart breaks are associated with pains from injuries due to war and the death of fellow soldiers. he feels that he has been forced to grow up fast because of being thrown into the war(i'm so much older than I can take) . Also it is hard for the soldier to love anymore, because on the front all you know is to destroy(and my affection, well it comes and goes) the soldier calls to God for help through this period(i need direction to perfection)

the help me out chorus is a plea to God to see the soldier through this painful period in his life. He doesn't want God to forget about his life and how important it is to the soldier(don't you put me on the back burner)

the soldier is now being defiant, say that "these changes ain't changing me, the gold-hearted boy I used to be" say that something so destructive and filled with hate like war isn't going to take the love and passion out of his heart.

the "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier" means the soldier isn't a boy filled with love and desires the secular aspects of life that normal people have, not plauged by the destruction of war. He feels that he is unfit to be a soldier fighting for a cause he doesn't believe in.

the soldier knows his life is on the line, and he could die any moment and won't be able to kill more people in the war which he feels is for the wrong reasons (over and in, last call for sin) the soldier realizes that all war is is hate and destruction(when everybody's lost, the battle is won) and he realizes that he has participated in this horrific act (with all these things that I've done) "if you can hold on" is a plea for the soldier to try and grasp on to life, not to give up and die. maybe if the soldier can remain sane and persevere through such a hard period in his life, he can make it through the war and back home wear he wants to be

By the way this has nothing to do with the war in Iraq, just any war period. Like I said this is just my interpretation, and I absolutely love how this song can morph into so many meanings to so many different people.

In case you guys were wondering- I'm too lazy to look at all the comments to see if someone who has already said this but- I've got soul but I'm not a soilder means I've got love and pride for my country but i don't think fighting is the answer. I love it! Im listening to it right now!

this song is one of my fav killers songs! i love it! but i dont like the 'ive got soul but im not a soldier' bit i dont no y, it just annoys me lol but i love the 'u gotta help me out' bit
ok anyway onto the meaning,

well the start, 'when theres nowhere else to run, is their room for one more son' probably means when theres no where to go after the narrator has done so many bad things, will god still forgive him when no one else will?
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

CONTINUED...

that bit means that the narrator wants to let go of all the things that he did and wants to start over, then he is kind of fighting with himself saying you no, no you dont, then he wants to make a difference in the world and be remembered for doing something great. He also wants a meaning in his life

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

this bit shows the damage the narrator has done, 'another head aches, another heart breaks' and then he is saying that he is immature. then he is saying his affection comes and goes, meaning sometimes he wants to love someone but then he goes bak to the way he was again, then he is saying he needs guidance to solve his problem

thats all ive got so far

i really like this song..
is veri special by far one of the killers best track
i think this song a guy doin somethin wrong n is tryin plea 4 help...
i guess is somethin like tat

dont u feel this a bit song like the queen

This song has no religious meaning. I repeat again for effect, this song has no religious meaning.

It could be just words strung together for effect. The words are so vague and general that they are essentially a blank slate for the listener to apply their own ideas onto.

Anyone can apply any meaning whatsoever to the song - it's about drugs, about redemption, about god, about sex, about love.

My own interpretation is this: he's a guy trying to make it with his band. Obviously the Killers have been in the position of a band trying make it, so they could easily write a song about it.

He asks himself, "Is there room for one more son?" i.e. one more rock band to become famous within the limited confines of the record industry.

He gets discouraged by his band's repeated attempts at success but tells himself to "hold on" because he has faith in himself.

"I want to stand up" - he wants to be recognized as an artist. "Let Go" - he wants to let go of his daily grind, his job, his worries that becoming a rock star will make go away.

"I want to shine on in the hearts of men" - he wants to be remembered for something he did as an artist, to achieve immortality through art.

The next stanza's meaning is obvious again, seen from the "band trying to make it" angle.

"You gotta help me out" - this part is him talking to his girl, who helps his band with flyers and merchandise and other girlfriend things. Perhaps she dresses him, puts makeup on him, styles his image. Girlfriends are needed for this. "Don't you put me on the back burner" this is, again, a plea to his girl not to lose faith in him.

"Cold" or "Gold" hearted boy - whichever you think it is, he's basically saying "I won't be changed by whatever adversity comes my way, I still know I'm good".

"I got soul buut I'm not a soldier". This, I believe, is just simple alliteration (that means using words that sound the same, or with the same first letter). I think they just stumbled on this line in the studio and then said "that sounds great!" Also, there is a song by the Throwing Muses called "Soul Soldier". Maybe that inspired this.

Alternately, He's saying he has soul like James Brown - soul of a performer, a rocker, a musician; and he is not a soldier (or a cop, or a politician). He is saying that he doesn't need a gun to have power - he has the power to speak his mind and change the world by playing music.

The last lines about "Everyone's lost, the battle is won" this is about how in the end he will emerge victorious and make it with his band, as the Killers actually did.

This is the true meaning. The Killers are not religious. They are rockstars who are into rock n roll.

I'd love to hear anyone elses views on this.

I always thought it said "Time To Depart" - sounds better to me.

Given what Ms Jane Doe said about the song being 'for the parents', doesn't that fit in with the Iraq war theory - the parents of the soldiers over there?

Anyway, it's a classic, and how could anyone think the middle section spoils it? Crazy.

you people who have song meanings longer than the actual song themself make me sick. stop over-analyzing everything, jesus h you really know how to beat something to death, and are way too technical to ever really enjoy the music.

I think they are saying "If you can't hold on" and not "If you can hold on."