SongMeanings | Lyrics

M
MGMT
Kids
247 Comments

Lyrics for Kids as interpreted by mwalk

Kids Lyrics

You were a child
Crawling on your knees toward it
Making momma so proud
But your voice was too loud
We like to watch you laughing
Picking insects off of plants
No time to think of consequences

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

The water is warm
But it's sending me shivers
A baby is born
Crying out for attention
The memories fade
Like looking through a fogged mirror
Decision to decisions are made and not bought
But I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot
I guess not

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted
Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees wanted to be haunted

Send "Kids" Ringtone to your Cell

Interaction

Send Lyrics to a Friend
Share on Facebook

Stumble It

Add to Del.icio.us

Your Ad Here

Other Popular Lyrics by MGMT

Time to Pretend
Electric Feel
Weekend Wars
The Youth
The Handshake
Of Moons, Birds & Monsters

247 Comments

Printer Friendly Lyrics

oldest first Expand All

Silver195
03-04-2007

Rated -2

This song is awesome. I have no idea what the song means, unfortunately, but are the lyrics in the chorus definitely "control yourself," I always thought it sounded like "enjoy yourself." Same goes for "take only what you need from him" - is it not "take only what you need from me"? The lyrics are hard to understand at some points but such a great song regardless.

7 Replies

thomaserak7
02-09-2009

Rated 0

yeh at 1st i thought it was enjoy yourself but wen u listen to it again then yehit sounds more like control yourself and other bit is right i pretty sure its ME

Mizorie
03-02-2009

Rated -1

It is control yourself. It's actually, "take only what you need from them" not me nor it.

alternaindie
04-20-2009

Rated 0

I love love love love LOVE this song. I have no idea what it means, but whenever I hear the chords at the begining, my eyes light up, and I just sit and listen, and I bloody enjoy it :P

TheBeastInsideOfMeIsGonnaGetYa
04-29-2009

Rated 0

..........................no its not "me" or "them." its definitely "it" if youve seen any live performances you can definitely tell

dannyda1187
07-10-2009

Rated +3

You really need to watch the music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad-tgbtbCEM&feature=fvst.

The song is actually about bad parenting, esp in the case of a custody battle/divorce and the effects on a childs life and growing up with it. I wouldnt be surprised if members of mgmt had divorced parents. Why?
If you read the opening quote by Mark Twain "He who fights with monsters care lest he thereby become a monster" is a reference to bad parents as "monsters" that will eventually reflect unto their children. In the music video we see a careless, narcissistic mother. Notice her rings are now on her right hand and the father figure is absent and she is living in a very nice house (devorce settlement). In every image society is seen as a monster, because in growing up with your closest family figure as a monster even regular people are now seen as the same. The car seat instead of something comforting is depicted as a cage. "control yourself take only what you need from it" is in references to controlling yourself and not fighting over the child and tearing them apart in the settlement. "A family of trees wanted, to be haunted", in trying to keep the child and have grandchildren, future generations of that family are scarred because the child is scarred in the fighting over him. The child is seen more like an object of possesion just like her phone and devorce-settlement-bought car. Towards the end is a trip scene...probably a reference to divorce children driven to drugs, in the end the child is seen running to mgmt, a male father figure, or savior who ends up turning into a monster just the same and the child falls into abyss. Decisions are made and not bought, ie the decision over the child should be a decision for the child and not paid to a lawyer from the settlement. i thought the divorce wouldnt hurt a lot i guess not...
The first stanza is a reflection of parents only thinking of the enjoyable charactistics the child provides for them while in the custody battle but easily frustrated when they are too loud (both very narcissitic characteristics). But they are not thinking of the consequences of their selfish actions.
its also a recurring theme in MGMT songs, in time to pretend he talks of marrying models having children and then getting divorced. In the music video for kids the mother is a hot model divorcee archtype. Coincidence? i think not.

dannyda1187
07-11-2009

Rated +1

also the quote is nietzsche not mark twain

dannyda1187
07-11-2009

Rated +2

i keep noticing more things when i watch the video. Notice how when she is in the car she moves the seat forward (belonged to the spouse and had to adjust it forward to her height). The dark omenous interior of the car points towards her personality. The large shades and somber demeanor to hide the fact she was just in a breakup. Also notice that all the monsters that are recognizable are males which is common for in divorcees to demonify the opposite sex to the children (all women are cold hearted bitches, or careful of men like ur father who are complete assholes). All the little things point in one direction.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

Sunset Rubdown
03-13-2007

Rated +1

i love this song so much

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

CaitySheabell
04-17-2007

Rated +3

I also thought this song was about life, and the diffrent stages. Clearly "crawling on your knees toward it"-represents an infant stage. But until I read the lyrics I always thought the lyrics were "Enjoy yourself take only what you need fom it"-As in enoy life take only what you need from it. But appariently its "control yourself" which I interpt as being greedy something out generation is all about. My take is that its all about being youn successful and following the American dream, in this process many people just caught up in money and success. than when "a baby is born"- it introduces another stage in life when it is no longer just about the success of ones self, but one maturing and the changes and realizations that take place when one has a family.
I really wish artists commented on this site.

5 Replies

iccyy
12-08-2008

Rated -1

You reasoning makes sense. But I would have to say they are just on drugs and probably just thought of the lyrics high or while tripping xD.

McSkydogBiscuit
03-12-2009

Rated +1

They might be wasted as hell and might not. The point CaitySheabell makes is what I take from the song as well. Songwriters take whatever the hell makes them write better, and for some its sobriety. See the "25 of 6 to 4" debate about "Chicago". I think they were tripping while writing the song, as its a dual meaning song IMO, and some say it has nothing to do with drugs. Brilliant if Im right.
Might I add my favorite part of this song "A family of trees wanted to be haunted". aka Humans can be disgusting and if you let your ego take over. So "Control yourself"!

Ravenaj
05-01-2009

Rated 0

I agree with most of what you say. my thoughts on "You were a child crawling toward it making mom so proud" could possible mean that you were on your way, people praised you. "But your voice was too loud" maybe you got a big head by all the attention. "Control yourself take only what you need from it" Don't get too carried away, only take the attention and praise you need. "We like watching you laughing picking insects off plants" maybe ignoring the problem, shoving them away "No time to think of consequences" the problems will come back.

zombiesrafterme
07-11-2009

Rated 0

it could also be about absolutely nothing at all. maybe they just thought the words sounded good when they were sung. more singers write lyrical nonsense than you might realize. I didn't think many did until I started writing songs and working with different singers, but a lot of songs have no meaning or close to no meaning.

lmbcheerleader
09-21-2009

Rated 0

i just wanted to expand on the "different stages of lif" idea...

i personally belive the message is trying to portray human gluttony. When we are children we do not experience any consequences for our wrongs that will have a lasting effect on our life. So I think that when the song thus says "take only what you need", it's explaining not to take thing in excess when we do wehn we are children because our parents won't always be able to clean up our own mess.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

green needle
05-28-2007

Rated 0

Why wasn't this an enormous hit? This was one of everyone's favorite 3 AM dance party songs freshman year in college.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

coopaloop
10-08-2007

Rated 0

its a hit for all my hipster friends :)

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

indie.mom
11-22-2007

Rated 0

Wherever the above lyrics say "him", it should be "it"...the family of trees is, of course, about family trees, waiting for the next generation. Great song, great album!

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

cutcopycat
02-09-2008

Rated -1

reading the lyrics screams father issues to me -

"Crawling on your knees toward him
Making momma so proud"

"Take only what you need from him"

might be a bit far off, but possibly sibling rivalry to the extreme - memories of his childhood seem to go sour after "a baby is born". love love love this song anyway.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

kratosaurion
02-09-2008

Rated 0

MGMT are finally beginning to get the exposure they deserve!
W00t!
This song rules!

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

bloodbledblack
02-18-2008

Rated 0

it almost reminds me of a custody battle

2 Replies

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

blueeyed
02-21-2008

Rated -1

i love the line
decisions too
decisions are made and not bought
but i thought this wouldn't hurt a lot i guess not

i agree btw, about this song being about the stages of life

2 Replies

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

Dang son
03-13-2008

Rated +4

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this song is about that Shell Silverstein book The Giving Tree. I like thinking of it in terms of that -- it kind of gives that book this new element of sadness.

In the chorus of this song -- "Control yourself. Take only what you need from it." -- he's talking about the boy taking from the tree. Yada yada yada, etc, etc ,etc. You get the picture.

Anyone else see the connection?

5 Replies

Pixee
01-28-2009

Rated 0

Yeah! I can totally see that

chachalola
04-01-2009

Rated 0

that really gives the song a new meaning to me, Dang son. I think that's a really good interpretation.
I love that book :)
and this song!

dancerbabb
05-19-2009

Rated 0

that is freakin brilliant

Wangchung2nite
08-28-2009

Rated 0

agreed.., and i havent even read the story.

crazy8rgood
10-05-2009

Rated 0

That would give the whole "A family of trees" lyric a lot more sense.

Yeah, I see what you're getting at.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

Dang son
03-13-2008

Rated +1

And it's not "him" it's "it." It's pretty clear in the song, I don't know why anyone heard "him" instead of "it."

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

Mechanica
03-21-2008

Rated 0

To me it sounds like

"Control yourself, take only what you need from it. A family of trees fallin', to be haunted" though I'm not sure if that makes sense? It's sounds like falling or calling to me, not wanting.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

knight!rider
03-25-2008

Rated 0

i feel like when we are kids we are true and we do whatever we want without restrictions. but then we have to live in society and "control" our selves.

maybe that's far fetched, i can't tell. but that's what i think when i hear this.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

whir21
03-26-2008

Rated +3

I was thinking that this song might be about human impact on the environment.

"We like to watch you laughing
Picking insects off of plants
No time to think of consequences"

I think these lines might be talking about how even the little things that we do, like killing insects for instance, effect the world around us more than we know (hence "no time to think of consequences")

"Control yourself
Take only what you need from it
A family of trees falling, to be haunted"

It seems like they're talking about controlling yourself from taking more than you need from the earth. The family of trees falling line is giving a conspicuous example of how humans destroy ecosystems like rain forests on a regular basis.

"The water is warm, but it's sending me shivers" I think is eluding to pollution in earth's water bodies.

"Decisions are made and not bought
But I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot
I guess not"

Here I think they're eluding to the fact that humans, particularly people in power, make decisions that seem logical and beneficial in for humankind in the short term, but are often harmful to organisms and their environments in the long-term.

6 Replies

dxb002
11-15-2008

Rated +1

Spot on mate! That's my take on the song also, I was thinking about earth and the environment when he says "take only what you need from it", Great minds think alike!

mferny
11-25-2008

Rated -1

I think you are right as well. However, I think the lyrics are "a family of trees wanting, to be haunted." Meaning the trees wanting to be alone and uninhabited (like a haunted forest)

You're right on with everything else.....

lucian_oh
01-31-2009

Rated -1

I think "it's a family of trees wantin' to be haunted" is about the trees wanting the human race to go extinct so the trees, nature, gaia, can live again with simply the memory and ghosts of humankind.

tammyx
03-23-2009

Rated 0

That sounds right !

psithurism
03-30-2009

Rated 0

that was exactly what i've been thinking -- i hopped onto songmeanings just to confirm my sneaky suspicions!

jaredn79
05-04-2009

Rated 0

This is how I interpreted it myself, except for "the water's warm, but it's sending me shivers". My take on this is that "the water is warm" this is typically synonymous with "hey everyone is doing it, so come on in", we are all fat cows using and abusing this earth, destroying the forests, the forests are calling to be haunted, calling for spirits to haunt us out of them. He recognizes that (like I do). It sends me shivers.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

knight!rider
03-27-2008

Rated 0

To WHIR21:

That makes so much sense!! That's cool you thought of it like that.

I think MGMT lyrics can be whatever you want them to be. Well, all lyrics in general. They are vague so you can interpret however you like.

But most people want to know what the artists were thinking when they wrote the lyrics.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

mallorypmm
03-31-2008

Rated 0

I like the connections made with the environment. I also love how "Dang son" connected it to The Giving Tree. Very interesting. However I think the fact the MGMT named the song "Kids" means this song has more to do with just being young and carefree and then growing old. And the lifecycles like CaitySheaBell said. Maybe greed comes into play too, thats why the line "take only what you need from it" and yes that part totally reminds me of the giving tree. Seems like in this song the kid maybe has kids of hi/her own and then grows old and just has faint memories. And yes it would be cool if the artists would comment about their own songs on this website. Then we wouldnt have to guess> ;)

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

Koncorde
03-31-2008

Rated +3

The chorus could well be referring to "inheritence", a "sins of the father" style thing.

If you take this as the kind words of a mother to her son then you essentially have her talking of how they "we like to watch you laughing" (mother+father)shared in the baby's young curiosity, and a layer of reticence about what was to come subsequently "no time to think of consequences" relating to their relationship/behaviour towards each other.

If you discount the chorus at first and lead straight into the second verse you have an undeniable sentiment that there have been bad decisions made, many without thinking. The memories of when the child was sparkling and new (warm water) are now sharpened to a shiver by what is know known and experienced. "I though this wouldn't hurt" could perhaps refer to bringing the child into the world.

This then angles the whole chorus as a slight on the father. Control yourself, take only from your father what you need (i.e. the strength, love, role model, father figure etc) leaving behind the failures and foibles. The "family of trees" is a play on words from "Family tree", probably probing at the idea that if you repeat the mistakes of the your own father - he'll haunt "your" tree too. A forlorn warning about how there are two sides to everything "warm" "a baby is born" can end up difficult "shiver" "crying out for attention".

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

mallorypmm
03-31-2008

Rated 0

Nicely said Koncorde, I think you are right on, the more I listen to this song. Good perspective!

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

jimjizzle
04-01-2008

Rated -2

Neeeeeeeed
Treeeee's

subliminal message maby ?
lol

1 Reply

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

Neilrd
04-02-2008

Rated -1

At around 3mins 49secs i'm sure you can faintly hear a child saying 'Daddy!...I Love You'

'Family of Trees' could mean the writer's Family Tree: the writer's could be going through a divorce and due to who recieves custody the child's loosing one half of its family.

But anyways i prefer the idea about it being about the song representing environment destruction...maybe the two interperetations are linked -> Babies & Kids are being used as a metaphor because they're innocent and dependant and the the way the environment is being destroyed is in a way oblivious to them, much like the divorce when very young children are involved..

Awesome Song/Album!...i hope this will be a summer anthem! bt not too overplayed!

1 Reply

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

princessKATIE
04-02-2008

Rated 0

wow. I really like this song
i just happened to stumble upon this band..
i like them!

Koncorde, i think, you're right about it. It just seems to fit.
Especially the play on words of "family tree"
..hm interesting!

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

Hiredpun
04-04-2008

Rated -1

This song is about custodial battles and the consequences of putting emotion before responsibility.

The statement about decisions being made not bought has to do with being a good Dad having to do with more than paying child support; more to do with being there to raise your kids.

The water is warm
But it's sending me shivers
A baby is born
Crying out for attention
Memories fade
Like looking through a fogged mirror
Decisions too
Decisions are made
Decisions are made and not bought
But I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot
I guess not

The lin about the water being warm is because he used the Russian technique of birthing your child in water as a way of minimizing the shock to the baby when he/she arrives in the world. Namely because water is much more like the amniotic fluid.

It gives him shivers because although he is in the warmth of the birthing pool, he is shivering from the awesome miracle of seeing his child brought into the world.

Losing your child or having your child not be around doesnt seem as painful until you go through it.

Many people here are over analyzing this song when the title gives you the clues you need to conclude.

1 Reply

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

lapopofighting
04-07-2008

Rated +1

People think too much about the meaning of songs. This song is simply about childhood and being a child. Like "no time to think of consequences." Something every kid does.

1 Reply

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

squirrelchild
04-08-2008

Rated -1

ok, this song rocks. my very favorite. and all lines saying him SHOULD BE CHANGED TO IT.

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Add Your Comments

What does this song mean to you?

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.