The Flobots – Handlebars

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  Song Meaning:PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
  Now, I'm in a class that teaches you about interpreting lyrics and this is actually one of the songs we're doing. There are 2 music videos for this, an animated one, and a non-animated one. The animated video has lots of deep meaning, just within the images. For example, the fact the the blonde guy went a separate path than the rebel. The blonde guy went off to become a leader and got a little full of himself, while the rebel went down the path towards freedom. There were also a lot of lines/ bars that went straight up and down, possibly symbolizing being imprisoned. When the rebel is walking down the street, he comes across a fallen apple. Now, have you ever heard of Johnny Appleseed? Well, Johnny Appleseed planted apple trees throughout the country, and now, the apple symbolizes the whole country. When he picked up the apple, it was representing him, picking up the country and putting it back in it's place. Later on, while walking on the same street, he comes across 3 girls playing jump rope to the rhythm of the song, which also goes along with the lyrics "And I can keep rhythm with no metronome" which is a device that keeps a beat. Also, when the Blonde guy is talking to a crowd of people in front of the podium, he is in front of lines, which could mean he's superior. In the same scene, the flag is being desecrated, meaning they made fun of, or showed that they were superior to the flag. In the next second, the rebel is walking by tvs on the street with his old friend talking, and he shakes his head. Later on, the rebel creates a rebellion against the government/his friend. Next, the rebel and his group go up against the blonde guy's army. His army shoots down all of the rebels, including his friend, and at the very end, his friend's face shows much regret. When the rebel falls to the ground, and dies, he envisions him and his friend riding down the hill like they were in the beginning.
  
  
  I hope you liked it, I know it was kinda long, but I still hope you read this and feel free 2 respond! :)

  Flag Krmiton April 19, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:I think he is talking about how the Federal Government can bomb anyone with out thinking and how the Government can make anything legal or illegal and not letting the U.S.A. People decide. But instead the Gov. closes his eyes and guesses on what we want. And he is the one who planed the Atom Bomb in Japan and how he can blow anyone up when he wants it's not the people that want to destroy others nations it's the Federal Government. We don't get to Vote on something if we want to bomb it the Government decides and those people that we bomb may be innocent and then those people who survive hate on the U.S.A. for killing all there people just for something stupid. And they hate on the people and everyone in the U.S. but they should be hating the Government for his decision not ours. (I am Tim and i know that a lot of stuff i say don't make sense for others but it makes sense to me but it is so confusing to you. I talk really confusing so if you got anything out of this good if not i'm not affended its my fault for being so confusing.) From: Tim (I also think that this song is about how the Federal Government wants to have war on everyone to feel good and so they hate the U.S.A. and everyone else thinks we are bullies the Federal Government needs to LEGALIZE Marijuana so we all can be happy and not be hateful) You see i think that God put us here to be Kind, Caring, Loving, And to share the stuff on this Planet. And he did not put us on this planet to be bullies and bomb others for what they have done if they killed some of our people we should forgive not keep adding sticks to the fire so if the Federal Government read my stuff i wrote then you need to change and be a nicer person instead of a bully and bombing people for what they have done. :) Thank You for reading this!

  Flag NoTimPluson April 04, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:I think that it's just about the world and how it evolved over the decades.

  Flag riyung15on February 28, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:I think people are trying to be too philosophical here, the song is exactly what it says. Its a political/social critique about how much power we have given and are currently giving to our governments. You give an inch and the government takes a mile, it starts out innocently then ends tragically, powerful corporations dictating legislation and government policy. Its also a social critique about technology, something that also started out innocently and now has become a problem, telephones, satellites, nuclear weapons etc, no different than our warrant less wire tapping, patriot act, our breach of sovereignty in Pakistan and other countries and our large nuclear arsenal. The song is a warning that we've given to much power to the government and its a slippery slope; unless we stop them they will continue to take away freedom and end the world in a nuclear holocaust. It asks us to be cautious with our technology and think about spying on citizens and allowing them to track you every step of your life. "No Handlebars" means if we allow the government to go on its own without the direction of the handle bars (citizens) it will be to our great peril.

  Flag codyconnon January 11, 2013   Link

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  Song Meaning:The song is about human potential and choice. As Americans we have a great deal of potential to become whatever we choose. The media has the potential to give our words power by allowing us the opportunity to alter opinion on a large scale. The choices we make can benefit or hurt others.

  Flagged ColoradoDaon January 10, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:i also think this song and the video shows how simple life can be when you do not seek to be conquer of the universe, i think it shows this when it flashes bk to when the 2 young boys were riding the bicycles at the end . Intelligence and power go hand in hand, but it can also lead to self destruction, hate and greed

  Flagged cleo123on August 24, 2012   Link

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  My Interpretation:i came across this song a few yrs ago, i was quite young and so only listened 2 the melody rather than the lyrics, now listening again 2 this song, something has clicked, the deeper meaning, its saying, those higher up in the food chain have this motto 'if you're powerful, u can control the world bcuz u have the tools and every1 and everything else is insignificant'. this song is saying do not confuse being in control with the help of corruption with being powerful

  Flag cleo123on August 24, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:i came across this song a few yrs ago, i was quite young and so only listened 2 the melody rather than the lyrics, now listening again 2 this song, something has clicked, the deeper meaning, its saying, those higher up in the food chain have this motto 'if you're powerful, u can control the world bcuz u have the tools and every1

  Flag cleo123on August 24, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Opinion is great, but here are the word from the artists themselves regarding what this song is about:
  
  Jamie Laurie stated that the song "is about the idea that we have so much incredible potential as human beings to be destructive or to be creative." "And it's tragic to me that the appetite for military innovation is endless, but when it comes to taking on a project like ending world hunger, it's seen as outlandish. It's not treated with the same seriousness. [...] at the same time, I knew there were people at that moment who were being bombed by our own country. And I thought that was incredibly powerful." It is the contrast between these "little moments of creativity, these bursts of innovation," and the way these ideas are put to use "to oppress and destroy people" that the singer feels is both "beautiful and tragic at the same time."
  
  Cited from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…

  Flag berryrazmatazon August 14, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:i was going to write something about how hysterical most of these comments are, but then i realized it would fall on deaf ears. ill just give you all a heads up, this song is as much about riding a bicycle as fight club is about soap.

  Flag spiraloutse4non August 13, 2012   Link

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