The Killers – Human

My Interpretation:I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was broad but I was kind:

This bits a little confusing to me but maybe the line Up To the platform of surrender could refer to if he goes through with what he's doing,if it goes wrong, could be just like surrendering him self


And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door:

He's seen this oppotunity but it's nerve wracking the doors open but stepping through it will change everything like he wanted but it's a scary though all the same


Close your eyes
Clear your heart
Cut the cord:

He closes his eyes and stops listening to whats holding him back and cuts the cords which I think may relate to the dancer reference later on which I interpret as being a puppet of society so like imaginary puppet cords


Are we human?
Or are we dancer?: Are we humans, free,self deciding,choosing who we want to be,doing what we want to do? Or are we dancer, Choreographed to do,be,feel,act a certain way are we like the puppets of our governments,of society

My sign is vital
My hands are cold:

He is lifeless,a puppet with no life and this is what he wants to escape

And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer:

He's asking desperatley for people who have already stepped through this 'open door' to help him,to tell him if it's the right decision


Are we human?
Or are we dancer?: Dont need to go through this again he's just asking again

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye
Wish me well:

These are factors of what made him who he is and he's saying goodbye as he embarks on this journey to let go and become a new person

You got to let me know:

Its definitely know not go just like its dancer he's again asking for people to let him know he's not delusional,that this is a good decision and that he truly is a dancer being held back

We go through our chorus again....

Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?:
Somebody (possibly something) he's leaving behind will it be ok when you look back on what it used to be

There is no message we're receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating:

Probably a girl so she's not responding he's just asking please tell me this isn't gonna hurt to much that your going to be ok

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer


You got to let me know


[Chorus]

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?

Are we human
Or are we dancer?

Thats just my interpretation and Its possibly wrong the music video doesnt help much lol sorry about my spelling

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  wrong interpretation of dancer

  Flag missalejeon March 25, 2013  

My Interpretation:I believe this song is a representation of how we, as humans, created to be, do, and achieve, have fallen under the hypnotism of society. We follow the every day routines of life and never branch from such cycles because we are pressured in by society to do, see, eat, and strive for the same things. Are we our own people, or are we just robots of society?

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My Interpretation:About a break up. Say goodbye to romance. Will he/she be ok, be able to survive if they end the relationship. What should I do?!

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My Interpretation:I can see the whole God vs temptation thing. It make sense for some of the lines, but when you really apply that to the whole of the lyrics, I think that interpretation falls a little short.

What I think it's about is someone who is faced with a big question: Is our conscience a reflection of ourselves or of what we've been taught to believe? There's only way way to find out and it's by letting go and giving in to your wants (the second verse).

The first verse is really about apprehension. He's face with a situation (open door) and his conscience is telling him not to do it.

He's asking, are we human; are we free to do as we want and be ourselves? Or are we dancer; are we supposed to just go along with the motions that the choreographer (those who influenced our conscience: society, community, parents, peers, God, etc.) has laid out for us (chorus)?

"And I'm on my knees looking for the answer" provokes very religious imagery of a person praying to God for answers. Perhaps he is here. Or perhaps is symbolic of a person wanting the answer to this question in the same manner that the religious pray to God for answers to life's biggest questions (chorus).

The last verse is asking, after giving in, are you proud of yourself? Is your conscience changed or appeased?

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  wrong interpretation of dancer

  Flag missalejeon March 25, 2013  

My Interpretation:I've been familiar with this song for a long time, but mostly just mindlessly sang it without giving a single thought to the meaning of the song. Except maybe to be confused by the "are we human or are we dancer" line.
This year will be my first year in college, and leaving has given this song a whole new meaning for me.
Being nervous about the "open door" reminds me of opportunity. It's okay to be nervous, and I know I'm going to miss my home and family, but I've gotta just "clear my heart" and "cut the cord".

"Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye
Wish me well"

This whole part reminds me of all I had to go through and learn to be the person I am today. Now I'm moving on to the new person I will be, in a whole new place.

Then the home sickness aspect of it comes back to me with
"Will your system be alright? When you dream of home tonight"
I know it's going to hurt to be away from everything I know.

Finally, the human and dancer debate: To me I'm thinking of "human" as being just the basic essence of man. Grow up, meet a mate, have children, bring home the bread and die. A human being. However, when I think of the concept of a "dancer" I think of being so much more than just the basic human being. Dancers for me represent all that it means to stand out and be special (if you think about art and expression).
So to me it's the big question: Do you want to be like everybody else? Stay here and take the easy way? Or are you ready to take a chance and become more than you ever dreamed of?

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  yes, correct interpretation dancer! You are awesome :D

  Flag missalejeon March 25, 2013  

Song Meaning:I think it means dancer is someone who follows choreography and isn't themselves, they just do exactly what everyone else does. Or, that the 'dancers' are people who act like they're on stage, for everyone to put their attention on them.

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General Comment:Well personally the way I view the song is from a religious standpoint, since Brandon Flowers is extremely religious and incorporates his beliefs into most of his songs.
I always felt that to be "human" was implying living a typical life, doing things that humans consume their lives with that sometimes is insignificant, and not truly cared for by God, since humans make daily mistakes against Him and are born with sin. And then there's a "dancer", who is sometimes uncommon among most people, who stands-out and dance for others(possibly implying to live for God).


I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes
Clear your heart...
Cut the cord

I always felt that he was describing that he was conscious of when his time to leave the earth would come(and that if he would be welcomed into heaven), and when it does, maybe he did not want death and the pain, but he had to accept it. He's nervous because of the possibility that he may or may not have lived the life that would allow him into heaven, and before he dies he clears his heart, meaning those minor seconds before his death he'll pray to God for forgiveness of his sins.


Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?

Sometimes i think that by his sign meaning his soul and the life that hes lead, is vital to determine what his afterlife will be . He's searching through himself and praying to God is he is worthy.

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance,
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye
Wish me well..
You've gotta let me go

Pretty much here I feel like hes leaving this world, saying goodbye to what formed the person he became, and he's thankful for the affect that they've had on his life since it is what decides where he will go.


Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?
There is no message we're receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating

I'm not sure what to necessarily think about this portion, but I believe that it may be about the "dream" of possibly going to heaven, not knowing exactly when it will occur, and the nervousness again of what the outcome will be.

And in the end, he still questions this fact.
It seems to everyone it has a different meaning, which brings the beauty of the song, seeing everyone's perspective and imagination run wild, as Brandon said in an interview once that the song can mean what anyone wants, none of us will truly know what was exactly going through Brandon's mind while writing this song.
:)

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General Comment:I absolutely adore the band (Brandon Flowers is an extrodinary musician) and I like this song, but I've never really understood it. What does "Are we human or are we dancer" means? He doesn't make it plural, which would make more sense. (And I'd love to be a dancer:) Everytime I hear this song I think of Santa and his reindeer. (Don't even try to guess how my mind functions.) I'm gonna go out on a reindeer limb and guess that he wants a sign from God that everything is OK.

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