Pow Pow

 I don't know for sure, but I think you guys may be over-thinking this one. To me this is just James Murphy's response to his current place in his career, his life, and the music community. He has gotten to a point where he is able to be less temperamental, calmer, and accepting. I love his little off-handed comments at the end of some of the verses, like when he says "you know, there are a lot of good places to eat." He has a new perspective on the things going on around him, and that allows him to slow down and enjoy what he has.

 Or, its a huge, glaring political statement. Thats just my two cents.    

I think the lines like, "From this position, I totally get how the decision was reached" are (like a lot of James Murphy's lyrics) meant to be ironic. I think the song is about how all the bad things that happen in life wear you down and sap your energy. Eventually you reach a point where you can't take a definite position on any issue because you're too weak, and all you can resort to is the weary acceptance of both sides.

Hence the lines: "It's kind of like eating myself to death", "I'm coming back, coming back until there's nothing left in the well", "I'm paralyzed and looking through you", "as we compromised every good person", "to use up your desire for discovery", and particularly:

"So while times have been tough, and times have been tough / You've been put down, washed up, and rinsed out / But honestly, and be honest with yourself / How much time do you waste? How much time do you blow every day?"

Therefore, when he says "And it goes pow pow pow", "it" refers to modern life rocketing at you, hitting you with problems, difficulties and decisions, gradually beating you into submission. Just my interpretation.

"Fact magazine," which is mentioned, is a contemporary British music magazine.

The line about the black president strikes me as the sort of response one might give to an uppity anti-American European.

My personal impression, before reading any of those above, is quite similar to LizardKing's:

"He has gotten to a point where he is able to be less temperamental, calmer, and accepting. I love his little off-handed comments at the end of some of the verses, like when he says "you know, there are a lot of good places to eat." He has a new perspective on the things going on around him, and that allows him to slow down and enjoy what he has."

I agree completely, how this song is about greater maturity, serenity, peace, and acceptance, how any single issue can be addressed from various "positions" (from this position i can see how the decision was reached, etc) and different conclusions can be drawn from those different perspectives.

In a few words: Understanding Peace Acceptance Calm Maturity Self-Acceptance Identity

also, many of these seem to be common themes throughout the album.

I believe he's saying, "You're no Bruce Vilanch!"

Hi-larious song. Murphy knocked it out of the park with this record.

i'm interested to hear other people's interpretation of this.

i think he's talking about some major political issues here. i think he's definitely talking from a self-righteous viewpoint. i believe the "pow" reference are police gunshots.

just my first thoughts when hearing it.

I really like this one......I don't know why.......just do!

Eat it Michael Musto, your' no Bruce Vilanch!! hahaha i love that line

I have been coming here for awhile now to see ppls opinions on song meanings. Something ive noticed is that ppl hardly ever look into the videos to perhaps get a better idea of what the song might mean. I know it doesnt always follow that the video will have the full meaning just as i feel the song alone doesnt always convey well the real meaning. Yet again i see here that nobody seems to have watched the video. WATCH IT.

What are the last lyrics he says, after the "planning to stay" part? It isn't listed up there. It's something like, "all this tiiiime" and then some other things I can't decipher. Anybody know?