Probably already said, but I'll give a stanza-by-stanza inderpretation.
"Robert's got a quick hand."
I'm sure Robert is an allusion. Research gives three possibilities (that I've been able to find after a broad search, at least): Robert Steinhäuser, Robert A. Hawkins, and (most recently) Robert Butler Jr. "Robert" is ready to shoot at any point. Cowboy reference (quick draw).
"He'll look around the room, he won't tell you his plan.
He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid."
He's probably cocky, feels powerful. Cowboys are loners who do things to feel mighty. They're also quick to resort to gunfights. The cigarette only emphasizes the idea of being a "badass." Cigarette is also another cowboy reference
"Yeah he found a six shooter gun.
In his dads closet hidden in a box of fun things, and I don't even know what."
At this point, I think the allusion (Robert) is now solely referring to Robert Steinhäuser; Robert S. brought a glock to his school. The terminology of "six shooter gun" is typically limited to revolvers, a gun popular in Western movies. They were popular because they were small, easily hidden. Glocks are standard for police-officers, so it's viable that it could be found in a father's closet. "Fun things" in so ambiguous no one could ever get direct meaning from it, but I'd assume he found other police-like items (tazer, perhaps?). But, then again, for all we know it's just a bunch of bondage equipment.
"But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you."
It's meditated and he's resolute. There's clearly a lot of though going into this. I've read a lot of cockiness into the statement, too.
"All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun.
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet."
"pumped up kicks" would refer to some sort of trendy shoe. Considering it's an article of clothing that kids wear, I assume they're popular. I can't decide on "other's" meaning–it's either "everyone else with the kicks" is going to get shot, or it's making a distinction: ONLY the kids (the popular, perhaps rich childen) will be fired upon. The repetition of run really emphasizes the insanity of the guy. The terminology is devilishly coy, too. He's trying to cause a panic–there's more to it than just shooting the kids, he WANTS them to flee; "Robert" wants to hunt. Chilling.
"Daddy works a long day.
He be coming home late, yeah he's coming home late.
And he's bringing me a surprise."
I don't trust the wording. The phrasing doesn't depict "Daddy" well. Is he working? We have no evidence, but he's probably abusive. I'd argue the "surprise" is a fist, after "coming home late" from the bar.
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice.
I've waited for a long time.
I have two ideas for the first line. My first thought is that it's booze covered in ice. My other thought is maybe he'll have to eat an icepack after the beating? My boyfriend says it's a reference to a boy who killed his parents and packed her into the freezer, but I can't find anything on google to verify such a thing existed. Though, regardless of the connotation, anything "packed with ice" doesn't sound like a particularly good dinner. At this point there's also a shift, which bothers me. Broadly, I'd argue that someone's been inspired by "Robert." If I were to write a thesis, I'd say that "Robert's" deliberate spectacle in his shooting (attempting to incite fear) is catching on among other deranged teenagers. Heh. I have this image of this kid just grinning from ear to ear as he's waiting. Cowboy reference.
"Yeah the slight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger,"
He's ready to shoot in an instant. Another cowboy reference.
"I reason with my cigarette,
And say your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah."
Probably chewing on his cigarette, moving it around while he's deciding whether to go through with it (liken to what people do with pencils when looking at a problem). He retorts to his doubts that the head of the cigarette (the unfiltered part you light) is on fire, so what does it know?
I think it is about the columbine shooting because if you think about it, it seems that it is in a populated place. Or maybe he had kids always picking on him and he wanted to get them back because if you listen to the line 'all the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run better run outrun my gun' seems like he doesn't like them for that reason
I think it is about the columbine shooting because if you think about it, it seems that it is in a populated place. Or maybe he had kids always picking on him and he wanted to get them back because if you listen to the line 'all the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run better run outrun my gun' seems like he doesn't like them for that reason
I agree with NBSDAD565 about the box of ammo. I think the reference to 'I don't even know what' is that he is mainly focused on the gun and ammo and nothing else in the box. At this point he's too nervous and anxious to pay attention to detail. He's on a mission to get the gun and ammo and nothing else in that box of fun things even matters.
I agree with NBSDAD565 about the box of ammo. I think the reference to 'I don't even know what' is that he is mainly focused on the gun and ammo and nothing else in the box. At this point he's too nervous and anxious to pay attention to detail. He's on a mission to get the gun and ammo and nothing else in that box of fun things even matters.
Don't know if people who posted the lyrics can't spell, or if it came from the artist, but the phrase is "sleight of hand" which is what magicians do when they do hand tricks. "Slight of my hand" is a mystery. Prob just a typo.
Don't know if people who posted the lyrics can't spell, or if it came from the artist, but the phrase is "sleight of hand" which is what magicians do when they do hand tricks. "Slight of my hand" is a mystery. Prob just a typo.
I think that the second verse should be interpreted as follows.
I think that the second verse should be interpreted as follows.
"Daddy works a long day
He be coming home late, yeah, he's coming home late"
"Daddy works a long day
He be coming home late, yeah, he's coming home late"
Here he is planning what he is going to do. He'll be waiting for his dad, debating with himself (or alter ego?) around what time he most likely will be home.
Here he is planning what he is going to do. He'll be waiting for his dad, debating with himself (or alter ego?) around what time he most likely will be home.
"And he's bringing me a surprise
Because dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice"
"And he's bringing me a surprise
Because dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice"
He knows he is going to get a beating from his dad, because he did not make dinner ready. So he on purpose does not make dinner (still frozen), making sure that his dad will start ruffing him up. This would give him the "justification" of doing the next thing:
"I've waited for a long time
Yeah, the sleight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger"
He has been "getting a surprise" from his dad for a long time, so the abuse has been an integral part of his life. He (or an alter ego) cold bloodedly decides that he will end his father's life, the moment he wants/starts to beat him up. He is still waiting for his dad to come home.
"I reason with my cigarette
And say your hair's on fire
You must have lost your wits, yeah"
He is trying to convince his cigarette that it is just/the right thing to do. The cigarette is apparently not seeing "the humor" in his plan (disagreeing). The cigarette is just an objectification of his conscience, or his alter (more sane) ego (since according to the Foster the People statement to CNN.com, it is about a psychotic kid)
Probably already said, but I'll give a stanza-by-stanza inderpretation.
"Robert's got a quick hand."
I'm sure Robert is an allusion. Research gives three possibilities (that I've been able to find after a broad search, at least): Robert Steinhäuser, Robert A. Hawkins, and (most recently) Robert Butler Jr. "Robert" is ready to shoot at any point. Cowboy reference (quick draw).
"He'll look around the room, he won't tell you his plan. He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid."
He's probably cocky, feels powerful. Cowboys are loners who do things to feel mighty. They're also quick to resort to gunfights. The cigarette only emphasizes the idea of being a "badass." Cigarette is also another cowboy reference
"Yeah he found a six shooter gun. In his dads closet hidden in a box of fun things, and I don't even know what."
At this point, I think the allusion (Robert) is now solely referring to Robert Steinhäuser; Robert S. brought a glock to his school. The terminology of "six shooter gun" is typically limited to revolvers, a gun popular in Western movies. They were popular because they were small, easily hidden. Glocks are standard for police-officers, so it's viable that it could be found in a father's closet. "Fun things" in so ambiguous no one could ever get direct meaning from it, but I'd assume he found other police-like items (tazer, perhaps?). But, then again, for all we know it's just a bunch of bondage equipment.
"But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you."
It's meditated and he's resolute. There's clearly a lot of though going into this. I've read a lot of cockiness into the statement, too.
"All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, outrun my gun. All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet."
"pumped up kicks" would refer to some sort of trendy shoe. Considering it's an article of clothing that kids wear, I assume they're popular. I can't decide on "other's" meaning–it's either "everyone else with the kicks" is going to get shot, or it's making a distinction: ONLY the kids (the popular, perhaps rich childen) will be fired upon. The repetition of run really emphasizes the insanity of the guy. The terminology is devilishly coy, too. He's trying to cause a panic–there's more to it than just shooting the kids, he WANTS them to flee; "Robert" wants to hunt. Chilling.
"Daddy works a long day. He be coming home late, yeah he's coming home late. And he's bringing me a surprise."
I don't trust the wording. The phrasing doesn't depict "Daddy" well. Is he working? We have no evidence, but he's probably abusive. I'd argue the "surprise" is a fist, after "coming home late" from the bar.
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice. I've waited for a long time.
I have two ideas for the first line. My first thought is that it's booze covered in ice. My other thought is maybe he'll have to eat an icepack after the beating? My boyfriend says it's a reference to a boy who killed his parents and packed her into the freezer, but I can't find anything on google to verify such a thing existed. Though, regardless of the connotation, anything "packed with ice" doesn't sound like a particularly good dinner. At this point there's also a shift, which bothers me. Broadly, I'd argue that someone's been inspired by "Robert." If I were to write a thesis, I'd say that "Robert's" deliberate spectacle in his shooting (attempting to incite fear) is catching on among other deranged teenagers. Heh. I have this image of this kid just grinning from ear to ear as he's waiting. Cowboy reference.
"Yeah the slight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger,"
He's ready to shoot in an instant. Another cowboy reference.
"I reason with my cigarette, And say your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah."
Probably chewing on his cigarette, moving it around while he's deciding whether to go through with it (liken to what people do with pencils when looking at a problem). He retorts to his doubts that the head of the cigarette (the unfiltered part you light) is on fire, so what does it know?
A box of fun things I think is a reference to bullets, you can usually find a box near a gun.
A box of fun things I think is a reference to bullets, you can usually find a box near a gun.
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice.- Revenge is a dish best served cold.
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice.- Revenge is a dish best served cold.
I completely agree with you Koriism, but I think he's waiting for his dad to come home so he can shoot him and end the abuse. Craziness!
I completely agree with you Koriism, but I think he's waiting for his dad to come home so he can shoot him and end the abuse. Craziness!
I think the "dinner packed in ice" is just a microwave dinner.
I think the "dinner packed in ice" is just a microwave dinner.
I think it is about the columbine shooting because if you think about it, it seems that it is in a populated place. Or maybe he had kids always picking on him and he wanted to get them back because if you listen to the line 'all the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run better run outrun my gun' seems like he doesn't like them for that reason
I think it is about the columbine shooting because if you think about it, it seems that it is in a populated place. Or maybe he had kids always picking on him and he wanted to get them back because if you listen to the line 'all the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run better run outrun my gun' seems like he doesn't like them for that reason
Robert could also mean Robert Ford an outlaw in the old west who shot Jesse James.
Robert could also mean Robert Ford an outlaw in the old west who shot Jesse James.
I agree with NBSDAD565 about the box of ammo. I think the reference to 'I don't even know what' is that he is mainly focused on the gun and ammo and nothing else in the box. At this point he's too nervous and anxious to pay attention to detail. He's on a mission to get the gun and ammo and nothing else in that box of fun things even matters.
I agree with NBSDAD565 about the box of ammo. I think the reference to 'I don't even know what' is that he is mainly focused on the gun and ammo and nothing else in the box. At this point he's too nervous and anxious to pay attention to detail. He's on a mission to get the gun and ammo and nothing else in that box of fun things even matters.
K, great write up.
K, great write up.
Don't know if people who posted the lyrics can't spell, or if it came from the artist, but the phrase is "sleight of hand" which is what magicians do when they do hand tricks. "Slight of my hand" is a mystery. Prob just a typo.
Don't know if people who posted the lyrics can't spell, or if it came from the artist, but the phrase is "sleight of hand" which is what magicians do when they do hand tricks. "Slight of my hand" is a mystery. Prob just a typo.
You left out Robert Starkweather, the spree killer from Kansas
You left out Robert Starkweather, the spree killer from Kansas
I think the dinner packed in ice part is saying that its food in the kitchen yet it is uncooked and he is waiting at the table to be fed
I think the dinner packed in ice part is saying that its food in the kitchen yet it is uncooked and he is waiting at the table to be fed
I think the "Dinners packed in ice" reference might be about him having to make his own frozen dinner or something although I don't know.
I think the "Dinners packed in ice" reference might be about him having to make his own frozen dinner or something although I don't know.
I think that the second verse should be interpreted as follows.
I think that the second verse should be interpreted as follows.
"Daddy works a long day He be coming home late, yeah, he's coming home late"
"Daddy works a long day He be coming home late, yeah, he's coming home late"
Here he is planning what he is going to do. He'll be waiting for his dad, debating with himself (or alter ego?) around what time he most likely will be home.
Here he is planning what he is going to do. He'll be waiting for his dad, debating with himself (or alter ego?) around what time he most likely will be home.
"And he's bringing me a surprise Because dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice"
"And he's bringing me a surprise Because dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice"
He knows he is going to get a beating from his dad, because he did not make dinner ready. So he on purpose does not make dinner (still frozen), making sure that his dad will start ruffing him up. This would give him the "justification" of doing the next thing:
"I've waited for a long time Yeah, the sleight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger"
He has been "getting a surprise" from his dad for a long time, so the abuse has been an integral part of his life. He (or an alter ego) cold bloodedly decides that he will end his father's life, the moment he wants/starts to beat him up. He is still waiting for his dad to come home.
"I reason with my cigarette And say your hair's on fire You must have lost your wits, yeah"
He is trying to convince his cigarette that it is just/the right thing to do. The cigarette is apparently not seeing "the humor" in his plan (disagreeing). The cigarette is just an objectification of his conscience, or his alter (more sane) ego (since according to the Foster the People statement to CNN.com, it is about a psychotic kid)
@Koriism WOULD YOU SAY THE WHISTLING AT THE END IS SORT OF HIS SUBCONSCIOUS CALLING HIM OUT AS BEING A WUSS?
@Koriism WOULD YOU SAY THE WHISTLING AT THE END IS SORT OF HIS SUBCONSCIOUS CALLING HIM OUT AS BEING A WUSS?