macklin

I heard this song on the radio a few times but never really listend to the lyrics, beyond the repititious lines.

Then I saw the video and heard the interpretation of the song.

It's about two friends who grow up trying to out do each other, saying things like 'I can ride my back with no handlebars.' Yet one move on to lead a life of music and one leads a life of corporate business.

he says, 'I'm a famous rapper.'

The reponses associated to business like ...

'I can design an engine sixty four
Miles to a gallon of gasoline'

this is his friend exclaiming of his ability to climb and succeed.

'And I can make you wanna buy a product
Movers shakers and producers'

But eventually the corporate business man is full of his endless ability to succeed and transfers his success into politics ... the US presidency.

This is the presidential part of the song.

'I can lead a nation with a microphone
With a microphone
With a microphone
I can split the atoms of a molecule
Of a molecule
Of a molecule

Look at me
Look at me
Driving and I won't stop
And it feels so good to be
Alive and on top
My reach is global
My tower secure
My cause is noble
My power is pure
I can hand out a million vaccinations
Or let'em all die in exasperation
Have'em all healed of their lacerations
Have'em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like'em and
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command
I can guide a missile by satellite
By satellite
By satellite
and I can hit a target through a telescope
Through a telescope
Through a telescope
and I can end the planet in a holocaust'

The bold parts are actually hidden criticism of George W. Bush.

And the last line is the unfortunate fear of Big Bush getting out of control.
Or not necessarily bush, but any subsequent leader that may take over the power that G W has established.

And I can end the planet in a holocaust.

The music video is surprisingly self referential, because the singer is speaking against the big government power and then shows big government power killing the FAMOUS RAPPER.

The last scene is the good ARTIST vs the corrupt POLITICIAN.

The correlation is a fear of a holocaust like ending of the world and the fear that if he protests enough (not softly in a video) that the government could cause a HOLOCAUST (murder) of himself the rapper that really produced the video and lyrics.

It's surprisingly brilliant.

The end of the song is a reiteration of the lyrics, I can ride my bike with no handlebars.

Meaning the corrupt politician started out doing everything competitively just to see if he could. Once he realized that he could there was nothing to stop him.

The ultimate point of the song is a call to action ... to stop power of the US from getting out of control. But it is so softly said, so quiet, so like HEY TANGERINE MAN in the dylan song that it's more effective by the fact of that quietness.

Lerxst

Outstanding song. I checked Youtube and found the video...I can tell you this is just a well written and deep song. When you see the video it even takes on more meaning.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Flobots-Handlebars video

jonspeaks22

Cool to see there's other people on the board that like this band

Lerxst

Those dicks pulled the video. What the hell?

ShockAndAwww

Have you seen the second single? It's called "Rise" and it's currently my favorite song in my iPod rotation. It's nice to hear politically charged lyrics that don't beat you over the head with their meaning. It's empowering. The front man (who I understand is responsible for most of the lyrics) is a really smart guy...I found
this video of him on Youtube talking about the importance of voting. They won a fan with this one, that's for sure.

PhantomRanger

Music sucks, as does the message.

dirtpoorchris

You should try the album. Really good. You picked the song apart really well. I heard it once on the radio and bought it the day it came out. Hitler killed his best friend. Humans are cyclical. I grew up with a friend that reminds me alot of the corporate dude... He was always trying to manipulate people and just plain evil at heart. I was just trying to teach him some good. Now he's rising in the Judicial system and always talked about become a politician. I was the only one that could ever catch him on a dime about his lies. This song brings back that atmosphere. I hope he doesn't ever become the President.

Sorry for the changing volume and anime music video. Best I could find.

__________________

Leave it to US. To make the sun rise in the West. And fall on the East.

Lerxst

As does PhantomRanger?

Lerxst

These guys are off the hook. Very motivating to listen to. I love "Rise," "Stand up," "We are winning," and "Fight with tools."