Robert's got a quick handThe song is all about the Westroads Mall Shooting, in which Robert A. Hawkins killed 9 people (including himself) after opening fire at the Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska in 2007.
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
Yeah, he found a six-shooter gun
In his dad's closet hidden in a box of fun things
And I don't even know what
But he's coming for you, yeah, he's coming for you
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
For more info, read the wiki at : Westroads Mall Shooting
All around me, I'm hearing people singing this song in their cars, humming it under their breath, and complaining that they can't get the retro-style out of their heads. But no one, NO ONE, actually understands the lyrics actually pertain to a kid who was so lost that he murdered 8 people, wounded 4 others, and took his own life.
The band gets an A+ for making a song about critical events, but I don't know who to give the F for not relaying the true meaning of the lyrics; the band, the media, or the general public. Without any push to explain the lyrics, what you wind up with is a song that comes dangerously close to glorifying and profiting from a violent tragedy.
Thoughts?
I did not know that! And now that song makes me sad and not near as groovy. Damn.
ReplyDeleteI listened to the lyrics because my 4 year old was singing "better run better run, faster than my brother," Personally I prefer his version, although I still enjoy the song. It is terribly catchy.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you who gets the "f" though. I listened to an interview with one of the bandmembers (on NPR? I think) who said they never intended this to be a single or receive any radio play time. It was picked by their producer or someone because it was catchy.
Welp. Now I know.
ReplyDelete