Mr. Hudson’s Neighborhood

Bonus Song: I Want to Ride My Bicycle (This is NOT the Song of the Week, Scroll Down for Song of the Week)

9 Comments Leave a comment.

1. on October 28, 2009 at 5:27 pm GirlsNotGrey Said:
   

   This is one of my favorite political songs of all time.
   I knew the song was about corruption the first time I heard it. I’ll try to explain. In the beginning, it is showing innocence. This is probably childhood. The first “look at me” is telling more about the innocence that he has. The second “look at me” is showing the character learning how to use propaganda and is making him money, I think with medicine, because it talks about antibiodics and later in the song it talks about vaccinations. He also makes friends in high places in this verse.

   “I can lead a nation…” is his gaining political power. That’s all polticians do is talk through a mic. There isn’t much else. And then, BAM, “I can split the atoms” is foreshadowing his corruption. His bringing of a nuclear holocaust.

   The next verse is a biggie. He is realizing his power and what he can do. “My reach is global, my tower secure” is saying that he has strings around the planet and has ultimate protection. “My cause is noble, my power is pure” is saying that what he thinks is doing is right and is doing what he can to keep this power. The next few lines shows that he can do good, or he can do bad. It shows how he has let this power control him. “I have it all under my command” shows that he is probably a president or a general.

   The next verse shows that he’ll eliminate anyone who is in his way. The missile means that he’ll destroy a community, the sniper is a single person.

   The next verse is showing that he’s crazy and going to end the world, just because he can. The last verse is how he learned the consequences for his mistakes, and his power was his downfall.

   In short, power can corrupt anybody, no matter how you once lived your life. It consumes hearts and destroys the good in you. The video is really good soooooooo here’s a link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs

   The reason I put all of this is because I was obsessed with this song. I had been thinking of the topic a lot when I first heard this song during fall break.

   And if you are going to reply to this, please don’t say “I agree with GNG.” That isn’t fair to people like me who take the time to say all of this.

   I’ll be at school tomorrow
   GirlsNotGrey =D

2. on October 28, 2009 at 5:33 pm GirlsNotGrey Said:
   

   And also, “Stand Up” is an amazing Flobots song

   Just saying

3. on October 28, 2009 at 7:18 pm tchrman Said:
   

   GirlsNotGrey,
   Thanks for the link. That was quite a powerful video. It is probably one of the most song-appropriate videos I’ve seen in a long time. The images definitely illuminate the message of the song. Also, thanks for your thorough interpretation of the song. Great job as always.

   tchrman

4. on October 28, 2009 at 8:23 pm GirlsNotGrey Said:
   

   @ tchrman

   It’s one of my favorite songs. So I had to do it. Plus I knew tons of people just think it’s a song about handlebars. They need to know what power does

5. on October 29, 2009 at 6:39 pm camojoe5 Said:
   

   Also, the song Rise by Flobots has the most awesome powerful meaning. I think it’s trying to say that everyone can rise together and make a difference in the world, no matter your skin color or your religion. It is also pretty much a political song just like Handlebars. It is basically telling the U.S. that if we just sit back and keep hoping and telling ourselves that things are going to get better, it’s not going to happen. It’s saying that we have to be one powerful unit, all rising together in unison to make the world a better place. Sorry this doesn’t have very much to do with this topic, but I’m sorting helping people out who read my second comment on the Cake post that have never heard any of their songs except for Handlebars.

   So much pain we
   Dont know how to be but angry
   Feel infected like weve got gangrene
   Please dont let anybody try to change me
   Me
   Just me
   In the middle of a sea full of faces
   Full of faces
   Some laugh some salivate
   Whats in your alleyway
   Recycling bins or bullet cases
   Its not equal
   Its not fair
   Were different people
   But were not scared
   We aint never scared
   To pave a new path
   Make a new street
   Build a new bridge
   Say can you see by the dawns early light
   Free slaves running
   Songs words werent right
   Now a new days coming
   The few stay stunning while the many are handsome
   Your soul is alive but they want it for ransom
   The base drumming is the anthem
   We step to the heartbeats of our granddaughters and grandsons
   And

   Rise together
   We rise together
   [repeated several times]

   Lost hope and found need
   Grounded by our surroundings
   Did the walls scream universities
   Or you and i verse the tees
   React automatic and we burst when squeezed
   And make 9-11 each emergency
   Urgency amber to red like the turning leaves
   Oh please let the hurting cease
   Don’t let apathy police the populace
   We will march across
   Those stereotypes that were marked for us
   The answers obvious
   We switch the consonants
   Change the sword to words and lift continents

   If you believe in redemption
   I’m calling to you from another dimension

6. on October 29, 2009 at 7:41 pm thebestauntever6 Said:
   

   Woah, i’ve heard that song before and i had no idea that it was talking about corruption or whatever. weird!

7. on October 30, 2009 at 9:43 am tchrman Said:
   

   GirlsNotGrey,
   I just read over your interpretation again. The only thing I disagree with is the part about the “innocent childhood”. I think there is a little bit of a powertrip shown there as well. The whole “I can ride my bike with no handlebars” is kind of a cocky, “look ma, no hands!” type bit of macho-ism that shows that already in childhood he likes to be in control, he likes the rush that exerting power over something gives him.

   The whole “look ma, no hands” idea kind of extends throughout the song (”look at me, look at me”). As he begins to gain more and more power and control it affects him more and more. It’s that whole idea of “Absolute power corrupts absolutely”. As he gains more and more he begins abusing it more and more. So I kind of think he realizes his power from the beginning, and even though he is exerting his power in an innocent way that doesn’t hurt anybody, he is still relishing the control and power that he has and KNOWS that he has. Just my opinion.

   tchrman

8. on October 30, 2009 at 7:42 pm GirlsNotGrey Said:
   

   You could be right. The verse reminds me of innocence. Not exactly cockiness but just kids being kids. “Look ma, no hands. You can be proud of me now!” sort of thing. Does that even make sense???

9. on October 31, 2009 at 6:29 pm justanother5anddime Said:
   

   this is one of my favorite songs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   i love the blatant, satrical comparison of human nature and capitalisim, and the oppurtunities of both!!!! its an amazing song and, if you listen closly, it sends a powerful message about capitalisim, the future effects of capitalism on the free flowing gentle human civilazation.
   have i mentioned how much i LOVE this song?????