The Killers: All These Things That I've Done Meaning
Song Released: 2004
All These Things That I've Done Lyrics
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of...
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I definitely think this song has to do with Jesus. I think most of the lyrics are to be taken as if they are coming directly from the mouth of Jesus (Don't put me on the back burner and others) and some are from the mouth of a man (I need direction to perfection). The line "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier," I think, is referring to the baptism of Jesus, during which the Holy Spirit descended upon and prepared him for his ministry. He has soul, that is spirit, but most certainly is not a soldier.
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Well I always think about the old Hispanic Folklore story when I hear this song, "LA Llorana". It kind of sounds like the whole story. I don't know but I know One of you guys can figure this out
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"is there room for one more son" he is most likely talking about there being room for him in gods picture, cause he views christians as gods people, or sons and he wants to be included. "if you can hold on" he is saying if you have perseverance through your faith and prayer u can become a son. "while everyones lost the battle is won" "if you can hold on"= you will have victory if you stay with god and fight the battle against temptation
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When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
(...son of God -- could mean Jesus Christ is the first son, or it could mean there are so many, is there room for just one more)
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
(Not quite ready to completely be a son -- still has a lot of life to live before being ready to complicate dedicate himself to religious stuff)
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
(wants to forget about all the past things that he's done)
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
(God knows but then he doesn't completely because he's perfect so.. How could he completely?)
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
(This is a common Book of Mormon phrase [Brandon Flowers is Mormon] -- would mean that he wants human acceptance, which normally doesn't coincide with spiritual acceptance, hearts of men generally refers to the shifting, inconsistent, and weak opinions of mankind)
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I'm so much older than I can take
(feels old beyond years)
And my affection, well it comes and goes
(religiously torn)
I need direction to perfection, no no no no
(wants someone else or something else to pull up along or influence him, since he can't do it on his own, but again, torn)
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
(obvious meaning -- back burner = get to me when you get to me as opposed to right now)
You know you got to help me out, yeah
And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
(same moral dilemma themed with the rest of the song)
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out, yeah.
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier (X 10)
(pretty decent spiritually but not full on)
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out, yeah.
You're gonna bring yourself down, yeah.
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Over and in, last call for sin
(same thing -- doesn't want to give up his worldly life but still wants the spirituality)
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
(no one's perfect, but that's ok.. maybe because of atonement?)
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on
(he'll fix his life eventually)
This song (and a lot of the Killers songs such as the new 'Human' single that just came out) are about being spiritually conflicted.. I think they're great, they make me laugh -
The song starts at the end a bit may I add like he's dying (that's why he's saying hold on e.g. To life) and he's telling someone his story...
Someone who used to be a cheater, partier and drinker realising all this isn't making them happy so they decide to change. He then tells the story of how he wants to change and gets help from someone who at first ignores him but then helps. He wants to help other people too but although hye wants to change and help people he can't because he doesn't think he's strong enough- 'I got soul but I'm not a soldier' (which may I add are amazing lyrics I love this one line!)
The song maybe ends back at the beginning with his death after maybe one party too many and he reflects on everything he's ever done and he's struggling to hold on. -
For me anyway, this song is about trying to find a meaning to life through a creator, a song about maturity from innocence and finding out why we are here. When there is nowhere left to run means that nothing else can fufill him, not drugs, women, all the amenities of life on earth can make him feel right again, and he needs to find something more.
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I've heard this from someone who actually knew Brandon Flowers and asked him about the meaning of the song. He said that it was about how he is a member of the Mormon church and how he has a struggle between wanting to do what is right and wanting to fit in with the rest of the world (his wanting to smoke and drink and such). If you're a Mormon it makes sense if you listen to it more. "I've got soul but I'm not a soldier." "I want to shine on in the hearts of men." "When there's no where else to run is there room for one more son." i.e. Son of God. "You're gonna bring yourself down." i.e. a plead with other members of the Church to help him out. Anyway, I could go on but you get the idea.
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I think the song is basically about life, and how he wants to change and become a better person. "I got soul but I'm not a soldier".. I think this means that whilst he has soul, feelings, is an emotional person etc, he isn't a soldier, he can't just go push on through life, deflecting hurt and pain as if he is wearing a bulletproof vest.
Basically it seems as if he's crying out for guidance, as if his life is lacking something, and he just needs SOMEONE to help. Perhaps he is feeling rather guilty hence the title of the song, "all these things I've done", and really desperately wants to change for the better. He's tryed so many things but nothings really working - "these changes ain't changing me, the cold-hearted boy I used to be".
Great song! -
This is about a guy who has a bad past but wants to change. There's no Andy & Natalie and all that crap, seriously can not like listen to a song?
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I like the interpretation of the frustrated musician.
The broken hand part makes sense as he is saying he wants some sort of reward (not necessarily financial) for the heart and soul he has put into his work. It probably also relates to the movie the band is (or could be) named after "The Killers" whereby the star's career is ended with a badly broken hand and is an anology derived from the initial meaning in the movie.
I could go through every line to show how each makes sense, but you're smart people, you can do that yourself. I've got soul but I'm not a solider I think refers to the same things alternative artists have been writing about for years. He's got soul (talent, drive, love of music, love of enriching lives etc) but he's not prepared to do the things traditionally asked of upcoming artists, and he's not prepared to give his soul away...but at the same time, he's not a soldier so does not understand why he needs to fight against the establishment to achieve success.
Another important line is "Don't you put me on the back-burner". Similar (but more inventive and from a different persepective) to Spiderbait's line in Buy me a Pony - "But don't you try to pass us by, 'cos we own you until we're through"
Lastly, "Nowhere else to run" referring to there is limited scope or pathways to success in the industry etc. As I said, this theory applies to virtually every line if you want it to, but I think it makes sense. The ironic part is they put these lyrics into such an amazing song that allowed them to keep their integrity and their soul (possibly their best song and got to be one of the best songs of our generation) and would have been a hit no matter which path they went down as it's an absolute cracker. -
Song is about a troubled person contemplating suicide and basically him calling out for help but overcoming realising how valuable life is so he holds on. This has a religious theme as well. "When there's nowhere else to run Is there room for one more son" means that he wants to kill himself and is asking god if there is room for one more person in heaven. "If you can hold on, hold on" meaning try not to follow through with your thoughts because suicide is wrong and you should set an example to others by being stong "I wanna shine on in the hearts of men".
"I need direction to perfection, no no no no Help me out" are obvious cries for help.
"I got soul" this means he will have soul until his natural death and not through suicide "but I'm not a soldier" means that he is not a soldier which is a metaphor for soldiers that sign up to get killed in battle which is almost the same as suicide. Also it means he is against violence (killing himself) which is what most soldiers are trianed to do. -
This song is a plea from SATAN! ' When there's no where else to run is there room for one more Son? Of Man, as opposed to Christ. I wanna stand up I wanna let go, I wanna shine on in the heart of Man like Christ! I need direction to perfection, NO,no,no .... This is the Devil at his most jealous. " you gotta help me out... You must ask him in. These changes ain't changing me, (I'm still) the cold hearted boy I used to be. Saying it without saying it. (Sounding like a choir) I got soul but I'm not a soldier... You have a soul to lose but are not a soldier in the army of God. Your gonna bring yourself down... all humans fail in Gods eyes but are forgiven if they ask... Over and In (into the precipes) Last Call for Sin. When everyones Lost (without Christ) The Battle is Won. Read the Freaking Bible this song is about the fact that you are allowing the Devil into your heart and don't even know it. (all these things that he's done)
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I agree with this song being reference to God. Back of my broken hand, he wants the stigmata sign. This guy is turning to Christ, perhaps going into priesthood and perhaps he feels he should have done it sooner than now. He is singing about himself and to God, reference to coming down is Jesus rising again.
He is saying that he has soul but is against violence. He is not a soldier, he is a soul of Christ, a son of God.
He is begging forgiveness from God. -
Seriously guys, "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier", means: "even tough I'm not a religious person and I certainly don't follow any religios principles (I'm not a soldier of god, that is), I still have a soul, so please accept me as one of your children ("when there's nowhere else to run, is the room for one more son?"), instead of puting me in the backburner". The kinda gospel theme of the chorus points just to that.
This song's is somewhat of a confession (any catholics around?) from a guy who knows for certain that his way of living is far from what is expected in religious standards, but nevertheless really wants to be a good person. It's like he's saying to god: "hey I know you and I surely disagree on how I'm I supposed to live my life, and I know I've made very bad mistakes, but Í still wanna be a good son, I still wanna make you proud and shine on in "the hearts of man", like your other son has had. We may not share a lot of things, but I still need you sometimes." -
"The battle is won, with all these things that I have done." This line is about forgiveness. This is the key to the song, thus the reason that it is the title. "If you can hold on" He is asking God not to give up on him.
Each word in the song is carefully thought out, and many lines have a double meaning. "You gotta help me out, don't you put me on the back burner." Again he is asking God not to dismiss him as someone belonging in 'hell', the back burner, but he also is saying with everything that God has going on, he's afraid of being overlooked. Why, he isn't a religious man. "I got soul, but I'm not a soldier." He's not a soldier of God "and my affection, well it comes and goes." But "when there's nowhere else to run" he looks toward god.
He needs God to take him under his wing "Is there room for one more son?" He needs God's help and asks God to "Hold on" repeatedly.
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