Music Review: The Killers "All These Things That I've Done"
The Killers
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All These Things That I've Done
Album: Hot Fuss
Year: 2005
Brandon Flowers appeals for forgiveness in the redemptive "All These Things I've Done."
A bashful piano clinks to start the single, setting an angelic tone. In the pre-chorus, Flowers says to his family that he has hit rock bottom. He found out his friends were cheating and stealing from him. Home is the last place he can go. He implores them to not give up on him this time.
In the first verse, he explains that he wants to be proud of himself for once. He wants to be free of the regret he feels. He yearns to be remembered as a good man and to have a future. His family says they understand and know what he means. However, he responds that they don't get how desperate he is. He feels as though he's running out of time before he's a hopeless cause forever.
His wild past has given him much stress. He worried about going to jail if he got caught wherever he went. Girls he liked wouldn't date him after hearing about all the trouble he'd been in. His past has aged him. He's dealt with things he didn't know he could and many people shouldn't have to. He notes that he's learning to open up and talk about how he feels. He likes things just so. However, he needs someone to guide him to the right path otherwise he'll return to his old ways again.
In the chorus, he pleads with his family to support him. He needs them right now. He doesn't want them to shunt him off to the side like they've done so many times before.
In the pre-chorus, he says the family's indifference to him are counterproductive. He says he's not the same person he was. Nonetheless, his family still thinks of him as so. Hence, none of the subtle changes he's made are being noticed.
In the second verse, he says in the end, they will kick themselves for ignoring him.
The guitar charges ahead as Flowers says he's not perfect but he's still a good person. The bridge culminates with the gospel choir wailing and the guitars sparking.
The chorus is sung once.
In the final verse, Flowers says he's through putting his family through his troubles. He's taking the first step. Everyone will be wondering what is going on with him. However, he'll be able to correct his mistakes and become a better person. He just needs someone to believe in him.
"All These Things That I've Done" aptly covers the difficulty of redemption. Flowers admits his faults and is ready to start all over again. However, no matter what he does, he'll always be the bad son in the their eyes. No one believes that he will change.
Flowers' vocals are straightforward and dignified. He's not going to weep for a second chance. However, he is going to fight for it.
Album: Hot Fuss
Year: 2005
Brandon Flowers appeals for forgiveness in the redemptive "All These Things I've Done."
A bashful piano clinks to start the single, setting an angelic tone. In the pre-chorus, Flowers says to his family that he has hit rock bottom. He found out his friends were cheating and stealing from him. Home is the last place he can go. He implores them to not give up on him this time.
"When there's nowhere else to run/Is there room for one more son/One more son/If you can hold on/If you can hold on, hold on."
In the first verse, he explains that he wants to be proud of himself for once. He wants to be free of the regret he feels. He yearns to be remembered as a good man and to have a future. His family says they understand and know what he means. However, he responds that they don't get how desperate he is. He feels as though he's running out of time before he's a hopeless cause forever.
"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 men/I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand."
His wild past has given him much stress. He worried about going to jail if he got caught wherever he went. Girls he liked wouldn't date him after hearing about all the trouble he'd been in. His past has aged him. He's dealt with things he didn't know he could and many people shouldn't have to. He notes that he's learning to open up and talk about how he feels. He likes things just so. However, he needs someone to guide him to the right path otherwise he'll return to his old ways again.
"Another head aches, another heart breaks/I am so much older than I can take/And my affection, well it comes and goes/I need direction to perfection, no no no no."
In the chorus, he pleads with his family to support him. He needs them right now. He doesn't want them to shunt him off to the side like they've done so many times before.
"Help me out/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."
In the pre-chorus, he says the family's indifference to him are counterproductive. He says he's not the same person he was. Nonetheless, his family still thinks of him as so. Hence, none of the subtle changes he's made are being noticed.
"And when there's nowhere else to run/Is there room for one more son/These changes ain't changing meThe cold-hearted boy I used to be."
In the second verse, he says in the end, they will kick themselves for ignoring him.
"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/You're gonna bring yourself down/Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down/Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down."
The guitar charges ahead as Flowers says he's not perfect but he's still a good person. The bridge culminates with the gospel choir wailing and the guitars sparking.
"I got soul, but I'm not a soldier/I got soul, but I'm not a soldier/I got soul, but I'm not a soldier/I got soul, but I'm not a soldier/I got soul, but I'm not a soldier/I got soul, but I'm not a soldier."
The chorus is sung once.
In the final verse, Flowers says he's through putting his family through his troubles. He's taking the first step. Everyone will be wondering what is going on with him. However, he'll be able to correct his mistakes and become a better person. He just needs someone to believe in him.
"Over and in, last call for sin/While everyone's lost, the battle is won/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."
"All These Things That I've Done" aptly covers the difficulty of redemption. Flowers admits his faults and is ready to start all over again. However, no matter what he does, he'll always be the bad son in the their eyes. No one believes that he will change.
Flowers' vocals are straightforward and dignified. He's not going to weep for a second chance. However, he is going to fight for it.