Meaning of "Handlebars" by Flobots

What do you think is?

Join “The Zeitgeist Movement”

i think the message of the song is that the government can do wateve it wants with no consiquences, hense the missle part and the assisinations and the prison along with the holocost part which in turn was part of hittlers rain in government. The phrase “I can ride my bike with no handle bars” the singer is saying it as if he were the gov. and they were saying “I can do whatever i want with no restrictions”

I take it more like a kid (maybe a genius) growing up from riding their bike and making comics and taking apart remotes to controlling missiles and being in a position of real power, being able to do almost anything. I think it could also be a message about pride, greed, and power. You go from bragging about small accomplishments and abilities to wanting more power and abilities (ex. being able to launch missiles or assassinate people at will).

I agree w/ Jacksane. I see it as any kid can grow up, and nothing can ever be enough. Like with the handle bars, the kid wants to achieve bigger goals. Then goes on the shoot missiles, and destroying a planet.

something about the holocaust

I’ve been banned 72 times over all my accounts.
I’ve been perma banned 36 times over all of my accounts.

bant car dice is an idiot

i think it is that songs that take no skill can get mass popularity, and then will be forgotten within the year, as is the curse with music that is horrible, but still popular.

I agree with jacksane also,but i think it as a kid growing up and he starts off with small accomplishments,and then it shows how the willingness to always do better and strive for more power can be corrupted by greed and ecessive amounts of pride until you just dont care about any human rights anymore and you do things withought having to put up with consiquences

i agree with jacksane. the video is awesome and great song. love it

Yeah! I like what Jacksane//Pat said! ^ - ^

It’s an amazing song,
Flobots are amazing. !

I think Jacksane/Pat are right.

The video’s also interesting- it seems to me it’s like two friends who grew up together and seperate because of different views. Then the blonde friend goes into politics and gets swept up in greed and power, so the other friend leads a rebellion against him. When the guy dies, the blonde one is kinda horrified....

I think the song is about the duality of the limitless possibilities of human nature. First, all the positive possibilities of human nature are explored with examples ranging from the simplistic(riding a bike with no handlebars) to the complex(i can do anything i want, not use a metronome, lead the nation with a mircophone). Then the dark possibilities of human nature are explored(holocaust, assassination, guide a missile by satellite) The point of song being to show the limitless possibilities that each of us are endowed with, be it for good or for evil.

Ah I love this song. Apparently everyone does though. I’d have to listen to it a lot more though to get a good idea.

“The song is about the idea that we have so much incredible potential as human beings to be destructive or to be creative. And it’s tragic to me that the appetite for military innovation is endless, but when it comes to taking on a project like ending world hunger, it’s seen as outlandish. It’s not treated with the same seriousness," Flobots MC Jonny 5 (a.k.a. Jamie Laurie) said.

Sorry for Jacksane. I new it had something to do with technology being used for good and bad as that’s easy as he drifts in and out between technology being used for good and bad. Especially in the last verse with the vaccination. But a very noble message that many don’t seem to understand.

Thats more or less what I said, score!

I believe that this song is written about George Bush.. until I came on here that was the only way I saw it. But I do see how it could be seen as a kid growing up. With all the lyrics talking about gasoline prices and how to get a jet plane thats good on gas, talking about “i can lead this nation with a microphone” which is far from true. Also, the “I can see your face on the telephone” talking about his wire-tapping plan. George Bush also gave out those thousands of vaccinations and put people in jail for not liking him, which this song specifically mentions in the lyrics. I saw it as George Bush thinks he can lead the country but he really has no control, just like, I can ride my bike with no handlebars. You may think you can but not many people can control themselves on a bike with no handlebars. Im still convinced this is a Bush bashing song, which makes me like it that much more!

I think its about two kids who were best freinds go on two completely different paths, hence the crossroads sign in the video, and that one takes a path towards peace and the other takes a path towards power, and the Peaceful one rebels against the one with power, who has become a tyrant.

I don’t think he even knows.

What about power?