Hand It Over by MGMT Lyrics Meaning – A Surrender to Psychedelic Insight
Lyrics
And the rights that they abuse
Might just fuck us over
But the doors won’t shut
Until they’re sure there’s nothing left to use
Someone’s taking over
Threw it away, but now I say
It’s time to hand it over
The joke’s worn thin, the king stepped in
Now we’ll see who is who
Look who’s bending over
But the stars weren’t wrong, the time felt right
We both knew it was true
The smart ones exit early
And the rest hope for a shoulder
If we lose our touch, it won’t mean much
If everyone’s confused
Which door do we open?
It’s the same old trick
They played their hand
Now there’s one thing to left to do
It’s time (hand it over)
It’s yours and it’s mine (hand it over)
One thing on my mind (hand it over)
It’s rightfully mine (hand it over)
In the dark (hand it over)
What’s yours is mine (hand it over)
Mmm, make it right (hand it over)
And give me what’s mine (hand it over)
Oh, this time (hand it over)
It’s yours and mine (hand it over)
Hey, it’s time to (hand it over)
Just give me what’s mine (hand it over)
Mmm, anytime (hand it over)
It’s yours and it’s mine (hand it over)
Oh, I need time (hand it over)
No, no it’s rightfully mine (hand it over)
Oh, anytime
MGMT’s ‘Hand It Over’ is an ethereal journey through the looking glass of society’s complex intertwinings of power and submission. With echoing vocals and sweeping sounds, the track from the duo’s 2018 album, ‘Little Dark Age,’ unravels the intricacies of control, authority, and the moment of reckoning that demands a return of what once was freely given.
Deciphering the lyrics reveals a narrative much deeper than the psychedelic waves of its melody. It’s a reflection of the times – a statement on the cyclical grasp of power and the prophetic call for its redistribution. Here, we delve into the enigmatic world MGMT has painted and interpret the cosmic call to ‘hand it over.’
Negotiating with the Nebulous: Deals and Abuse Explored
The opening lines, ‘The deals we made to shake things up / And the rights that they abuse,’ hints at a larger tale of power dynamics, perhaps in politics, society, or within individual relationships. It speaks to the realization that the bargains struck with authority, although meant to induce change, have been twisted into something oppressive. As the lyrics unfold, MGMT seemingly takes a stance on historical cycles where once-noble causes become corrupt under the weight of control.
When they murmur ‘Might just fuck us over,’ it seems to remind us that even the purest intentions can lead to unfortunate consequences when manipulated by those who were entrusted with power. This prophetic acknowledgment allows listeners the foresight to anticipate the downfall that comes with power misused, setting a somber yet reflective tone for the rest of the song.
The Call to Reclaim: ‘It’s Time to Hand It Over’
The chorus is a potent mantra that resonates with the urgency of now; ‘It’s time to hand it over’ repeats like a battle cry. This lyric serves as the axis of the song, the moment where acceptance shifts into action. MGMT implicates both themselves and the listener in this cosmic struggle for balance, suggesting perhaps that everyone holds responsibility to reclaim what’s been lost or taken.
Their plea, sandwiched between lines of uncertainty and dichotomy, forces us to question our own inertia. Are we too waiting for power to willingly redistribute itself, or is it our duty to step in and demand a fair return? The simplicity of the chorus amplifies its message, functioning as a clarion call for accountability and empowerment.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Exposing the Illusion of Security
A poignant undercurrent running through ‘Hand It Over’ is the illusion that security comes with conformity. In the verse, ‘But the doors won’t shut / Until they’re sure there’s nothing left to use,’ there is an unspoken accusation against the mechanisms that exploit under the guise of protection. It elicits an image of a system so ravenous that it won’t cease until every resource, including hope, is exhausted.
This element of the narrative embodies the dangers of complacency and the deception of perceived safety. MGMT’s subtle skepticism of the promise of protection challenges us to rethink the trade-offs that come with entrusting our fates to those in control.
Resonating Rebellion: Embracing the Inevitable Transition
MGMT has often been revered for its ability to hide profound and sometimes subversive messages within unassumingly buoyant melodies. In ‘The smart ones exit early / And the rest hope for a shoulder,’ the band insinuates the wisdom in recognizing the signs of a failing system and the bravery required to opt-out before inevitable collapse.
Even more so, the stanza speaks to the fate of those left behind – a mass yearning for solace or an escape that may never come. This articulates not only individual escape but the collective experience of transformation during periods of societal upheaval, suggesting that timing is everything when it comes to revolution.
Echoes of Entitlement: ‘Give me what’s mine’
In the latter parts of the song, the repetition of ownership and entitlement cuts through the psychedelic soundscape with an almost palpable intensity. ‘What’s yours is mine,’ and ‘give me what’s mine’ aren’t just lines within a song; they evoke the broader sentiment of an era marked by calls for restitution and equality.
This portion of lyrics foregrounds the notion of inherent rights being withheld, plundered by the hands of the powerful, and the subsequent struggle to reclaim them. There is a raw, unyielding desire for justice and reclamation that MGMT taps into, effectively distilling the zeitgeist of our times into a melodious, transcendent protest.
