Pow Pow by LCD Soundsystem Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Enigma of Syncopated Existence
Lyrics
I will relax
From this position
I can see the whole place
From this position
Oh, just relax
From this position
I make some stand
I make my peace with the man
And it goes pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
It goes pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
From this position
I can see both of them
From this position
I totally get how the decision was reached
From this position
I can say “serious” or “cop-out” or “hard to define”
From this position, from this position
It’s kind of like eating myself to death
You on the outside
Me on the inside
There’s advantage to both
(Advantages to both)
And me being uptight
And you being all right
There’s advantages to each
(Advantages advantages)
From this perspective, from this position
I have a good grip on both of them
Because I have stayed home
And have learned a little more about my neighborhood
Which is important
You know, there’s a lot of good places to eat
So it goes pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow
So it’s pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow
It goes pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow
With you on the keystroke
And me on the gangplank
There’s advantages to both
(Advantages to both)
And you have been all right
And I have been filmed being ridiculous
Oh, eat it, Michael Musto
You’re no Bruce Vilanch
Now, I have been untied
And you are all cross-eyed
There’s advantages to each
(Advantages to each)
And I’m coming back, coming back, coming back
Until there’s nothing left in the well
Is that what they call it, the well?
I’m paralyzed
And looking through you
But if nothing’s right
We try anyway
As we compromised an aggregate person
I’m amazed at my decision to blame
On this occasion, there are a couple of things that we know that we learned from Fact Magazine
One, the king wears a king hat and lives in a king house
Two, your time will come, but tonight is our night
So you should give us all of your drugs
Three, we have a black president and you do not, so shut up
Because you don’t know shit about where I’m from that you didn’t get from your TV
So while times have been tough
And times have been tough
You have been put down, washed up, erased out
But honestly
And be honest with yourself
How much time do you waste?
How much time do you blow every day?
So pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow
Oh, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow
So pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow, pow
Pow, pow, pow, pow
The return of the police
The return of the police
With you on the inside
And me on the outside
There’s advantages to both
(Advantages to both)
With me being wired
And you being tired
There’s advantages to each
(Advantages, advantages)
From this position
I feel an affinity for the both of them, which is confusing
But honestly
I should be careful because otherwise, I’m being, I’m being, you know, what’s it called?
Oh, fuck it
Reclining, I’m getting used to it
Like kissing under a bridge
It’s an entirely new
Discovery, discovery, discovery, discovery, discovery, discovery, discovery, discovery
And then a couple of weeks at home
And then a couple of weeks away
And then home and away, again
To use up your desire for
Discovery, discovery, discovery, discovery
Discovery, discovery, discovery
For an instant
You could have pushed through
But it’s a plagiarized
Regret anyway
But what you want for now
Is someone to feel you
And that’s the thing you like
Is planning to stay
And all this time
It’s so nice
It’s so nice
It’s so nice
The return of the police!
LCD Soundsystem’s ‘Pow Pow’ isn’t just another track to get lost in the fray of electrifying beats and a hypnotic bassline. It’s a multi-layered odyssey encased within James Murphy’s wry wit and perceptive observations. As the rhythm commandeers your attention, the lyrics beckon a closer analysis.
Interpreting ‘Pow Pow’ goes beyond dissecting lines; it’s about embracing the alchemy of sound, rhythm, and words to excavate the lived human experience, societal ironies, and Murphy’s self-effacing commentary on the culture that surrounds him.
The Vantage Point of Introspection
Central to ‘Pow Pow’ is the concept of perspective—’From this position,’ Murphy repeatedly muses, reflecting a vantage point that might as well be metaphysical as it is physical. His lyrical repetition serves as a meditation, an anchor in the whirlwind of thoughts, observations, and remarks. From here, Murphy deliberates on life, making ‘peace with the man’ and coming to terms with existence’s underbelly, where seriousness and cop-outs blur into the indistinct.
‘Pow Pow’ invites listeners to also find that introspective spot, to pause and consider the macrocosm of life’s theater from a seat of detachment, where clarity might just seep in through the act of distancing oneself. It’s a commandment to relax, to see the ‘whole place,’ and maybe, just maybe, understand how ‘the decision was reached.’
Deciphering the ‘Pow’: An Onomatopoeic Conundrum
The propulsion of ‘Pow Pow’ crescendos into the chant-like repetition of ‘pow,’ a child’s interpretation of an impact or explosion. Yet, in the song, it’s transmuted into a metaphor for moments—each ‘pow’ a realization, an event, a burst of understanding or being. It becomes an auditory cue symbolizing how Murphy’s thoughts are hitting us and how they hit him, ceaselessly and powerfully.
This simple onomatopoeic expression peels layers of complexity when twiddled with Murphy’s satirical voice. It mimics the suddenness of a flashing idea, the jolt of an epiphany, or the boom of a dropped truth bomb, marrying the mundane to the profound, and casual slang to philosophical awakening.
Hidden in the Pow Pow: Societal Satire and Pop Culture Pokes
Diving deeper into the soundscape of ‘Pow Pow,’ one can’t help but notice the infusion of societal commentary, embracing both cynicism and celebration. References to a certain ‘king wearing a king hat’ or brags that ‘we have a black president and you do not,’ position the track as a canvas for Murphy’s musings on power, politics, and the absurdities of fame.
By threading zingers aimed at public figures or the self-aware admission of being ‘filmed being ridiculous,’ Murphy leans into the role of the court jester, using humor and jest to critique and enlighten. The hidden meaning navigates through a constellation of cultural references, encouraging a reflection on our interactions with media, authority, and each other.
Memorable Lines: Woven Wisdom and Witty Jabs
It’s not just the incessant ‘pow’s that dig their heels into your memory, ‘Pow Pow’ is also a treasure trove of witty and reflective lines that blur the line between profundity and banter. When Murphy proclaims, ‘You don’t know shit about where I’m from that you didn’t get from your TV,’ he’s slamming the superficiality of media-driven perceptions, while posing the listener with a challenge to seek the genuine.
Murphy’s lyrics are a cocktail of sarcasm, truth, and the occasional poignant revelation that tap into the universal experience. This dance-punk anthem showcases his knack for concocting phrases that linger long after the last beat drops, leaving a taste of candid observation and raw relatability.
The ‘Pow Pow’ Culmination: A Call to Conscious Existence
While ‘Pow Pow’ reads like a spirited journal entry from an observant recluse, it claims its power in the silence between the words. This is where the song breathes, amidst the eloquent cacophony, in the space where individual interpretation and meaning germinate.
LCD Soundsystem’s masterful blend of repetition, rhythm, and reflective probes in ‘Pow Pow’ doesn’t just entertain—it convicts. It serves as a clarion call to wake up from the ennui of our content-heavy, impact-lite existence and to start living deliberately, conscious of the ‘pows’ that mark our days, our discoveries, and ultimately, our lives.
