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rslakinsk... rslakinsk...
 
M$15 December 17, 2008 04:14 AM

Are we human or are we dancers?

I know this is a song lyric from the latest Killers single "Human" but what I'd like to know is the full lyrics of the song, and your thoughts on what they mean, brownie points for interesting videos of the band talking about the song or live versions song being sung.
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jonceramic jonceramic
 
 December 17, 2008 04:26 AM
Well, the literal answer is found when you add "thompson" to the searches...

Amazingly, MTV comes through for you here...
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598299/20081030/killers_the.jhtml

There's video on the link that I've embedded. It's not related to your question. But, it's quirky.

Here's the text from the link...
"It's taken from a quote by [author Hunter S.] Thompson. ... 'We're raising a generation of dancers,' and I took it and ran. I guess it bothers people that it's not grammatically correct, but I think I'm allowed to do whatever I want," he laughed. " 'Denser'? I hadn't heard that one. I don't like 'denser.' "

So, there you go. It's "dancer," and don't you forget it. And though Flowers cops to nicking the line from Thompson, does he share any of the author's sentiments about the growing softness of America's youth?

"I think that I do, and I don't want to be too much of a preacher," he said. "I say that it's a mild social statement, and that's all I'm gonna say. We're still trying to write the best pop songs we can write."
Source(s):
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598299/20081030/killers_the.jhtml

Asker's Rating:
• Good details and explains some confusion around what the lyrics are not to mention a killer link to an interview!


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jonceramic jonceramic
 
December 17, 2008 04:28 AM
BTW, by dancer, the late great Gonzo Journalist meant, essentially "puppet". As referenced in this link.
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Music/CDs-DVDs-Videos/Question659948.html

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rslakinski rslakinski
 
December 17, 2008 02:08 PM
Any idea what Hunter S. Thompson meant by that quote?

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Other Answers (14)

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tracebooks tracebooks
 
December 17, 2008 04:15 AM
Around here we're dancers. Not sure we qualify as human sometimes...

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ssmacd ssmacd
 
December 17, 2008 04:25 AM
I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door

Close your eyes, clear your heart

Cut the cord
Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave good bye, wish me well

You gotta let me go
Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

Will your system be all right
When you dream of home tonight
There is no message were receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating

Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer

You've gotta let me know
Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human - or are we denser?

Are we human or are we dancer?

Are we human or are we dancer?


There is some debate about whether the word is "dancer" or "denser"...but dancer makes more sense to me. In my mind the dancer imagery is of a performer--and the message of the song is that to be truly human, you need to let go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L_ygkK__Ak


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toddgilmor... toddgilmor...
 
December 17, 2008 04:26 AM
This is about virtual reality and what we become. Human or Dancing in Second Life. The author is asking if he has transformed into a virtual character or is he still real. The only way to find out is to cut the cord, so good night...snip! The problem is the computer addiction. They can't pull themselves away from the keyboard.

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mukesh sah... mukesh sah...
 
December 17, 2008 04:39 AM
Dancing Human...

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eatthatpop... eatthatpop...
 
December 17, 2008 04:42 AM
I did my best to notice
when the call came down the line
up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
and sometimes I get nervous
when I see an open door

close your eyes, clear your heart

cut the cord
are we human or are we dancer
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human or are we dancer

pay my respects to grace and virtue
send my condolences to good
give my regards to soul and romance
they always did the best they could
and so long to devotion, you taught me everything I know
wave good bye, wish me well

you gotta let me go
are we human or are we dancer
[ The Killers Lyrics are found on www.songlyrics.com ]
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human or are we dancer

will your system be alright
when you dream of home tonight
there is no message were receiving
let me know is your heart still beating

are we human or are we dancer
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer

you’ve gotta let me know
are we human or are we dancer
my sign is vital, my hands are cold
and I’m on my knees looking for the answer
are we human
or are we dancer

are we human or are we dancer
are we human or are we dancer

--------

09-30-2008

Rated +1
I've never heard anything but "dancer" for the lyric, and it fits the song and what's going on in the words when it's experienced as a spiritual song, questioning the relationship between our physical existence and our spiritual existence.

In many Native and mystical traditions, life is seen as a dance, and the living of life is dancing to its rhythms. Humans are seen as instruments played by the Divine, and our human lives are our unique expressions of the Divine dance. If we look at our lives as purely human, the "dance" makes no sense. If we look at our lives as an expression of something greater, we can easily all be dancers, dancing in an intensly choreographed stage called Earth. It's a great song (and really, my introduction to The Killers!

Source(s):
Fan like you
http://www.songlyrics.com/the-killers/human/288419/


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joeman joeman
 
December 17, 2008 04:43 AM
In short, I dont know any non-human dancers....
Source(s):
none


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jamesbell jamesbell
 
December 17, 2008 05:04 AM
I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometimes get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes
Clear your heart

Cut the cord
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer?

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye
Wish me well

You got to let me go
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answers
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer?

Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?
There is no message we're receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating?

Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer

You got to let me know
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we Human
Or are we Dancer?

Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer?

Are we Human
Or are we Dancer?
Source(s):
http://www.metrolyrics.com/human-lyrics-the-killers.html


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albanian albanian
 
December 17, 2008 05:09 AM
From the answers, I would say that this is an awful, brain dead excuse for a song. To joeman, there are many other living beings that dance. For example many birds; the best known of which are cranes. They dance for social bonding, much as some humans do. Bees also dance; but, they do it to signal and communicate. I hope pop music takes a turn for the better. Decade after decade I think it cannot sink any lower, yet it does.

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marcel m marcel m
 
December 17, 2008 05:10 AM
Well i reckon they are talking about the doubts that cloud ones mind moments before one dies or rather departs this plane of existence.The moment "cut the cord",as used in this song would mean leaving all that we had known previouisly and jumping into something new. So the question as to whether we are human or dancer,can be broadly perceived to mean to ask of us who we really are.

Here are the full lyrics to the song.

HUMAN
I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes
Clear your heart
Cut the cord

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance,
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye
Wish me well..
You’ve got to let me go

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answers
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?

Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?
There is no message we’re receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answers

You got to let me know

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answers
Are we human
Or are we dancer?

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?

Are we human
Or are we dancer?

Source(s):
http://www.yoursonglyrics.com/human-the-killers/
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_vyt7WGHJI


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masstrivia... masstrivia...
 
December 17, 2008 05:20 AM
Why can't we be both?

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justinleun... justinleun...
 
December 17, 2008 05:24 AM
All dancers are human. Some humans are dancers, therefore we are human and SOMETIMES dancers
Source(s):
My own skills of reasoning.


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nihsla nihsla
 
December 17, 2008 06:12 AM
Neither. We are all mutants!!

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willjohnst... willjohnst...
 
December 17, 2008 08:17 AM
In Elton John's 1971 hit, "Tiny Dancer," there is a line which reads, "Hold me close, young tiny dancer." However, when Elton sings this, what he actually says is, "Hold me close, young Tony Danza." Tony Danza is, obviously, a human, and Mr. John replaced these words when singing because he understands that to be human is to dance.

Thus, in answer to your question, it is impossible to separate being human from being a dancer.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiny_Dancer


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offthedome offthedome
 
December 17, 2008 06:57 PM
Meaning: It's a reference to a Hunter S. Thompson quote that America is "Raising a generation of dancers", with dancers arguably meaning "kinda weak".

They just dropped the plurality for no good reason.



Human lyrics

I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door

Close your eyes, clear your heart

Cut the cord
Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave good bye, wish me well

You gotta let me go
Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human or are we dancer?

Will your system be all right
When you dream of home tonight
There is no message were receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating

Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer

You've gotta let me know
Are we human or are we dancer?
My sign is vital, my hands are cold
And I'm on my knees looking for the answer
Are we human - or are we denser?

Are we human or are we dancer?

Are we human or are we dancer?

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip offthedome for this answer
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