“Are we human or are we dancer?“
There is a little controversy and question about this lyric. Does Brandon Flowers sing “are we dancer” or “are we denser”? At first everything I could find yielded “denser,” however, a comment from reader Blue turned me to the proof found here:
Are we human, or are we dancer?” He says the lyrics were inspired by a disparaging comment made by Hunter S. Thompson about how America was raising a generation of dancers.
Song (click for full lyrics): Human
Artist: The Killers
Album: Day & Age
Year: 2008
Own it on iTunes.
Leave a comment below. Let me know if you have corrections or suggestions. Do you own this music on vinyl, CD, or download for your iPOD?
Why is this lyric important to you? What lyrics would you add to Lyrical Wisdom?
10 responses so far ↓
Blue // October 7, 2008 at 12:33 pm |
Sorry mate, it’s “Dancer” not “Denser”
Check the 3rd paragraph. Lead singer says so himself:
http://www.amazon.com/Day-Age-Killers/dp/B001FWRZ46
Score 1 for good journalism.
HGoldenH // October 7, 2008 at 12:49 pm |
Thanks Blue. Duly noted and changed.
I appreciate the correction – always – as I do not consider myself an expert, just an observer.
Long_Live_Metal // January 16, 2009 at 11:13 pm |
it doesnt matter what the hell he meant, it doesnt change the fact that this band sucks
so in conclusion i would say: Put all your sucky cds to garbage and buy Dream Theater cds
Katy // February 15, 2009 at 6:38 am |
Look what the wonders of Google can produce..
Checking up on lyrics to see which it is. I’m planning on doing a photomanipulation or drawing with a play on the lyrics and ideas in the lyrics etc.
Well, if it IS “denser”, that’d be lovely as “denser” can mead “puppet(s)” in other languages (I’m not sure if it’s plural or not). So, say it were, pretty much, “puppets” then that’d be good, as:
1) grammar-fanatics would be happy
2) by the magic of ANALISIS would adore that because you can go into the whole thing of Humanity or Controled by A Puppet-Master kind of thing.
I could go into more detail, but that’d probably get criticsm by people are DETERMINED THAT IT IIIIIS DANCER, NO OTHER OPTION.
I am uncertain, so hey. Combine the two. So its dancers on puppet strings. Because, if you’re cool enough to analyse “dancer” (*ahem*) you can get ideas of control for identical-ness and perfection, contrastic with Humanity’s individualty, no-one alike etc.
Then everyone’s happy?
RACH // February 25, 2009 at 7:19 am |
ITS DENSER
lithium // March 1, 2009 at 10:09 pm |
When you put it that way it makes a lot of sense. The Killers are a little crazy; and uncanny, so to draw inspiration from that saying makes it slightly satirical and very much them.
I love this song, either way!
Graeme // March 3, 2009 at 4:51 am |
Good song and I really like the lyrics .
Catchy tune and the words “are we dancer “are something to think about.
More people need to question what they are told .
I think this guy can sing .
It's "DANCER" !! // March 14, 2009 at 5:02 pm |
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598299/20081030/killers_the.jhtml
Oct 31 2008 8:00 AM EDT
Killers’ Brandon Flowers Stands Behind ‘Human’ Chorus, Feathery Jacket
‘I think I’m allowed to do whatever I want,’ singer says of oft-debated dancer(s) lyrics.
Namely, the “s” in “dancers.” Ever since “Human,” the first single from the Killers’ Day & Age album, debuted last month, fans have been debating just why Flowers has decided to drop the letter and make the song’s chorus (“Are we human/ Or are we dancer?”) a singular affair. It seems like the whole thing didn’t make much sense, and some fans even wondered if he was singing something else, like, say “denser.”
So when MTV News caught up with Flowers last week at the Killers’ NYC show, we decided to ask him about the chorus controversy.
“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.’ “
fake // July 3, 2009 at 12:24 pm |
ITS DENCER
Yass x // October 26, 2009 at 4:20 am |
How would dancer make sense
Its deffinately DENSER! xx