Soundtrack of My Life

"Handlebars" by Flobots

Day 9, a song that was way ahead of it's time.

"Handlebars" by Flobots

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

Look at me, look at me
Hands in the air like it's good to be
Alive, and I'm a famous rapper
Even when the paths are all crookedy

I can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together

I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to "De Colores"
And "I'm Proud to be an American"

Me and my friend saw a platypus
Me and my friend made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want, 'cause, look

I can keep rhythm with no metronome
No metronome
No metronome
And I can see your face on the telephone
On the telephone
On the telephone

Look at me, look at me
Just called to say that it's good to be
Alive, in such a small world
I'm all curled up with a book to read

I can make money, open up a thrift store
I can make a living off a magazine
I can design an engine
Sixty-four miles to a gallon of gasoline

I can make new antibiotics
I can make computers survive aquatic
Conditions, I know how to run the business
And I can make you wanna buy a product

Movers, shakers and producers
Me and my friends understand the future
I see the strings that control the system
I can do anything with no resistance

'Cause I can lead a nation with a microphone
With a microphone
With a microphone
And I can split the atom of a molecule
Of a molecule
Of a molecule

Look at me, look at me
Drivin' and I won't stop
And it feels so good to be alive and on top

My reach, is global
My tower, secure
My cause, is noble
My power, is pure

I can hand out a million vaccinations
Or let 'em all die of exasperation
Have 'em all healed of their lacerations
Have 'em all killed by assassination

I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like 'em
And I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command because

I can guide a missile by satellite
By satellite
By satellite
And I can hit a target through a telescope
Through a telescope
Through a telescope

And I can end the planet in a holocaust
In a holocaust (x5)

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

I remember hearing this song in high school, and the only part that stuck with me was that he could ride his bike with no handlebars. I thought that was kind of cute, and paid no attention at all to the rest of the lyrics. I also hadn't seen the music video before. Now, in 2022, this song hits differently. "I can hand out a million vaccinations / or let them all die of exasperation." I don't think the artists knew at the time how prophetic this song and video would be. Let's just say, the friend who went the corporate rout looks a bit too familiar. Everything from the nonsensical bragging, to the big corporate tower changing to a political landscape in front of American flags. Again, this song was first released in 2005, so I doubt they had any specific person in mind. I'm sure they meant the character to be a generalized symbol of corporate greed and power left unchecked. Who could have known that we would soon have a prominent political figurehead who is the very embodiment of corporate greed and power left unchecked. Granted, most politicians are greedy, but the one we elected in 2016 is like a cartoon caricature of a sleazy businessman.

Like many things, this song starts out innocent enough. Two friends riding bikes together decide to take very different paths in life. The lyrics become more and more exaggerated, from "Me and my friends saw a platypus" to "I can split the atom of a molecule", and things soon escalate out of control. The slow descent into Fascism is pretty realistic, like the frog in the boiling pot that can't sense the temperature rising until it's too late. It starts with, "my cause is noble, my power is pure". It's easy to get into power by claiming that you will use that power for good; and maybe in some cases that actually is their intention at the start.

But, power corrupts, and it's nearly impossible to take back once you give it. It can very quickly turn into, "I can do anything with no resistance". And then things turn violent, because that's the only way to hold onto power once you get it. People generally don't take kindly to being oppressed, and leaders generally don't take kindly to challenges to their power. In the video, the peaceful friend rallies the people to protest against the leader and things end in a massacre. I like the use of white splatters instead of red for blood to symbolize that the blood spilled is from innocent casualties. No one wins here. Including the leader, who lost his friend from the beginning in the massacre. From his expression, it's clear that he didn't fully understand the consequences of what he started. A good example that once you stoke the fires of unrest and doubt and violence, they can take on a life of their own and you don't control it anymore. The damage is done and everyone gets burned, including the one who started it.

Well, can you ride a bike with no handlebars?

Anni