Song of the Day – Day 9 – All These Things That I’ve Done – The Killers

All these things that I’ve done – Killers.

This is a modern song for me and an unusual pic as I am not much of fan of modern mellow rock type bands but I have always had a soft spot for the killers. I don’t know if it just because Brandon Flowers is so beautiful or if it’s because I’ve always loved their lyrics but I do just love them. Their songs have so much feeling which is rare these days and that’s probably why I like them so much.

Anyway, this particular song was written by Brandon Flowers and released by the Killers in 2004 and was the third single from The Killers debut album Hot Fuss. It didn’t do brilliantly in the charts only reaching 18 in the UK and 74 in the US, which is surprising as I remember them being huge around that time.  It’s highest chart position was in Poland where it hit number 13.

Despite it’s poor chart performance it has since been voted:

Number 22, 9 and 95 in the 100 greatest songs of the decade by XFM, absolute radio, and NME respectively. Number 56 in NME’s best 150 songs of the last 15 years, and number 65 and 75 in the Daily Telegraphs greatest songs of all time voted for in 2009 and 2015. So it clearly has gained critical acclaim after its release which I think is more important than instant success. It is clearly a song that will be highly thought of for a long time.

Here are the lyrics:

When there’s nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I want to stand up, I want to let go
You know, you know, no you don’t, you don’t
I want to shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand

Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no, help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out, yeah

And when there’s nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain’t changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out, yeah
You’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down

I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier
I got soul, but I’m not a soldier

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don’t you put me on the backburner
You’re gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you’re gonna bring yourself down

Over and again, last call for sin
While everyone’s lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I’ve done
All these things that I’ve done
(Time, truth, hearts)
If you can hold on
If you can hold on