The "pumped up kicks" line in the title and chorus refers to trendy, expensive footwear—shorthand, in the song's ethos, for the accoutrements of the cool set. "All the other kids with the pumped up kicks," Mark Foster merrily chirps, "you better run, better run, outrun my gun.". Robert finishes with an act of patricide. "Pumped Up Kicks" has been very, very good to Foster the People, the L.A.-based trio who released it as their first single. From nowhere, they've gone to playing Lollapalooza this summer. Cultural Impact and Reception "Foster The People's hit song 'Pumped Up Kicks' has left a notable mark on both culture and the music industry, sparking conversations around sensitive themes such as mental health and gun violence while achieving significant commercial success." Commercial Success and Chart Performance The Meaning Behind The Song: Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks" is a catchy, upbeat song that quickly became a popular hit after its release in 2010. Its cheerful melodies and bouncy beats, however, masks the dark and serious themes that permeate through its lyrics. The song, written … The singer has gone back and forth a bit on the aspect of Pumped Up Kicks being about mass shootings in school specifically, though. He explained that school shootings weren't directly referenced in the song and that people have misconstrued it by adding in their own notions . r/FosterThePeople • 3 yr. ago [deleted] What are your thoughts on pumped up kicks? DISCUSSION Pumped up kicks is one of my favourite songs, but every time I try and play it in the car with my friends they skip it! They don't like the "message". What are your thoughts? I think pumped up kicks is more like a story! Am I wrong for liking this song? 59 When Foster the People' s anti-gun violence anthem, "Pumped Up Kicks," was released in 2010, it quickly went viral. But not everyone immediately noticed the cautionary tale about gun violence Donald Trump 's team has responded after former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) suggested the former president has an intense smell. In a viral post over the weekend, Kinzinger, a vocal Trump critic, wrote, "I'm genuinely surprised how people close to Trump haven't talked about the odor.". "It's truly something to behold. Regardless of its cheerful tempo, the subject matter of "Pumped Up Kicks" doesn't match. According to writer and Foster the People frontman Mark Foster, the song is about a fictional high schooler, Robert ("Robert's got a quick hand"). The "kicks" in the song refer to expensive shoes worn by popular kids at Robert's school. "Pumped Up Kicks" does this by creating a chorus melody with a strong hook, and a melody that constantly reiterates the tonic note. Here's a map of the formal design for "Pumped Up Kicks": The song is very catchy, and the simplicity of its form is key. 3A6GHum.