What is the song pumped up kicks about?

"Pumped Up Kicks" is a song by American indie pop band Foster the People. It was released as the group's debut single in September 2010, and the following year was included on their EP Foster the People and their debut album, Torches. read more

Song MeaningMark Foster recently explained in an interview what Pumped Up Kicks is about: "Pumped Up Kicks' is about a kid that basically is losing his mind and is plotting revenge. He's an outcast. I feel like the youth in our culture are becoming more and more isolated. read more

In this song, the kids with the pumped up kicks, or at least these type of kids, are threatened with grave violence. Foster discussed the broad appeal of the song in an interview with Billboard magazine: "'Pumped Up Kicks' is one of those songs that blends something really familiar with something that's very modern," he said. read more