Since The Killers is an American band, the intersecting identities alluded in the song pertain to the typical struggles of a working-class guy thriving within the halls of western culture. The song’s first line states, “I know the score like the back of my hand.”
This highly indicates confidence in being on the top of the game of masculinity. It speaks about being someone who truly knows what he’s doing and that he has the power to accomplish whatever it is that he aims for. It also denotes the attitude of a guy who’s highly respected and feared in the community where he thrives.
We can perceive a strong connection to the concept of “hegemonic masculinity” as the song progresses. This is indicated as the singer reveals how he is meant to be looked up to by those around him.
“I carry the crown, nothing can break, nothing can break me down.”
This indicates being strong, and that how he must be treated like a king like he’s supposed to be on the pedestal like he’s meant to be way ahead of others in any imaginable category he can possibly think of. That’s often the dilemma of the male species – the need to be respected, the need to be treated as superior, the longing to be the dominant force to the group in which he belongs.
Based on its melodic and harmonic patterns, the song isn’t too instrumentally loud. The tempo isn’t too fast either. It means that the song is just enough for anyone to perceive in an ideal manner. The songwriter could be trying to tell the listener about a story that needs to be understood clearly – not only through musical elements but from a lyrical and narrative perspective as well.
“Don't need no advice, I got a plan, I know the direction.”
This is about the attitude of a ‘know-it-all’ type of guy. With an attitude like this, he is someone who appears to be very knowledgeable about the things he does – about his profession, about his hobbies, and about how he should treat his loved ones, as well as the people around him.
It is one of the most harmful attitudes of men, especially those who believe they belong to the alpha-male class, they seem to think that only very few people are equipped to give them wisdom, they think that if you are not within the same level as their intelligence, then you are not someone worthy of their time. They must not bother to take heed and listen to your advice, so to speak.
“Them other boys, I don’t give a damn.”
It means that he doesn’t really care about what others would say, or that listening to the ideas of others is something that’s not included in his vocabulary. In relationships of any kind, the attitude of being a know-it-all is indeed harmful. For that reason, being too proud of one’s macho image is not really a healthy habit to keep.
However, it can also be a means of making a point about your firmness in standing for what you believe in. The best way to deal with a person like that is to show him that a balanced perspective of things is the most ideal attitude to have. No matter how wise or smart we are, we still need to listen to others.
“I got gas in the tank, I got money in the bank.”
By affirming this line, the guy is trying to say that he’s got the strength and the masculinity to engage with anyone. “Gas” could be perceived as vigor or vitality since it literally means fuel when we think of a man as a vehicle. Although money is mentioned right after, the songwriter could just be trying to make a good rhyme, so it doesn’t really mean anything literal. But the point of that line is that aside from the wisdom and intellect that the singer has, given that he claims that he doesn’t need the advice of anyone, he has also the physicality needed to get the job done, whatever it may be.
“I got news for you baby, you're looking at the man. I got skin in the game.”
This line is obviously the guy trying to impress a lady. He is trying to tell a member of the feminine species that he’s the best guy in the neighborhood and that there is nobody better than him. Oftentimes, men want to look strong and impressive in front of women, and that line is an obvious giveaway.
In a lot of cases, men would do things to improve themselves like going to the gym, choosing to participate in a sport, or even buy stylish, expensive clothes just to impress the ladies. And when a guy is finally in front of a lady, he may then blurt out something similar to that line sung by the singer.
“Right hand to God, first in command, My testimony, but I take the stand.”
This highly indicates that the singer wants to affirm his honesty. He wants the listener to know that he is speaking with the utmost truthfulness. He wants to appear as trustworthy, he needs to be known as authentic and as someone who’s being real as a man.
If we are going to connect the emotions of the messenger and that of the audience, we can have the understanding that he is someone who demands respect from either of the male or female species. By analyzing the lyrics, we can somehow discern that it could be about his insecurities, or it could be about his intense desire to improve himself.
Either way, he is truly someone who wants to be free from the shackles that keep him down. It can be understood that he is in the process of trying to elevate himself from the current situations he’s having, in which he is someone who isn’t satisfied enough with the things he has and the kind of routine that his daily life is shoving upon him.
Thoughts about the entirety of the song.
If we are going to let it sink into ourselves, we can figure out that the lyrics of the song, as well as most emotionally touching lyrics for that matter can really poke into our lives, and change it for the better. Psychologists have established that when the likes of competitiveness, dominance, and aggression are mixed up together to form one’s ideals, it is a very harmful way to deal with life.
It can also be noted that when we speak of mental and emotional health, men are inferior to women in comparison. Studies show that when men are not getting want they want in life in aspects of success, or in any endeavor we may put them, they end up easily depressed at a rate that’s higher and faster than that of women.
If we are to relate such facts to the intersecting identities of the singer, it strongly indicates that he is a middle-aged man who’s too tired already of being put down repeatedly, of being disrespected, of being alone with nobody to talk to and share their feelings with.
Perhaps, because of his intense desire to engrave his message into the minds of others, the singer wrote the song so he can attain the respect he thinks he deserves – the kind of respect that he has been hoping to achieve for a long time already.
Now, going back to the song’s lyrics, those who do not have a clear understanding of the masculinity problems that lie around must take heed of the words therein, because they could be an element of pop culture that can serve as a wake-up call. Of course, no lyrics can ever be taken at face value since they could just be a way for the songwriter to humor us, to entertain us, or maybe just because he is just trying to be amused himself.
Conclusion
It is said that “Music is the language of the soul.” And when a set of rhymes are being arranged in a melodic way, it can really touch lives and speak to people in a much deeper way. And when a certain song like “The Man” by The Killers is played through speakers or onstage via live performance, we should listen to it and as it speaks through our souls… because an insecure man who badly needs our attention might be sick deep inside and maybe, we are the cure that he really needs.
