The Killers: Dancer or Denser?
Posted on 12 November 2008 by Manny
Here at the office, we respect the brilliant opinions of others, and share this common respect for intellectual integrity. Recently, however, there has been this issue of The Killers’ song “Human” which has us at each other’s throats, at least once a week. I took it upon myself to ask you, the wise general population, to help us out. There are parts that refer to vital signs, systems, and cords, which lead me to believe he’s talking about robots or machines. There is the lyric that says, “will your system be alright, if you dream of home tonight?” It seems like a reference to a computer system, which alludes to a robotic routine that people place themselves in a daily basis. There is no real allusion to anything that has to do with “Dancers” in the song. I am open to other opinions, but I am a freaking genius, so have at it!. The actual “lyrics” read somewhat like:
I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometimes get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes
Clear your heart
Cut the cord
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer/Denser?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer/Denser?
Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye
Wish me well
You got to let me go
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer/Denser?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answers
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer/Denser?
Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?
There is no message we’re receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating?
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer/Denser?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
You got to let me know
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer/Denser?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I’m on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we Human
Or are we Dancer/Denser?
Are we Human?
Or are we Dancer/Denser?
Are we Human
Or are we Dancer/Denser? 
Here’s the video so you can listen to the tune. What do you think? Denser or Dancer?
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Tags | Dancer, Dancer or Denser?, Denser, HumanLyrics, Newsong, The Killers
January 5th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Ok,
It’s obvious to me that too many people haven’t got a clue what grammar is…
Obviously DANCER is not an adjective, as many people here seem to think. DANCER is a NOUN! Ever heard of that? And it’s singular. “Human”, instead, can be used both as a noun or as an adjective. You can say “human race”, for example, in which human is used as an adjective or you can say “humans have got the ability to think” in which it is used as a noun. (Though the meaning of the sentence itself might occasionally be false, judging from this Forum…)
If you ask “Are we human?”, as in the song, human is used as an adjective, therefore it is correctly used without the “s” for the plural (if you are familiar with how the English language works!). Conversely, “Are we dancer?” doesn’t make any sense and in no way can be considered grammatically correct. The correct version would be “Are we dancers”, but, since it must appear obvious to ANY proper ear that the singer is not pronouncing the final “s”, the only logical conclusion is that, despite “Human” being a wonderful song, it is grammatically incorrect.
The option of the singer actually saying “denser” is appealing, since it would solve the grammatical “impasse” (albeit not improving the semantic clarity of the sentence!). Unfortunately, I seriously doubt the singer/songwriter was clever enough even to see the problem with his own lyrics. Pity! I sincerely hate when the English language, beautiful as it is, is used improperly.
By the way, since The Killers have always tried so hard to sound British (mostly unsuccessfully, we can add), I wonder why they chose to sing “dancer” as a very mid-Atlantic “d[e]nser” instead as “d[A]nsa’” as the proper British pronunciation should sound… I suggest they listen to Sophie Ellis-Bextor a bit more, maybe the highly sought after R.P. (Received Pronunciation) will finally cease to elude them. Oh… And while listening, they could also try to pick up a good book about English Grammar.
Cheers,
STE
December 14th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Gosh guys its dancer heres why:
One of the first times I found the theme so blatantly stated. Literally the theme is “are we human? Or are we Puppets?”
(my own interpretation and may contain errors)
(note that the dancer is a puppet on strings being forced to dance with everyone else, like everyone else)
I did my best to notice,
When the call came down the line.
(called meaning the strings are pulling the puppet, metaphor for society pulling him to one direction)
Up to the platform of surrender,
(refering to a stage where the “dancers” surrender their individuality)
I was brought, but I was kind.
(Feels he shouldnt because he wants to express individuality hence the note that he was “kind” an emotion)
But sometimes I get nervous,
When I see an open door.
(nervous and considering standing for his individuality, going against the expectations society demands)
Close your eyes,
Clear your heart.
Cut the coard.
(refering to a puppets strings that he wants cut so he may find out if he is “human”)
[Chorus]
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
(puppets!)
My sign is vital,
My hands are cold.
(Imagery referencing a puppet)
And I’m on my knees,
(the cords were cut and hes a limp puppet on his knees)
Looking for the answer.
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
Pay my respects to grace and virtue,
Send my condolences to good.
Give my regards to soul and romance,
They always did the best they could.
And so long to devotion,
You taught my everything I know.
Wave goodbye, Wish me well.
(this whole verse is simulating what the “dancers” of this generation do. Give up their personal emotion and individuality to become the dancing puppets)
You’ve gotta let me go.
(letting go over their sense of self)
[Chorus]
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital,
My hands are cold.
And I’m on my knees,
Looking for the answer.
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
Will your system be alright?
When you dream of home tonight.
(will you be able to live with yourself knowing you gave yourself up? Remembering what you had “home” is a strong personal image for dramatic effect)
There is no message we’re receiving,
(People have no “message” nothing driving any personal ambition, just follow the crowd to fit in.)
Let me know is your heart still beating?
(Another comparison saying are you still alive ie human)
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital,
My hands are cold.
And I’m on my knees,
Looking for the answer.
You gotta let me know.
[Chorus]
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital,
My hands are cold.
And I’m on my knees,
Looking for the answer.
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
December 14th, 2008 at 4:29 am
I would like to throw my hat in and guess that, even if it werent posted on The Killers webiste as such, it is indeed “dancer”. Not only this, I would like to address something that Chloe and Manny may not have considered.
Take a simple scenario. If somebody dies and Joe Bloggs, who never cries, sheds a tear. Somebody might say “I can’t believe it, Joe is crying!” to which someone may reply “Yeah, I guess it just goes to show, we’re all HUMAN.”
One would not say “I guess it just goes to show, we’re all humanS”
To pose the end of the question as “…or are we dancer?” as opposed to “…or are we dancers?” would normally be deemed as gramatically incorrect but because one would follow certain exceptions for the question “Are we human?”, The Killers must be trying to do something different, applying the same rule to “Are we dancer?”
Quite clever of them, I think.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I saw an interesting video at youtube if you want it you can see it. The link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2vGiAyAWvE
The video explains why it is dancer not denser.
December 9th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Gene, I like your interpretation, that would totally make sense, and JJB, I even though it doesn’t sound the same, clearly, I like your rendition as well! Humans do seem like some kind of cancer on earth right? Maybe even a parasite. Awesome analysis people! keep them coming! Oh, and feel free to take JJB’s stance and put in your own lyric that would have it make more sense! I know Brandon Flowers couldn’t be this creative!
December 8th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Old Royal Court Yard Dancer=Joker(Clown)…Are we human, or are we clowns?
December 8th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
I heard the song at the gym today – not very clearly – and I got excited at the idea that the question was “Are we human? Or are we cancer?” Which would have been a very cool comment on man’s relation to himself, and, perhaps, the earth.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
For all those saying its denser, i’m afraid you are wrong. The official Killers website says it is dancer.
December 8th, 2008 at 9:05 am
its denser because that makes sense. are we human or are we denser, meaning are we not as bright as humans!! jesus its not rocket science what do you people learn at school.
December 6th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
either way the lyrics make zero sense…dancer, denser who cares. they could have said “are we human or are we killer(s).
nice melody but the dumbest lyrics I’ve heard.
December 5th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Chloe is a Genius! See, all it takes is simple grammar people!
December 5th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Its Denser!
If It Was Dancer it would be- are We Dancers Not Dancer!
So Its DENSER!!!!
November 30th, 2008 at 10:22 am
It is ‘dancer’ and its a moving critique of the inner turmoil surrounding John Sargeants recent and brave decision.
November 29th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Wow still talking about something the author said was an inside joke? We should be chewing out brandon flowers for using such a stupid lyric and not providing a well founded reason besides “because I wanted to” the song is ruined just because he wanted to use a famous quote in a song that doesn’t make sense now… We could get into semantics, syntax, and even pragmatics because the author said he was aware of the “error” as it was an inside joke
November 29th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
in response to the correction argument.
i think you’ll find the sentence was syntactically correct and not symantically correct. so the person who wrote it is still a fool.
love you xxx
November 28th, 2008 at 12:33 am
It is “dancer.” If you noticed what Brandon was wearing when he sang this on SNL, it was a getup similar to that of a “dancer,” which is a small puppet on strings dressed like brandon that are sold in the streets of Tijuana…
November 26th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
it’s dAncer.
http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/10/29/killers-frontman-brandon-flowers-talks-feathers-and-dancers/
November 24th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Oh and thanks “correction to correction” like I was saying, it’s an inside joke, but if “correction” would have taken the time to investigate, rather than judge, he/she wouldn’t have made such an ass of him/herself, unlike “correction to correction” who is in fact, a genius and awesome.
November 24th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Inside joke buddy, relax!
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Hey “correction”, “weak” is in fact a word so “spell check” would not pick that up. It was a grammar error, not a spelling error, and the point was conveyed so you do not have to be such a cynical jerk. I’m sure everyone that read that little article picked up on it, but you just wanted to feel smart by pointing it out. You’re not smart.
November 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I think it’s denser because dancer doesn’t make sense dancers would but we dancer not right it’s plural
November 21st, 2008 at 8:10 pm
You have this debate once a ‘weak’? Ever heard of spell checking a post before publishing it?
November 18th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
turns out he wrote Fear and Loathing so yeah you win lol unfortunately, by making that the lyric, the song just turned to crap for me because it doesn’t have any consistent meaning. wah wah wahwahwah
Lauren rocks! She has settled an unsettling issue I’ve had with my friends and office mates… I accept my defeat, only because I have nothing to retort with… for now.
November 18th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Oh and Lauren, it’s also found in a note from journalist Hunter S. Thompson who commited suicide in 2005. Analyze that
November 18th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Lauren, listen up and listen up good because I hate repeating myself so I’m not going to say this again… Good job, you got me there lol
November 18th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
It’s dancer.
‘are we human or are we dancer’ refers to a line from the book ‘fear and loathing in las vegas’.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I saw this on some celebrity site and it said that it was dancer and NOT denser. Just saying. I don’t really know though.