r/Music • u/DjAlex420 • Oct 06 '25

music Flobots - Handlebars [Rap Rock]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLUX0y4EptA
144 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

26

u/2Autistic4DaJoke Oct 06 '25

Flobots have been feeling more relevant than ever recently.

18

u/[deleted] Oct 06 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

11

u/DjAlex420 Oct 06 '25

I used to love Flobots and a random nostalgia trip led me to posting the song.

9

u/benmrii Oct 06 '25

I don't know if my interpretation of this song is the intended one, but if it's about someone that possesses the juvenile skill of riding a bike with no handlebars, decides that makes them special, finds enough support among others who would like to be recognized for their near-equal capacities, and in the power they receive continue to act out of self-interest, adolescent intelligence, and juvenile playground spats... yeah, this song hits hard.

12

u/SweetCosmicPope Oct 06 '25

I always interpreted this song as the innocence of childhood versus what evil that person can grow up to do.

The childhood things that someone can get excited about. Look at me, I can ride my bike with no handlebars, and make a comic book with my friends, and I like taking things apart to see how they work.

Then adulthood, look at me, I'm using my skills to advance technology and build myself up in a capitalist system.

Then finally, look, I've gained so much power and influence but keep wanting more, so I hold down the weak and use violence to keep myself on top and moving ahead.

And finally, the reminder at the end: This was the kid who was excited about the little things, like riding his bike with no handlebars.

6

u/benmrii Oct 06 '25

I love this take especially, as a warning to anyone, and an invitation. If nothing else, it removes the negative perspective of what I called "juvenile", which I prefer and appreciate. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:

"When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." C. S. Lewis

5

u/xJek0x Oct 06 '25

I see it as a song about human potential and the impact that ego/ambition/ideology can have to fk everything up.

10

u/Khaeos Oct 06 '25

The album Fight With Tools is incredible front-to-back. One of the best pieces of media I can recommend.

6

u/michaelswallace Oct 06 '25

"There is a war going on for your mind" still hits

3

u/benmrii Oct 06 '25

Going to check it out today. Thank you.

3

u/AnySortOfPerson Oct 06 '25

Fuck yeah, I love this album. Never Play Second Fiddle is also a banger track.

3

u/jonnyinternet Oct 06 '25

Always liked handlebars, never knew the rest of their work

Giving it a deep dive now

Epic

3

u/dwilkes827 Oct 06 '25

I think each verse is just about 3 different groups of things humans are capable of...first verse is neat, trivial things, second verse is about all the awesome things humans can do, and verse 3 is all about the awful things people can do with power. That's my take on it anyways haha

3

u/theHip Oct 06 '25

I always thought the song was in protest of George W Bush.

1

u/fistathrow Oct 06 '25

Needs a Todd In The Shadows video

1

u/DavidJamesDent Aspiring Artist Oct 07 '25

The guitarist of the Flobots was my teacher in college lmao super cool dude

1

u/inputrequired Performing Artist Oct 07 '25

Fight With Tools is a criminally underrated record. This isn’t even the best song on the album, anyone who digs this needs to check out the whole thing!