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 is a song by the American indie pop band Foster the People. The song, which is arguably the band's most famous song till date, has lyrics that are written from the point of view of a very troubled young man filled with homicidal thoughts and intentions. The meaning of "Pumped Up Kicks.". "Pumped Up Kicks" holds a darker meaning behind its alt-pop dance sound. Foster wrote the track from the point of view of a deeply troubled youth 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 - Foster the People Here's the song When I first heard it, it seemed like a play on current events (school shootings) just to become more popular, but the more I listened to it, the more I understood how deep and disturbing the song really is. "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. 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. 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 "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. 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 BQM9Ob.