The Farewell to Morality in “Human” by The Killers and the Misunderstood Lyric That Frustrates Brandon Flowers

“Are we human? Or are we dancer?” Brandon Flowers asks on The Killers’ hit “Human”. the lead single from their third album, Day & Age, released in 2008. The grammatically incorrect lyric has been a hot topic for fans ever since, with some believing the word “dancer” has been misheard or mispronounced and is actually “denser.”

The lyric even came out on top as the weirdest lyric of all time in a 2014 poll by Blinkbox Music.

The Misunderstood Line

Flowers has clarified that the word in the line is indeed “dancer” and is bothered by the suggestion of “denser.”

“I really care what people think but people don’t seem to understand ‘Human’,” he once told Rolling Stone. “They think it’s nonsense. But I was aching over those lyrics for a very long time to get them right.”

While “denser” might make more sense grammatically, it would completely change the song’s meaning. According to Flowers, “dancer” not only fits with the song’s dance vibe, but it was also inspired by a quote from gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

“We’re raising a generation of dancers, afraid to take one step out of line,” Thompson once said.

“I took it and ran,” Flowers said of Thompson’s quote. “I guess it bothers people that it’s not grammatically correct, but I think I’m allowed to do whatever I want.”

Society’s Moral Decay

Flowers has also said the verses of “Human” address “the decline in our values and our morals.” That’s especially clear in the second verse, in which Flowers bids farewell to traits like “grace and virtue.” The “devotion” refers to his parents’ long-lasting marriage, which Flowers has called “a dying thing.”

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’ve gotta let me go.

The chorus presents the famous question of human versus dancer, as Flowers searches in vain for an answer. With Thompson’s quote in mind, the question seems to suggest that being human means we have free will, while being a dancer means doing exactly as we’re told and conforming. The lyric itself plays with this concept, as Flowers defies listeners’ expectations and breaks the rules by choosing a grammatically incorrect word.

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?

Some theories suggest the “dancer” in the song is a specific character, and as is always the case in music and art, no single interpretation is correct. “Human” is likely to keep listeners wondering for years to come.

Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns