All These Things That I’ve Done Lyrics
When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son?
One more son
If you can, hold on
If you can, hold on, hold on
[Verse 1: Brandon Flowers]
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know; no, you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of man
I want a meanin' from the back of my broken hand
[Verse 2: Brandon Flowers]
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I'm so much older than I can take
And my affection, well, it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no, no, no, no
[Chorus: Brandon Flowers & Mark Stoermer]
Help me out, yeah
You know you gotta help me out, yeah
Oh, don't you put me on the back burner
You know you gotta help me out, yeah
[Verse 3: Brandon Flowers]
And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son?
These changes ain't changin' me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
Yeah, you know you gotta help me out, yeah
Oh, don't you put me on the back burner
You know you gotta help me out, yeah
You're gonna bring yourself down, yeah
You're gonna bring yourself down, yeah
You're gonna bring yourself down
[Bridge: Brandon Flowers, with Mark Stoermer & The Sweet Inspirations]
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
I got soul but I'm not a soldier
(Time, truth, and hearts)
[Chorus: Brandon Flowers, Mark Stoermer, and The Sweet Inspirations]
Yeah, you know you gotta help me out, yeah
Oh, don't you put me on the back burner
You know you gotta help me out, yeah
You're gonna bring yourself down, yeah
You're gonna bring yourself down, yeah
Oh, don't you put me on the back burner
You're gonna bring yourself down, yeah
You're gonna bring yourself down
Over and in (You're gonna bring yourself down)
Last call for sin (Bring yourself down)
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done (Time, truth, and hearts)
If you can hold on
If you can hold on
About
“All These Things That I’ve Done” was written by frontman Brandon Flowers and features gospel choir The Sweet Inspirations. It was released as the third single from the band’s debut studio album Hot Fuss in 2004 in the United Kingdom, and as the fourth single in the United States.
The song is about Flowers' struggle with his Mormon faith. He hasn’t always strictly followed his religion, and he’s unsure whether God will still accept him. By the end, he’s decided to make his own way; he still believes (“I’ve got soul”) but he will never be completely devout, he won’t fight and die for his faith, he won’t try to push it on anyone else (“I’m not a soldier”).
The song peaked at #74 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #18 in the UK Singles Chart.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
“When that one was cooking I was really into U2’s ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’. I thought that was an amazing comeback for them, and I was blown away by how many great songs were on that record. There’s an earnestness, spirit soul to U2, and I was trying to channel that. I wanted a song that stood up to those songs. We also took the bassline from a David Bowie song called ‘Slow Burn’, from ‘Heathen’, although enough time has probably passed now that I think he probably won’t sue us!” – Brandon Flowers writing for NME, November 8 2013.
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