The Killers

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Lookin' out the window, out on the street
I don't know what happened, I'm out on my feet
I hear my mother calling my name
I still come running, but I ain't the same

[Pre-Chorus 1]
You can change the channel
Take the phone off the hook
Avoid the headlines
But you'll never grow up, baby, if you don't look

[Chorus]
When I saw him go down
Felt like somebody lied
I had to hold my breath 'til the coast was clear
When I saw him go down
Felt like somebody lied
I had to close my eyes just to stop the tears

[Verse 2]
You're used to winning, how did it feel?
Could you hear the screaming? It was unreal
What did they pay you, what did it cost?
How long did it take you to know that you lost?
[Pre-Chorus 2]
You can hit the showers
Fill the place up with steam
Close the curtains
But when you woke up, man it wasn't no dream

[Chorus]
When I saw him go down
Felt like somebody lied
I had to hold my breath 'til the coast was clear
When I saw him go down
Felt like somebody lied
I had to close my eyes, close my eyes
Just to stop the tears

[Bridge]
Lookin' out the window out on the street
My boy and his mother
And I think of me
Feelin' the slip again
Don't wanna fall
You said it was nothing, but maybe you're wrong

[Chorus]
'Cause when I saw him go down
Felt like somebody lied
I had to hold my breath 'til the coast was clear
When I saw him go down
Felt like somebody lied
I had to close my eyes just to stop the tears
(Just to stop the tears)
(Just to stop the tears)

Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers is known for their storytelling abilities, often drawing upon real-life events and experiences to create narrative-driven music. Their song "Tyson vs Douglas" from their 2017 album "Wonderful Wonderful" is no exception, as it delves into the fall of a hero through the story of heavyweight champion Mike Tyson's shocking first career loss to underdog fighter Buster Douglas.

About Tyson vs Douglas

The track begins with a steady drum beat and haunting piano chords as lead singer Brandon Flowers commands attention with his distinctive vocal style. The lyrics then paint a picture of a young boy's admiration for Tyson, who was once considered unbeatable and the epitome of perfection in the world of boxing. According to Flowers in a BBC interview, he drew upon his own experience witnessing Tyson's stunning defeat as a child, which shattered his view of the world during that time.

"Mike Tyson was perfect to me... He created such excitement around the world – but he lived in Las Vegas, and he got my dad excited, he got my uncles excited, so that made me want to be excited about it... Then Tyson got knocked out [and] my whole view on the world changed. It wasn't supposed to happen."

The lyrics then shift to exploring the aftermath of Tyson's loss, with Flowers singing about the boxer's decline and eventual imprisonment. The bridge of the song brings the focus back to Flowers and his role as a father, drawing parallels between himself and Tyson in the eyes of his own children.

"I have a son now who is the same age I was when [the Tyson fight] happened," he explains. "And to him and his two little brothers, I am as perfect as Mike Tyson – and I don’t want to go down."

The haunting melody and evocative lyrics of "Tyson vs Douglas" come together to create a poignant tribute to the ups and downs of life, and how even the most celebrated heroes can fall. The song’s subtle and yet powerful delivery will likely stay with listeners long after it ends, serving as a testament to The Killers’ distinctive and thought-provoking approach to music.

Overall, "Tyson vs Douglas" showcases The Killers' ability to take real-life events and turn them into something that resonates with a wider audience, inviting them to examine their own perceptions of life and the heroes we look up to. With its haunting melody and evocative lyrics, it’s a fitting tribute to the fall of a hero and how it can shape our view of the world.

• Release Date: September 22, 2017
• Artist: The Killers