<P> The issue of youth violence is a matter close to the group . Foster was bullied in high school, while bassist Cubbie Fink has a cousin who survived the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 . Fink said of his cousin's experience, "She was actually in the library when everything went down, so I actually flew out to be with her the day after it happened and experienced the trauma surrounding it and saw how affected she was by it . She is as close as a sister, so obviously, it affected me deeply . So to be able to have a song to create a platform to talk about this stuff has been good for us ." </P> <P> Contrasting with the dark lyrics of the song, the music, which was written first, is upbeat . Foster said, "It's a' fuck you' song to the hipsters in a way--but it's a song the hipsters are going to want to dance to ." Jeffery Berg of Frontier Psychiatrist said, "I was so engrossed with the cheery melody of its chorus that it took me a few listens to discover that the lyrics suggest dark, Columbine revenge ." </P> <P> Due to the opening lyrics, "Robert's got a quick hand," many have speculated that the song is a reference to Robert Hawkins, perpetrator of Omaha's Westroads Mall shooting . The band's publicist denied any connection: "This is completely false . The character name in the song is just a coincidence ." For play on the television channels MTV and MTVu, the words "gun" and "bullet" were removed from the song's chorus . Many have misinterpreted the song's meaning, and have written letters to Foster's record label and called radio stations to complain . He explained, "The song is not about condoning violence at all . It's the complete opposite . The song is an amazing platform to have a conversation with your kids about something that shouldn't be ignored, to talk about it in a loving way ." </P> <P> "Pumped Up Kicks" drew considerable attention online after Foster posted the song on his website as a free download in early 2010; Nylon magazine used the track in an online advertising campaign, and through various blogs, it went viral . Foster the People first performed the song live at the Stand Up Charity Benefit in Venice in February . The group, yet to be signed, garnered buzz with performances at the South by Southwest music festival in March . Foster was emailed by many people about the song, and needing professional guidance, he contacted artist manager Brent Kredel at Monotone, Inc., saying, "Everyone is calling me and emailing me--what do I do? Who are the good guys, who are the bad guys?" Kredel recalled that "He went from the guy who couldn't get a hold of anyone to being the guy who had hundreds of emails in his inbox ." Kredel and Brett Williams were subsequently hired to co-manage Foster the People, and they helped the group get a multi-album record deal with Columbia Records imprint Startime International in May 2010 . Wishing to release a record that would back up the song's success, the group wrote new material between July--September 2010 . </P>

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks lyrics