"Race for the Prize" by the Flaming Lips (1999)

Though their intentions may have been good, the lives of the two scientists in the song really define the overall theme that life can pass one by when one is concerned with a lofty goal. The writer depicts the scientists as preoccupied when he says,"Two scientists were racing for the good of all mankind...So determined. Locked in a heated battle...Theirs is to win if it kills them." The two are so determined to reach their goal that they forget the rest of their life in the process. The author is trying to convey that while a high goal can be a beneficial aide, life is not worth missing in the meantime. His anecdote serves as a symbol of what can happen if his message is not followed. The narrative should be a model for all who doubt his message by believing that ambition is more important than everyday life.