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

The theme of this song is that if someone dies trying to make a difference, it doesn't matter, they were insignificant. This melancholy is demonstrated by the lyrics, which state that the cure the two scientists are looking for "[is] so dangerous, but they're determined". This shows that despite the possibility of death, these men want to make a difference. It also says that "if it kills them, they're just humans", demonstrating that even if they do die, it's not a big deal - they're just humans, insignificant and unremarkable. This generally sad tone is reinforced by the instrumentation, which I think is in a minor key. The music sounds very sad and rather defeated, showing that if these men die, there would be no major impact. The general feel of the song is rather sad, but painfully true.