The Strokes

Released: January 3, 2006

Songwriter: Julian Casablancas

Producer: David Kahne

[Chorus]
It was all just a dream, oh no
Yet I wish it was real

[Verse 1]
All my pets they were there and they smoke
Take a shit, it was fine
Everybody's so inviting
They've got it in for me, I know
It's not that I don't really love you
It's just that I don't really know
The hateful things you think you want to say, yeah
Time will turn them into jokes, yeah

[Chorus]
Yes, it was all just a dream, oh, I know
Was it real? I don't know, I hope so

[Instrumental break]

[Bridge]
Here we go, can I play? Can I watch?
I would like one night in your life
I saw worlds, they don't stop, they're like us
They go fast like a sun that's been shot

[Verse 2]
Everybody at the party
Shouldn't worry if I'm there
Everybody at the party
Shouldn't worry what I wear
'Cause today they'll talk about us
And tomorrow they won't care

[Chorus]
This whole life, is it a dream? I can't tell
I got up, then I waved, then I fell
I recall, you were all there with me
Overjoyed and at peace

[Outro]
First time around, second took too long
Third time's a charm, circle of fourths
Five days to rehearse, six to make it work
Seven notes in a scale, eight in some countries
Nine in fancy keys, ten years we've been friends
Eleven seconds to Hell and of course, twelve major chords

The Strokes burst onto the scene at a time when rock fans were desperate for an alternative to the rap-rock that was dominating the airwaves. That the band lived up to expectations after being hailed ‘saviors of guitar rock’ solely based on the strength of a three song EP is a testament to the quality of their flawless debut, July 2001’s Is This It.

Ultimately, they are a band that truly relies on the strength of the entire lead singer Julian Casablancas, lead guitarist Nick Valensi, drummer Fabrizio Moretti, guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., and bassist Nikolai Fraiture. However, much of The Strokes' output has been influenced by the domineering vision of Casablancas' songwriting.

Before he took a small step back on their third album, January 2006’s First Impressions of Earth, and then isolated himself to record March 2011’s Angles, Casablancas was involved in almost every step of The Strokes' recording process. He wrote all of the lyrics and the music on their first two albums and was constantly involved in the mixing of the records.

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