The Strokes

Released: June 25, 2001

Songwriter: Julian Casablancas

Producer: Gordon Raphael

[Intro]
Ow! Haha, I meant, ah!
Haha, no, I didn't mean that at all
Ooh, ooh, ooh

[Verse 1]
Here in the streets so mechanized
Rise to the bottom of the meaning of life
Studied all the rules and didn't want no part
But I let you in just to break this heart
Even though it was only one night
It was fucking strange

[Pre-Chorus]
Nina's in the bedroom, she said, "Time to go now"
But leavin' it ain't easy, I got to let go, oh, I got to let go
And the hours, they ran slow
I said, every night, she just can't stop saying

[Chorus]
New York City cops, New York City cops
New York City cops, but they ain't too smart
New York City cops, New York City cops
New York City cops, but they ain't too smart

[Verse 2]
Well, kill me now 'cause I let you down
I swear one day I'm gonna leave this town
Stop
Yes, I'm leaving, 'cause it just won't work
And they act like Romans, but they dress like Turks
Some time in your prime, see me, I like the summertime but, hey

[Pre-Chorus]
Nina's in the bedroom, she said, "Time to go now"
But leaving, it ain't easy, oh, I got to let go, oh, I got to let go, oh
Trapped in an apartment, she would not let them get her
She wrote it in a letter, I got to come clean
The authorities they've seen, darling, I'm somewhere in between
I said, every night, she just can't stop saying

[Chorus]
New York City cops, New York City cops
New York City cops, but they ain't too smart
New York City cops, New York City cops
New York City cops, but they ain't too smart

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.

more tracks from the album

Hard to Explain - Single

From the albums

Hard to Explain - Single (2001)
Is This It (2001)

The Strokes popular songs

New York City CopsThe Strokes

The Strokes

Hard to Explain - Single