The Strokes

Released: July 30, 2001

Songwriter: Julian Casablancas

Producer: Gordon Raphael

[Verse 1]
No choice now, it's too late
Let him go, he gave up
I gave up
Lisa said, "Take time for me"
Dropping him down to his knees
Ah, chest down

[Chorus]
Take me away, see, I've got to explain
Things, they have changed in such a permanent way
Life seems unreal, can we go back to your place?
Oh, "you drink too much" makes me drink just the same

[Verse 2]
People tried, felt so right
Giving themselves good advice
Looking down sometimes felt nice
He knows it's justified to kill to survive
He then, in dollars, makes more dead than alive
Let's suck more blood, let's run three hours a day
The world is over but I don't care

[Chorus]
'Cause I am with you, now I've got to explain
Things, they have changed in such a permanent way
Life seems unreal, can we go back to your place?
Oh, "You drink too much" makes me drink just the same

[Bridge]
The first time, it happened too fast
The second time, I thought it would last
We all like it a little different

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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Is This It

From the album

Is This It (2001)

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