The Strokes

Released: February 11, 2020

Songwriter: Paul Vincent Vassallo Fabrizio Moretti Nick Valensi Nikolai Fraiture Albert Hammond Jr. Julian Casablancas

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
I can't escape it
I'm never gonna make it out of this in time
I guess that's just fine
I'm not there quite yet
My thoughts, such a mess
Like a little boy
What you runnin' for?

[Pre-Chorus]
Run at the door
Anyone home?
Have I lost it all?

[Chorus]
Struck me like a chord
I'm an ugly boy
Holdin' out the night
Lonely after light
You begged me not to go
Sinkin' like a stone
Use me like an oar
And get yourself to shore

[Verse 2]
A bang at the door
Anyone home?
That's just what they do
Right in front of you
Like a cannonball
Slammin' through your wall
In their face, I saw
What they're fightin' for

[Pre-Chorus]
I can't escape it
I'm never gonna make it 'til the end, I guess

[Chorus]
Struck me like a chord
I'm an ugly boy
Holdin' out the night
Lonely after light
Bangin' on the door
I don't wanna know
Sinkin' like a stone
So use me like an oar

[Bridge]
Hard to fight what I can't see
Not tryna build no dynasty
I can't see beyond this wall
But we lost this game
So many times before

[Non-Lyrical Bridge]

[Outro]
Lying on the cold floor
I'll be waiting, yeah
I'll be waiting from the other side
Waiting for the tide to rise
Lying on the cold floor
I'll be waiting, yeah
I'll be waiting from the other side
Waiting for the tide to rise

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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