The Strokes

Released: April 10, 2020

Songwriter: Richard Butler Nick Valensi Fabrizio Moretti Albert Hammond Jr. Nikolai Fraiture Julian Casablancas Tim Butler

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Intro]
This, and I never let it happen
Hey, yeah, oh
Hey, yeah, oh

[Verse 1]
When I think of you
It's always on my mind
Is that story true?
No one saves the day (Hey, yeah, oh)
Don't you want the truth?
Ignore reality
See, I love that feeling too
Nobody's gonna stop right now (Hey, yeah, oh)

[Pre-Chorus]
Summer is coming, won't go away
Summer is coming, it's here to stay (Hey, yeah, oh)

[Chorus]
I can't believe it
This is the eleventh hour
Psychedelic
Life is such a funny journey
Hercules, your service is no longer needed
It's just like make-believe (Hey, yeah, oh)

[Post-Chorus]
They got the remedy
But they won't let it happen
Yeah, they got the remedy
But they won't let it happen (Hey, yeah, oh)
(Hey, yeah, oh)

[Verse 2]
Now that you heard the truth
All I need a friendly face
I hate that feeling too
But no one's unafraid (Hey, yeah, oh)
Don't expect the truth
This is a fantasy
I fight that feeling too
But nobody's gonna stop us now (Hey, yeah, oh)

[Pre-Chorus]
Summer is coming, won't go away
Summer is coming, it's here to stay (Hey, yeah, oh)
Lo and behold the salt of the city
Pillars like time are fading away
Symphony building up to a future
Mystery to solve for somebody else (Hey, yeah, oh)

[Chorus]
I can't believe it
Life is such a funny journey
Psychedelic
This is the eleventh hour
Hercules, your service is no longer needed
It's just like make-believe

[Post-Chorus]
They got the remedy
But they won't let it happen
Yeah, they got the remedy
But they won't let it happen

[Outro]
Everybody's on the take
Tell me, are you on the take too?
Everybody's on the take
Tell me, are you on the take too?
(Hey, yeah, oh)
(Hey, yeah, oh)
(Hey, yeah, oh)
Look up on the bright side
I'm not gonna give it to ya
Look at it on the bright side (Hey, yeah, oh)
Look up on the bright side
I'm not gonna give it to ya
Look at it on the bright side (Hey, yeah, oh)
Look up on the bright side
I'm not gonna give it to ya
Look at it on the bright side (Hey, yeah, oh)
Look up on the bright side
I'm not gonna give it to ya
Look at it on the bright side (Hey, yeah, oh)

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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