The Strokes

Released: April 10, 2020

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

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Verse 1]
They've been sayin' you're sophisticated
They're complainin', overeducated
You are saying all the words I'm dreaming
Say it after me
Say it after me
They will blame us, crucify and shame us
We can't help it if we are a problem
We are tryin' hard to get your attention
I'm climbin' up your wall
Climbin' up your wall

[Chorus]
Don't go there 'cause you'll never return
I know you think of me when you think of her
But then it don't make sense when you're trying hard
To do the right thing, but without recompense
And then you did something wrong and you said it was great
And now you don't know how you could ever complain
Because you're all confused 'cause you want me to
But then you want me to do it the same as you

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 2]
You were waitin' for the elevator
You were sayin' all the words I'm dreaming
No more askin', questions, or excuses
The information's here
Here and everywhere

[Chorus]
Don't go there 'cause you'll never return
I know you think of me when you think of her
But then it don’t make sense when you're trying hard
To do the right thing but without recompense
And then you did something wrong and you said it was great
And now you don't know how you could ever complain
Because you're all confused 'cause you want me to
But then you want me to do it the same way as you, and but

[Bridge]
I don't, I don't want anything
I know it's not, it's not your fault
I don't want anyone
As I do it's not for you

[Break]
Ah, ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah, ooh, ooh

[Outro]
Stockholders
Same shit, a different life
I'll get it right sometime
Oh, maybe not tonight
Oh, maybe not tonight
Oh, maybe not tonight
Oh, maybe not tonight
Oh, maybe not tonight

[Spoken]
Yeah boy, here we go
And a one, and a two, and a three
Here we go friends (Hold on, I can't)
Maybe that's a kooky situation
So let's go back to the old key, old tempo, everything

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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