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The Strokes - Is This It Album Lyrics



The Strokes - Is This It Lyrics






Is This It

Can't you see I'm trying?
I don't even like it. I just lied to
Get to your apartment, now I'm staying
Here just for a while
I can't think 'cause I'm just way too tired

Is this it?
Is this it?
Is this... it?

Said they'd give you anything you ever wanted
When they lied, I knew it was just stable children
Trying hard not to realize I was sitting right behind them

Oh dear, can't you see? It's them it's not me
We're not enemies; We just disagree
If I was like them all pissed in this bar
He changes his mind, says I went too far
We all disagree
I think we should disagree, yeah

Is this it
Is this it
Is this it

Can't you see I'm trying?
I don't even like it. I just lied to
Get to your apartment, now I'm staying
Here just for a while
I can't think 'cause I'm just way too tired
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




The Modern Age

Up on a hill is where we begin
This little story a long time ago
Stop to pretend, stop pretending
It seems this game is simply never-ending
Oh, in the sun, sun having fun
It's in my blood
I just can't help it
Don't want you here right now
Let me go, oh, let me g-g-g-g-g-g-go

Leavin' just in time
Stay there for a while
Rolling in the ocean
Trying to catch her eye
Work hard and say it's easy
Do it just to please me
Tomorrow will be different
So I'll pretend I'm leaving

Our fears are different here
We train in A-V-A
I wish you hadn't stayed
My vision's clearer now, but I'm unafraid
Flying overseas, no time to feel the breeze
I took too many varieties
Oh, in the sun, sun having fun
It's in my blood
I just can't help it
Don't want you here right now
Let me go
Darling let me g-g-g-g-g-g-go

Leaving just in time
Staying for a while
Rolling in the ocean
Trying to catch her eye
Work hard and say it's easy
Do it just to please me
Tomorrow will be different
So this is why I'm leaving
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




Soma

Soma is what they would take when
Hard times opened their eyes
Saw pain in a new way
High stakes for a few names
Racing against sun beams
Losing against their dreams
In your eyes

And I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
See I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes

Let's go

When I saw her for the first time
Lips moved as her eyes closed
Heard something in his voice
"And I'll be there", he says
Then he walks out
Somehow he was trying
Too hard to be like them

Well I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
And I am
Stop
Oh, darling, let me go

Tried it once and they like it
Then tried to hide it
Says, "I've been doing this 25 years"
But I'm not listening no more
And these friends, they keep asking for more
Oh, yeah
Oh, but that's it
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




Barely Legal

I didn't take no shortcuts
I spent the money that I saved up
Oh, Momma running out of luck
Like my sister, don't give a f*ck

I wanna steal your innocence
To me, my life, it don't make sense
Those strange manners, I loved 'em so
"Why won't you wear your new trench coat?"

I should've worked much harder
I should've just not bothered
I never show up on weekdays
Something that you learned yesterday

"Drive you to work; you'll be on time
These little problems they're not yours and mine,"
"Come on and listen to what I say
I've got some secrets that'll make you stay"

I just want to turn you down
I just want to turn you around
Oh, you ain't never had nothin' I wanted, but...
I want it all
I just can't figure out...
Nothing

And all together it went well
We made pretend we were best friends
Then she said, "Oh, you're a freak"
"They ordered me to make mistakes"
Together again, like the beginning
It all works somehow in the end
The things we did, the things you hide
For the record it's between you and I

Oh, I didn't take no shortcuts
I spent the money that I saved up
Oh, Momma running out of luck
Like my sister, don't give a f*ck

I wanna steal your innocence
To me my life, it just don't make any sense
Those strange manners, I loved 'em so
"Why won't you wear your new trench coat?"

I just want to misbehave
I just want to be your slave
Oh, you ain't never had nothing I wanted, but...
I want it all
I just can't figure out...
Nothin'

And all together it went well
We made pretend we were best friends
Then she said, "Oh, I can wait"
They ordered me to make mistakes
Together again like the beginning
It all works somehow in the end
The things we did, the things you hide
And for the record, it's between you and I
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




Someday

In many ways, they'll miss the good old days
Someday, someday
Yeah, it hurts to say, but I want you to stay
Sometimes, sometimes

When we was young, oh man, did we have fun
Always, always
Promises, they break before they're made
Sometimes, sometimes

Oh, My-ex says I'm lacking in depth
I will do my best
You say you wanna stay by my side
Darlin', your head's not right
See, alone we stand, together we fall apart
Yeah, I think I'll be alright
I'm working so I won't have to try so hard
Tables, they turn sometimes

Oh, someday...

No, I ain't wastin' no more time

And now my fears
They come to me in threes
So, I
Sometimes
Say, "Fate my friend,
You say the strangest things
I find, sometimes"

Oh, My-ex says I'm lacking in depth
Say I will try my best
You say you wanna stay by my side
Darlin', your head's not right
See, alone we stand, together we fall apart
Yeah, I think I'll be alright
I'm working so I won't have to try so hard
Tables, they turn sometimes

Oh, someday...

I ain't wasting no more time
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Copyright: Lyrics © Original Writer and Publisher




Alone Together

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

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

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
'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?
"You drink too much"
Makes me drink just the same

The first time, it happened too fast
The second time, I thought it would last

We all like it a little different...
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




Last Nite

Last night, she said:
"Oh, baby, I feel so down.
Oh it turns me off,
When I feel left out"

So I walked out:
"Oh, baby, don't care no more
I know this for sure,
I'm walkin' out that door"

Well, I've been in town for just about fifteen minutes now
And Baby, I feel so down
And I don't know why
I keep walkin' for miles

See, people they don't understand
No, girlfriends, they can't understand
Your Grandsons, they won't understand
On top of this, I ain't ever gonna understand...

Last night, she said:
"Oh, baby, don't feel so down.
Oh, it turns me off,
When I feel left out"

So I, I turn 'round:
"Oh, baby, gonna be alright"
It was a great big lie
'Cause I left that night, yeah

Oh, people they don't understand
No, girlfriends, they won't understand
In spaceships, they won't understand
And me, I ain't ever gonna understand...

Last night, she said:
"Oh, baby, I feel so down.
See, it turns me off,
When I feel left out"

So I, I turn 'round:
"Oh, little girl, I don't care no more.
I know this for sure,
I'm walking out that door," yeah
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




Hard To Explain

Was an honest man
Asked me for the phone
Tried to take control

Oh, I don't see it that way
I don't see it that way

Oh, we shared some ideas
All obsessed with fame
Says we're all the same

Oh, I don't see it that way
I don't see it that way

Raised in Carolina
"I'm not like that"
Trying to remind her
When we go back

I missed the last bus, I'll take the next train
I try but you see, it's hard to explain
I say the right things, but act the wrong way
I like it right here, but I cannot stay
I watch the TV; forget what I'm told
Well, I am too young, and they are too old
The joke is on you, this place is a zoo
"You're right it's true"

Says he can't decide
I shake my head to say
Everything's just great

Oh, I just can't remember
I just can't remember

Raised in Carolina, she says:
" I'm not like that"
Trying to remind her
When we go back

I say the right things but act the wrong way
I like it right here but I cannot stay
I watch the TV; forget what I'm told
Well, I am too young, and they are too old
Oh, man, can't you see I'm nervous, so please
Pretend to be nice, so I can be mean
I miss the last bus, we take the next train
I try but you see, it's hard to explain
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




New York City Cops

Oh! I meant - Ah!

No, I didn't mean that at all

Here in the streets of American nights
Rise to the bottom of the meaning of life
Studied all the rules, and I want no part
But I let you in just to break this heart
Even though it was only one night
It was f*ckin' strange

Nina's in the bedroom
She says, "Time to go now"
But leavin' it ain't easy

I've got to let go
Oh, I've got to let go

And the hours they went to slow
I said every night
She just can't stop sayin':
"New York City cops
New York City cops
New York City cops
They ain't too smart
New York City cops
New York City cops
New York City cops
They ain't too smart"

Just kill me now 'cause I'll let you down
I swear one day we're gonna leave this town
"Stop"

Yes, I'm leaving 'cause this just won't work
They act like Romans, but they dress like Turks
Soft time in your prime
See me, I like the summertime
But...hey

Nina's in the bedroom
She says, "Time to go now"
But leaving it ain't easy

Oh, I've got to let go
I've got to let go

Oh, trapped in an apartment
She would not let them get her
She wrote it in a letter,:
"I've got to come clean
The authorities, they've seen
Darling, I'm somewhere in between"

I said every night
She just can't stop sayin':
"New York City cops
New York City cops
New York City cops
They ain't too smart
New York City cops
New York City cops
New York City cops
They ain't too smart"
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




Trying Your Luck

You said you couldn't stay
You've seen it all before
I know

They sold you on their way
Oh, honey, that's OK

No harm, he's armed
Setting off all your alarms
When I find out
I hope it's you who set this trap

And storefronts rarely changed
At least I'm on my own again
Instead of anywhere with you

But, to me, it's all the same

And I lost my page. Again
I know this is surreal
But, I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Well, I am your one?
"Believe me, this is a chance," oh oh

Let's see what's for sale
He's trying hard to give his job a chance
Oh, it's never gonna be
It's sad, but I agree
The signals don't seem right
They last for just one night, and then
I'm sorry that I said:
"That we were just good friends"

No harm, he's armed
Setting off all your alarms
They're trapped
I can't be there in time
I'll think about that

And I lost my page again
I know this is surreal
But, I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Well, I am your one?
"Believe me, this is a chance," oh oh
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




Take It Or Leave It

Leave me alone
I'm in control
I'm in control
And girls lie too much
And boys act too tough
Enough is enough

Well, on the minds
Of other men
I know she was...

I said, "Just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, take it"

That's right

Oh, he's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna break your back for a chance
He's gonna steal your friends if he can
He's gonna win someday

I fell off the track, now
I can't go back
I'm not like that

Boys lie too much
Girls act too tough
Enough is enough

Well on the minds
Of other girls
I know he was...

I said, "Just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, take it"

That's right

Oh, he's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna break your back for a chance
He's gonna steal your friends if he can
He's gonna win someday

Oh, he will...
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Julian Casablancas
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management




Back to: The Strokes


Is This It is the debut studio album by American rock band the Strokes. It was first released on July 30, 2001 in Australia, with RCA Records handling the release internationally and Rough Trade Records handling the United Kingdom release. It was recorded at Transporterraum in New York City with producer Gordon Raphael during March and April 2001. For their debut, the band strived to capture a simple sound that was not significantly enhanced in the studio. Building on their 2001 EP The Modern Age, the band members molded compositions largely through live takes during recording sessions, while lead singer and songwriter Julian Casablancas continued to detail the lives and relationships of urban youth.

After completing the album, the Strokes embarked on a promotional world tour before its release. The album was released progressively to coincide with their tour dates, with it being released in Japan on August 22 and the United Kingdom on August 27. The album's cover photograph was deemed too sexually explicit for the US market, and was replaced there. After the September 11 attacks, the American compact disc release was delayed from September 25 to October 9 and had its track list amended, with the song "New York City Cops" being removed and replaced with the newly written track "When It Started"; however, the American vinyl release still includes the track as a result of its release falling on September 11. Three singles were released from the album: "Hard to Explain", "Last Nite", and "Someday".

Promoted by the music press for its twin-guitar interplay and melodic, pop-influenced sound, Is This It peaked at number 33 on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the UK Albums Chart, going on to achieve platinum status in several countries. The album received widespread critical acclaim, with many critics praising it for its charisma and rhythm, which often referenced the works of 1970s garage rock bands. The release of the album is widely considered to be a watershed moment, and crucial in the reinvention of post-millennium guitar music. It has featured in several publications' lists of the best albums of the 2000s and of all time.
Genre(s): Indie rock, garage rock revival, post-punk revival
Producer(s): Gordon Raphael
Length: 36:28
Released: July 30th, 2001
Year: 2001

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