The Strokes : Is This It

Garage Rock / USA
(2001 - RCA Records / Sony BMG)
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Lyrics


1.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

2.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 go
Leaving 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 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

3.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

4.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 fuck
I wanna steal your innocence
To me, my life, it don't make sense
Those strange manners, I loved them 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 nothing 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 fuck
I wanna steal your innocence
To me my life, it just don't make any sense
Those strange manners, I loved them 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
Nothing
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

5.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
Darling, 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 wasting 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
Darling 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

6.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

7.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 walking 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 walking 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

8.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

9.NEW YORK CITY COPS

Won't decide, but he won't debate
Said, "Thanks my friend," but he was too late
Oh why, oh why
I don't know
So you think things move pretty fast down here
Well just wait my dear 'till you look up there
Oh maybe someday you'll know
Had his second kid, was an early night
Got to be well dressed 'cause he hates to fly
Oh loves his job, takes it home
Anything they wanted
They could have it, have it
Didn't even notice
I don't mind it, mind it
Won't decide, but he won't debate
Said, "Thanks my friend, thought that we was dead"
Oh why, oh why
I don't know
Think things move pretty fast down here
But just wait my dear 'till we get up there
Oh maybe someday they'll know
Come on tell me does she warm the room
When he comes
Or does he just know how to leave
When it gets cold
Well I don't care, I don't care
'Cause it's free

10.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
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

11.TAKE TI 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

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