songint

1.IS THIS IT:

Julian is saying that he meet this girl, that he really liked, he thought she was hott and told her
so.. just so she would ask

him, back to her apartment..Once back to her apartment, he tried to make conversation with her
but they didnt have much

in common, they disagreed on things, so then his pissed off, cause his with a girl he can't stand
and just wants to

leave..but his ''way too tired''!!!!

IT sounds like the girl is a spoiled brat when he says, "Said they'd give you anything you ever wanted..."
and thats' why they dont agree

"From the lyirics, 'sad they gave you everything you ever wanted...' its sounds
like Julian has hooked up with a girl who thinks he was given everything as a
child/teenager because of who his father is, where he went to school, where he
grew up etc. But she doesnt understand him because he wasnt given the emotional
support he needed from family when he was growing up, and he's realised he
certainly isn't going to get any from her. He's to tired to deal with her but to lazy to
leave the comfort zone."

2 THE MODERN AGE:

Julian: It's not really about the modern age; it's more about getting out of town, leaving New
York.

Apparently written about Julian's disgust with life today. Has garnered them several comparisons
to the Velvet

Underground. "Any example (of an influence) I give would be nothing to do with 100 other just as
true

examples. I'm worried to say something that wouldn't represent the truth". - Julian.

3.SOMA:

>The word SOMA means an intoxicating drink used in Verdic ritual, whether this has any
reference to song,, you

would have to ask Julian.

>SOMA is a trade word for a sleeping pill.

>Soma also is legendary non addictive heroin from indi]

>The song was referring to the Aldous Huxley book Brave New World. [review of book:
http://sparknotes.com ]

[in the book which is a cautionary tale about the future, everyone lives for sterile pleasure (sex
drugs etc.)(to simplify)

and if anybody isn't happy they just take soma./

"and I'll be there he says then he walks out somehow he was trying to hard to be like them"

#2) Soma... As a pharmacy technician let me tell you this. SOMA is a trade name for the generic drug
known as CARISOPRODOL. This drug is in the class of muscle relaxants, is administered orally, and
relieves muscle spasms. It is a highly uncommon drug as it is incredibly easy to FAKE muscle spasms in
the doctor's office (so doctors typically hesitate to give out a prescription for it). However, because of its
ease in obtaining the drug so long as you can pull a good performance in the doc's office, it has recently
become a popular "let's get messed up" drug. It is cheap and requires low dosage. I'm not sure if the song
is particularly alluding to any futuristic Utopia where everyone's on muscle relaxants; I'm sure Julian is
just reflecting on the good times he's had with the boys.

4.BARELY LEGAL:

The lyrics seem to be written from the perspective of someone trying to "hook up" with someone
else, based on

not so good intentions ("I wanna steal your innocence", "You got nothin' I want but I want it all").
The title

also suggests this, and is the name of a fairly well known porno mag.

#3) Barely Legal... It's about a younger girl! She has just turned 18 (the legal age for consentual sexual
intercourse in the USA) and Julian wants to get her in the sack. However, this chick wants a real
relationship. Stupid stupid girls.

5.SOMEDAY:

A musical cousin to Last Nite, with the lyrics (at least the lyrics as of this writing) dealing with
friendships and the "old

days". The lyrics have changed drastically over time, but the final version seems to be about a
relationship that is neither

here nor there. "Alone we stand, together we fall apart".

>>The guy is tired of his relationship. He doesn't want waste his time with the girl although they had
great times in the

past, he wants the girl to stay but still he feels that with her things are going be no better, and it is
gonna bring more pain

than happiness

6.ALONE TOGETHER:

Built around a back and forth guitar riff, "Alone, Together" seems to be about leaving someone who
just won't

try. "No choice now, it's too late, let him go, he gave up".

*The first verse is actually about cunnilingus (i.e. "No choice now", "Lisa says take
time for me, Dropping him down to his knees"). The second verse (or the chorus, cos
its repeated twice) is talking about a relationship going wrong. Its from the males
perspective: He's thinking about sex,("Can we go back to your place?") and
complaining about his girlfriend (Oh, "you drink too much" makes me drink just the
same.) = thankyou micheal.p www.geocities.com/the_strokes_2002

7.LAST NITE:

Seems to be about returning to a girlfriend after a long absence to find that she is concerned only with
herself

("Oh baby, don't feel so down, it turns me off").

Probably their most radio friendly song released (so far).

8.HARD TO EXPLAIN:

Perhaps another boy / girl song, but like others, written in that
unique Strokes way. Sounds as if someone is

trying to reach someone, but is frustrated ("Missed the last bus, I'll
take the next train").

"The new single�.It's hard to explain. It's probably gonna be called
"Hard To Explain" - Nick Valensi, March 1 2001

9.NEW YORK CITY COPS

Could be a crime song, judging by interpretation of the lyrics. The
simple chorus of NYC Cops sums up the

song beautifully. "New York City Cops � they ain't too smart."
Awesome.

In an interview for a Cleveland newspaper, Albert said that the song
is about two people who are in love who shouldn't be (ie: But I let
you in just to break this heart) and are afraid of getting caught for
whatever reason. It's no big deal really, I just thought you'd like to
know.

nycc- is about the two, prob a couple wanna be, taking drugs and sleeping
together, and she tells him to leave, and he wants to get out of the town
because their on to him. "The authority they've seen.." But they (cops) never
catch them. *

#) New York City Cops... the song is about a prostitute and in fact she is the voice
in the song. She can't believe how incredibly easy it is to get away with hooking in
the Big City - and in fact that much is true, as prostitution is a h-u-g-e problem in
that town! Thus the chorus, "New York City Cops ain't too smaaaart!"

10.TRYING YOUR LUCK:

It seems to have a tone of a break up song. "At least I'm on my own
again instead of anywhere with you".

All of these songs were played live as far back as April of 2000,
which is documented on a bootleg recording at

"Arlene Grocery, New York" from April 29 2000.

>>The guy wants another chance, and wants to go on with the
relationship although he feels that the relationship might not

work. But he still likes her, so he goes back to her.

>>trying your luck was about a boy/girl friendship that both people
knew should be more hence the lyrics going, "I'm Sorry that I said,
that we were just good friends.'' and , I know this is so rare but
I'll try my luck with you." and even more " I am your one". I didn't
really percieve it as a break up song actually the opposite. We are
friends, we should be more kind of song.

11.TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT:

A punky song that acts as an amazing set closer, with Julian screaming
"Take it or Leave it!!". Subject matter seems to be

dealing with more boy / girl subjects. "Girls like too much, boys act
too tough, enough is enough".

Meet Me in the Bathroom::#4) Meet Me in the Bathroom... In a SPIN interview, I
think it was Albert who said the song is about a fan who is trying to sleep with one
of em after a show. Good luck to her. They've all got girlfriends/beer.

Its about some girl that says: "meet me in the bathroom" i don't mind
its true]

When it Started:

Ze-Newbie:Ze Newie to me sounds like a song about highschool years and all the pressure
you're under as a teen. When it Started seems to be about people who are afraid to take a
chance on life, people who have never lived until this moment.

I can't win:I Can't Win is explained in the title.

in Her Prime: Another fast song, probably the song that the Strokes have sounded most like the Stooges. "Like a call girl in her
prime". Also the worst of the Arlene Grocery tape but still a good song, just the worst by their incredibly high standards.

Sagganuts: Typical of the other unreleased songs on the "Arlene Grocery", "Sagganuts" is built around a fast riff, with a
chorus comprised of Albert's yelling "RUN, RUN, RUN!". Notable for the title, which I have no idea of the meaning, and so far, the
only vocal contribution by anyone other than Julian.

The Rhythm Song: An early song, which will probably never be released officially, judging by Julian's constant desire to better
themselves. Musically it's based around a start / stop riff, and Julian's chorus of "rollin' rollin'". A part of the "Arlene Grocery" set.

This Life: This track is, in fact, a very early version of "Trying your luck". The rhyming words are the same (day, way, etc.) but
the lyrics are different. Sample lyrics: "At least I'm on my own again, Instead of travelling with you, I'm sorry to say, but sometimes
you get in my way. And I lost my way, again. And this, this is a chance.....". So fairly close to the album lyrics of "And I lost my page
again, I know this is so rare".

Another track is the track called "eller". This is in fact not by the strokes but by a similarly-named band. The song is, however,

on audiogalaxy.com under the strokes' name but isn't by them so its a myth that has spread amongst several strokes websites

::if you have any [Song Interpretations:],,please send them in: to newyorkcitycops@hotmail.com thankyou

CREDITS

Kevin:: Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou::this guy deserves to be knighted::..for most of the above]

Maria Alvarellos: for her overview of 'SOMA'. Vanessa: for 'Soma'.

Dahlia: for 'Is this it'

Cenk Martin: for his views on Someday and Trying Your Luck: Thankyou]

Micheal:: ''eller information and meet me in the bathroom]

Clive: Thanks for his input on "this life" and "eller"]

Tiffiney: NYCC + is this it

Jezzie*~ NYCC

Ali Hicks- TRYING YOUR LUCK

MEG.BRIDGEMAN- for all her help on nycc, soma, barely legal and meet me in the bathroom]

Bec [aus] - Is This It *

Swe-et Jane- 'ze-newbie' and 'i can't win'