Artist: The Strokes Album: Is This It {2001}

Can't you see I'm trying, I dont even like it
I'd just like to get to your apartment
Now I'm staying there just for a while
I can't think cos 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 they were just stable children
Trying hard not to realise I was sitting right behind

Dear can't you see, it's them it's not me
We're not enemies, we just disagree
If I was like him, all dissing his Pa
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'd just love to get to your apartment
Now I'm staying there just for a while
I can't think cos I'm just way too tired

Up on a hill, here's 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, go, go, go, go, go, go, go

Leaving just in time, stayed 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

I feel so different now, we trained at AVA
I wish you hadn't stayed
My vision's clearer now but I am not afraid
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
Woo, darling, let me go, go, go, go, go, go

Leaving just in time, stayed 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 this is why I'm leaving

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 sunbeams
Losing against their dreams
In your eyes
I am, stop and go in your eyes
I am, stop and go in your eyes

Lets 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 and he walks out
Somehow he was trying too hard to be like them
And I am, stop and go in your eyes
And I am, stop, oh, darling let me go

Try it once and they liked it
And try to hide it
Says, "I've been doing this twenty-five years."
Well, I'm not listening no more
And these friends, they keep asking for more, oh, yeah
Oh, but thats it

I didn't take no shortcuts
I spent the money that I saved up
Oh, Mama, running out of luck
But like my sister, don't give a fuck
I wanna to steal your innocence
To me my life, it don't make sense
Your strange manners, I love you so
Why won't you wear your new trench coat

I should have worked much harder
I should have just not bothered
I never show up on weekdays
That's something that you learned yesterday
Drive you to work or you won't be on time
Your little problems, they're not yours, they're mine
Come on, 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
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
Are 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, Mama, running out of luck
But like my sister, don't give a fuck
I wanna to steal your innocence
To me my life, it just don't make any sense
Your strange manners, I love 'em so
Why won't you wear your new trench coat
I just want to misbehave
I just want to be your slave
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 pretned 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
Are for the record, it's between you and I

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 want to stay by my side
Darling, your head's not right
You see, alone we stand, together we fall apart
Yeah, I think I'll be all right
I'm working so I won't have to try so hard
Tables they turn sometimes, oh, someday
Now I ain't wasting no more time

Trying, trying

And now my fears they come to me in threes, so I, sometimes
They fade my friend, you say the strangest things I find, sometimes

Oh, my ex says I'm lacking in depth
I will try my best
You say you want to stay by my side
Darling, your head's not right
You see, alone we stand, together we fall apart
Yeah, I think I'll be all right
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

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

Take me away, see, I've got to explain
Things they are change 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 just a fact to kill to survive
He's earning dollars, makes you won't get in your life
Let's suck more blood, let's work three hours a day
The world is over but I don't care cos

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, oh

Oh, the first time, it happened too fast
The second time I thought it would last
We all like it a little different

Last night she said, "Oh baby, I feel so down
When you turn me off, when I feel left out."
So I, I turned round, "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, oh, minutes now
Baby I feel so down and I don't know why
I've been walking for miles

Say, 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 going to understand

Last night she said, "Oh baby, don't feel so down
When you turn me off, when I feel left out."
So I, I turned round, "Oh baby going to be alright
It was a great big lie, cos I left that night, yeah."

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

Last night she said, "Oh baby, I feel so down
When you turn me off, when I feel left out."
So I, I turned round, "Oh baby, don't care no more
I know this for sure, I'm walking out that door, yeah"

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

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 tried, but you see, it's hard to explain
I say the right thing 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

He 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 thing 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
I'll make it you see, I'm ever so pleased
Pretend to be nice, though I can be mean
I missed the last bus, I'll take the next train
I try, but you see, it's hard to explain

Oh - I meant, ah - no I didn't mean that at all

Here in the streets so mechanised
Rise to the bottom of the meaning of life
Studied all the rules, I don't want no part
But I let you in just to break this heart
Even though it was only one night it was fucking strange

Nina's in the bedroom
She said, "Time to go now."
But leaving it ain't easy
I got to let go, oh, I got to let go
And the hours they ran slow
I said, everynight she just can't stop saying
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

Kill me now cos I let you down
I swear one day I'm going to leave this town - stop
Yes, I'm leaving cos it just won't work
They act like Romans but they dress like Turks
Sometime in your prime
See me. I like the summertime, but hey

Nina's in the bedroom
She said, "Time to go now."
Oh, leaving, it ain't easy
I got to let go, I got to let go, oh
Trapped in an apartment
She would not let them get her
She wrote it in a letter
I got to come clean
The authorities they've seen
Darling, I'm somewhere in between
I said, everynight she just can't stop saying
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

You said you couldn't stay
You've seen it all before, I know
They sold you on their way
Oh honey, that's okay

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

And stuffers rarely change
At least I'm on my own again
Instead of anywhere with you
Oh, tell 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
I am your one
Believe me this is a chance, oh, oh

Lets see what is for sale
He's trying not to give his job a chance
Oh, it's never going to be
It's sad but I agree
The signals don't seem right
It lasts 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
Entranced, I couldn'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
Oh, I am your one
Believe me this is a chance, oh, oh

Leave me alone
I'm in control, I'm in control
And girls act too much and boys act too tough
Enough is enough
We're 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

I say, oh, he's going to let you down
He's going to let you down
He's going to let you down
And going to break your back for a chance
And going to steal your friends, if he can
He's going to win someday

I fell off the track
Now I can't go back, I'm not like that
Boys act too much, girls act too tough
Enough is enough
We're 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

I say, oh, he's going to let you down
He's going to let you down
He's going to let you down
And going to break your back for a chance
And going to steal your friends, if he can
He's going to win someday
Oh, he will