Selfless is The Strokes' first real new song on their new album for all of us who heard The Adults Are Talking almost a year ago . The first real test: are we facing a new Room on Fire or, on the contrary, will The New Abnormal be a coitus interruptus à la Angles? You only need to listen to Selfless for a few seconds to know the answer. Good heavens, THE STROKES ARE BACK.
What does the lyrics of Selfless, by The Strokes mean?
In Selfless, it's impossible not to recall that Julian Casablancas, lead singer of The Strokes, divorced last year after 14 years of marriage to his beloved Juliet (whom he later mentions in Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus) . It could be translated as "alone" or "selfless."
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In Selfless, Julian speaks of existentialism. Of a person who wants to live with another person, and wants to do it now, before it's too late, because when he's with that person, he only knows how to love them. Julian explains all this in his usual cryptic and hieroglyphic way. Later, in The New Abnormal , he'll make things much clearer, especially in Not the Same Anymore and the following song, Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus. For now, he prefers to suggest rather than state.
Selfless is a beautiful song with a nostalgic guitar line that, once again, brings out The Strokes' poppier side. Casablancas' vocal performance is stunning. And we're not just talking about the falsetto. His voice envelops everything and touches on an unprecedented range of tones.
The psychedelic, Beach House- esque arpeggio at the beginning reminded us of "Did My Best" and " Leave It in My Dreams ," both by The Voidz ( the Voidz's most Strokes-like song ), where Casablancas expresses himself in similar vein. And the organ solo that kicks in at the one-minute mark creates an atmosphere very similar to the guitar solo at the two-minute mark in " Ize of the World ."
Lyrics and translation of selfness from The Strokes, from The New Abnormal
[Verse 1]
Can the dark side light my way? oh yeah yeah
Lay your hand across my face, yeah, yeah
Time we lost, that's all my fault
Can the dark side light my way? Oh yes yes
Cross my face with your hands, yes, yes
The time we've wasted, it's all my fault
[Chorus]
Please don't be long, 'cause I want you now
I don't have love without you around
Life is too short, but I will live for you
Please don't be late, because I want you now
I have no love with you near
Life is too short, but I will live for you
[Verse 2]
How did this fit in your story? Yeah-eah
Why'd you let them judge your body? Yeah-eah
I've been waitin' there outside, yeah
How did this fit into your story? Yes Yes
Why did you let them judge your body? Yes Yes
I've been waiting out there, yeah
[Chorus]
Please don't be long, 'cause I want your heart
I don't have fun without your love
Life is too short, but I will live for you
You're mucking off, but I will live for you, my selfless love
Please don't be late, because I want you now
I have no love with you near
Life is too short, but I will live for you
[Bridge]
Bite my tongue and wait my turn
I waited for a century
Waste my breath, no lessons learned
I turn and face the enemy
I'm not scared, just don't care
I'm not listening, you hear?
He's never dead, but I don't care
I can't tell you what and where
Bite my tongue and wait your turn
I've waited for a century
Waste my breath, we haven't learned any lessons
I turn and face the enemy
I'm not afraid, I just don't care
I'm not listening, do you hear me?
It's never dead, but I don't care
I can't tell you what and when
[Outro]
Yeah-eah
Yeah-eah