Meaning and Lyrics of Selfless by The Strokes

Song Lyrics meaning of Selfless by The Strokes

About The Strokes

The Strokes are an American rock band hailing from New York City, formed in 1998. The original lineup consists of Julian Casablancas (vocals), Nick Valensi (guitar, backing vocals), Albert Hammond Jr. (guitar, backing vocals), Nikolai Fraiture (bass), and Fabrizio Moretti (drums). They emerged from the metropolitan underground scene, pushing a new wave garage rock revival that would define the early 2000s. Their debut album, “Is This It” (2001), is a seminal piece of modern rock, celebrated for its raw production and infectious melodies. Tracks like “Last Nite” and “Someday” became anthems of a generation disillusioned by the pop-drenched sounds of the late ’90s, giving birth to a sound that was both retro and refreshingly modern. The Strokes’ lo-fi aesthetic and cool, nonchalant image were quintessential to shaping the early aughts indie rock landscape. As they evolved, the band ventured into more complex sonic territories with albums like “First Impressions of Earth” (2006) and “Angles” (2011), showing a willingness to experiment with melody and arrangement, though not without some backlash from die-hard fans. Their fifth studio album, “The New Abnormal” (2020), even earned them a Grammy for Best Rock Album, proving their staying power in an industry that often sidelines legacy acts. One standout track from their more recent work is “Selfless”, a contemplative and languid cut that highlights the band’s growth. The track showcases a dreamy, atmospheric soundscape layered over poignant lyrics, perhaps exemplifying the band’s ongoing evolution into more introspective territory while staying true to their core aesthetic. The Strokes are often lauded not just for their music but for their undeniable influence on a multitude of modern rock bands, helping to pave the way for the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon, and a slew of others who embraced similar sounds in the decades that followed. Their swagger, charisma, and lyrical introspection continue to inspire and resonate, reminding us that rock ‘n’ roll is far from dead. In an industry where trends come and go, The Strokes remain a formidable force, seamlessly blending historical influences with contemporary sensibilities, proving that their iconic status is well-deserved.

Meaning of Selfless by The Strokes

In the intricate tapestry of The Strokes’ discography, “Selfless” emerges as a poignant, introspective gem from their latest effort, *The New Abnormal* (2020). This track is a multifaceted exploration of love, vulnerability, and the existential dread that comes from both romantic devotion and self-neglect. Through their signature mélange of catchy melodies and minimalist instrumentation, The Strokes deliver a song that is simultaneously personal and universal, reflective of their continual evolution as artists.

Verse 1 opens with a striking juxtaposition: “Can the dark side light my way out?” This line sets the tone for a track that grapples with the complexities of one’s inner turmoil. The darkness here refers not just to emotional struggle but also to the confusion and uncertainty that accompanies love. The phrase “Lay your hand across my face, yeah, yeah” is tender and intimate, evoking an almost desperate longing for connection. The admission, “Time we lost, that’s all my fault,” reveals a candid self-awareness that resonates deeply within the listener. It’s the kind of raw vulnerability that feels deeply relatable—this realization of one’s own failings in the context of love, which makes the song’s exploration of selflessness all the more poignant.

Moving into the Chorus, the repeated plea—”Please don’t be long, ’cause I want you now”—captures that urgent desire for closeness that often defines romantic relationships. It contrasts the wishful urgency against the stark inevitability of time’s passage, encapsulated neatly in “Life is too short, but I will live for you.” This line intriguingly broadens the narrative, suggesting a self-sacrificing element that elevates the love from mere infatuation to something akin to devotion, albeit tinged with pressure. The concept of ‘selflessness’ here becomes a double-edged sword, hinting at the potential for loss of one’s identity in the name of love.

In Verse 2, the lines “How did this fit in your story? Why’d you let them judge your body?” delve into the societal pressures that often seep into personal relationships. Here, it’s as if lead vocalist Julian Casablancas is stepping back, placing both himself and his love in a larger context, where external judgments seep into the intimate. The vulnerability he expresses poses an essential query about identity and perception. The phrase “I’ll be waitin’ there outside” adds an element of patience and longing, further reinforcing the theme of waiting through trials to attain connection.

Revisiting the Chorus with slight variations highlights the growing intensity of emotions involved. Lines like “I don’t have fun without your love” echo the earlier strain of urgency but now introduce an element of dependency. One can’t help but feel the pressing need to balance love and self-worth: does love require losing aspects of oneself? The term “my selfless love” acts as a bittersweet reminder of how devotion can result in mental and emotional fatigue when personal identities become entangled.

The Bridge introduces a shift both thematically and sonically, packed with a defiance that abruptly disrupts the previously tender tone. Lines such as “Bite my tongue, I wait my turn” suggest learned restraint, hinting at frustration born from the waiting, the yearning. It challenges the listener’s view of love—rather than just a path to enlightenment, it’s also a source of conflict. Phrases like “I’ve waited for a century” evoke the pain of timeless longing, while “Waste my breath, no lessons learned” signals a sense of futility—a profound realization that love can often be cyclical and inefficacious. The line “I turn and face the enemy” is particularly potent, perhaps representing internal struggles rather than external threats.

The song ends on an ambiguous yet affirming note with the Outro repeating “Yeah-eah,” a simplistic yet evocative expression that leaves the listener in a contemplative state. It conveys the existential emptiness that can accompany love while simultaneously hinting at the cyclical nature of connections in human relationships and the all-encompassing power of these emotional upheavals.

In summary, “Selfless” by The Strokes is a near-perfect distillation of the complexities of modern love, encapsulating vulnerability, despair, urgency, and that twisted notion of self-abandonment. It touches on themes of devotion that speak to both the individual and collective experiences of love today, showcasing The Strokes’ ability to marry catchy hooks with deep, existential musings. Much like their earlier works, this song balances melodic brilliance with substantive introspection, affirming their status as not just rock icons but also sharp observers of the human condition.

Lyrics of Selfless by The Strokes

Verse 1
Can the dark side light my way out? Yeah, yeah
Lay your hand across my face, yeah, yeah
Time we lost, that'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

Verse 2
How did this fit in your story? Yeah-eah
Why’d you let them judge your body? Yeah-eah
I'll be waitin' there outside, yeah

Chorus
Please don't be long, 'cause I want your all
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

Bridge
Bite my tongue, I 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 there, but I don’t care
I can't tell you what and where

Outro
Yeah-eah
Yeah-eah

Discography The Strokes

The Singles - Volume 01

Release: 2023-02-24
Label: Legacy Recordings
Popularity: 👏👏👏
1. The Modern Age – Rough Trade Version
2. Last Nite – Rough Trade Version – The Modern Age B-Side
3. Hard To Explain
4. New York City Cops (Hard to Explain B-Side)
5. Last Nite
6. When It Started (Last Nite B-Side)
7. Someday
8. Alone, Together – Home Recording – Someday B-Side
9. Is This It – Home Recording – Someday B-Side
10. 12:51
11. The Way It Is – Home Recording – 12:51 B-Side
12. Reptilia
13. Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men – Reptilia B-Side
14. The End Has No End
15. Clampdown – The End Has No End B-Side / Live at Alexandra Palace, London, UK – Dec. 5, 2003
16. Juicebox
17. Hawaii – Juicebox B-Side
18. Heart In a Cage
19. I’ll Try Anything Once (“You Only Live Once” demo) – Heart In a Cage B-Side
20. You Only Live Once
21. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) – You Only Live Once B-Side
Tracklist Collapse

The New Abnormal

Release: 2020-04-10
Label: Legacy Recordings
Popularity: 👏👏👏👏
1. The Adults Are Talking
2. Selfless
3. Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus
4. Bad Decisions
5. Eternal Summer
6. At The Door
7. Why Are Sundays So Depressing
8. Not The Same Anymore
9. Ode To The Mets
Tracklist Collapse

Comedown Machine

Release: 2013-03-25
Label: RCA Records Label
Popularity: 👏👏👏👏
1. Tap Out
2. All The Time
3. One Way Trigger
4. Welcome To Japan
5. 80’s Comedown Machine
6. 50/50
7. Slow Animals
8. Partners In Crime
9. Chances
10. Happy Ending
11. Call It Fate, Call It Karma</a
Tracklist Collapse

Upcoming Events for The Strokes

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