Is This It
The Strokes Lyrics

The Strokes's song "Is This It" describes the confusion and ambivalence of modern youth culture. The lyrics are sung from the perspective of a young person who feels isolated and lost, unsure of their place in the world. The opening line "Can't you see I'm trying?" suggests that the person is struggling to find their way, but feels misunderstood and unsupported. The next line "I don't even like it/I just lied to/Get to your apartment" reveals the person's sense of deceit and uncertainty. The use of the word "just" suggests that the person feels like they are making excuses for themselves.

The chorus, "Is this it?" is a reflection of the person's search for meaning and purpose, as they question whether their life has any real significance. The bridge, "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," references the promise of limitless opportunities in modern society, but suggests that those promises are empty and unfulfilling. The person feels disillusioned and disenchanted, unable to connect with those around them.

The line "Oh dear, can't you see? It's them it's not me/We're not enemies/We just disagree" is an acknowledgment of the conflicts and disagreements that arise out of the complexity of human relationships. The person recognizes that they are not alone in their struggles, and that others may feel the same way. However, the line "If I was like him, all pissed in this bar/He changes his mind, says I went too far/We all disagree/I think we should disagree, yeah" suggests that the person values their individuality and independence, and is unwilling to compromise their beliefs for the sake of conformity.