02 Rivers Of Brake Lights
Julian Casablancas Lyrics

We might be in for a late night
We could be staying up late

Stuck in a lava flow of brake lights
Trapped in a traffic jam, surrounded by brake lights

I can hear a rattling bass drum driving back to where it came from
I hear a drumbeat that sounds like it's reversing direction

Sit back
Take a moment to relax and take it all in

I shop therefore I am the cause, protect me from what I was
I buy things, so I am responsible for the harm I caused to the environment. I need protection from my past actions.

Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it Timing is everything, timing is everything, timing is everything, timing is everything Timing is everything, timing is everything...
Repetition of the phrase 'getting the hang of it' and 'timing is everything' emphasizes the importance of mastering timing in order to succeed

I'm at your feet, where critters meet Who should be asleep and not crossing roads or highways In the afterlife of super cities, rapidly devouring its outskirts It's neon octopus arms redecorating late at night
I'm on the ground, where small creatures should be sleeping instead of risking crossing dangerous roads. Cities are expanding, swallowing the countryside. The neon lights of the city are like the tentacles of an octopus, redecorating everything at night.

Robot camp for kids who hate sports Mothers crying at the airport Finding the dreams you left behind to do, waving goodbye your young heart cries for you Sit back
There are summer camps for kids who don't like sports because robots are replacing humans in more and more fields. Mothers are sad when their children leave. Remembering old dreams can be emotional. Take a moment to relax.

You're finding it hard to get very far But we were born waiting in line Grabbing the future by the eyes
It's difficult to make progress, but we were born to wait for opportunities. We need to seize the future with determination.

Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, timing is everything, timing is everything Getting the hang of it, timing is everything, getting the hang of it, timing is everything Timing the hang of it, getting is everything, Getting the timing of everything hanging is Hanging the getting of timing the everything...
The repetition of the last chorus is distorted, suggesting the importance of timing but also acknowledging the difficulty in grasping it.

Like batteries we die, like rivers we dry We fuel and recharge, that's humans and cars My fun, my sun, be my homework done Where did you go, you were my ride home
We are like batteries that eventually run out and like rivers that can dry up. We need to fuel and recharge ourselves, just like cars. We want pleasure and relaxation, and we hope our tasks will be finished on time. We may feel lost when something we rely on is no longer available.

Is that what we want, is everything shot, is that what you ask for, 'cause that's what we got?
Do we really want a world that is damaged and unsustainable? Is our current situation what we asked for?

Nothing stands still Nothing stands still
Life is constantly changing, and nothing stays the same forever.