Julian Casablancas is half American and half Danish and the son of John Casablancas and Jeanette Christiansen. His parents divorced when he was young. He attended kindergarten with future bandmate Nikolai Fraiture.
Early in his teens, Julian's father sent him to the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland. This was where Julian first met Albert Hammond Jr. , one of few other American students on campus.
When Casablancas returned to New York, he continued his education at the Dwight School, where he met Fabrizio Moretti and Nick Valensi. Julian later dropped out because he felt like he "just wasn't learning anything" there.
During his hiatus from The Strokes, he released a solo album called "Phrazes for the Young" on the 9th of November in 2009.
To date, the Strokes have released Is This It, Room on Fire, First Impressions of Earth, Angles, Comedown Machine and The New Abnormal.
06. River Of Brakelights
Julian Casablancas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stuck in a lava flow of brake lights
I can hear a rattling bass drum driving back to where it came from
Sit back
I shop therefore I am the cause, protect me from what I was
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...
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
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
You're finding it hard to get very far
But we were born waiting in line
Grabbing the future by the eyes
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...
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
Is that what we want, is everything shot, is that what you ask for, 'cause that's what we got?
Nothing stands still
Nothing stands still
Julian Casablancas's song, "River of Brakelights," discusses the chaos, confusion, and complexity of modern life. The lyrics observe the constant stream of cars on the road and the people who are stuck in them, where the journey never truly ends. The song begins with the singer's dark revelation that they might be in for a long night, stuck in a traffic jam, surrounded by red lights. The singer notes that they hear the "rattling bass drum" that is pushing their car backward. The driving force behind the song seems to be the human need to protect oneself, perpetuated by the consumerist culture that has become so entrenched in contemporary society. The lyrics say, "I shop therefore I am the cause, protect me from what I was."
As the song continues, the singer delves deeper into the idea of modernity, analyzing the way that people live their lives as individuals, detached from the world around them. The lyrics speak about "robot camps for kids who hate sports" and "mothers crying at the airport." These lines are examples of the types of arbitrary decisions and emotions that we are forced to navigate every day. According to Casablancas, the complexities of modern life are never-ending, with the cityscape constantly evolving and transforming around us.
Finally, the song ties together the idea that everything moves quickly and that nothing ever stands still. As humans, we are always in a state of transit, seeking to push forward into the unknown. This idea is encapsulated by the lyrics: "like batteries we die, like rivers we dry." In the end, the song is a meditation on the rapid pace of conversation and innovation in modern society, and how it can be both exciting and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
We might be in for a late night
There is a possibility of staying up late
Stuck in a lava flow of brake lights
Traffic is at standstill due to its sheer volume
I can hear a rattling bass drum driving back to where it came from
A musical instrument is making noise while moving away from its original location
Sit back
Keep calm and relax
I shop therefore I am the cause, protect me from what I was
I am responsible for my actions; please help me change my past self
Getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it, getting the hang of it
Repeating the phrase to signify internalization of a skill
Timing is everything, timing is everything, timing is everything, timing is everything
Repeating the phrase to emphasize the importance of timing
I'm at your feet, where critters meet
I am at the place where small animals come together
Who should be asleep and not crossing roads or highways
The creatures should be resting, not putting themselves in danger by crossing roads
In afterlife of super cities, rapidly devouring its outskirts
Cities keep expanding and swallowing natural land at an alarming rate
It's neon octopus arms redecorating late at night
Bright neon lights take over the city skyline during the night, similar to how an octopus' arms would wrap around things
Robot camp for kids who hate sports
Summer camp setup for children with no sports interest, but rather a fascination towards robotics
Mothers crying at the airport
Moms parting ways with their loved ones at the airport with heavy hearts
Finding the dreams you left behind to do, waving goodbye your young heart cries for you
Going back to your childhood dreams; saying farewell to the past little you
You're finding it hard to get very far
Struggling to reach far or achieve anything significant
But we were born waiting in line
Since birth, we are programmed to queue
Grabbing the future by the eyes
Seizing opportunities with full force
Like batteries we die, like rivers we dry
Our lives have an endpoint; our resources don't last forever
We fuel and recharge, that's humans and cars
Humans and cars require power to function and they have to replenish that energy
My fun, my sun, be my homework done
Addressed to a loved one: Have a good time, take care of yourself, and complete the work you have to do
Where did you go, you were my ride home
Addressed to a person who was supposed to take the artist home, but got lost
Is that what we want, is everything shot, is that what you ask for, 'cause that's what we got?
Do we want the current state of things? Is everything destroyed? Did we request this situation? Because this is what we have
Nothing stands still
Change is a constant theme in life; nothing remains stagnant
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: JULIAN CASABLANCAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@manillascissor
We might be in for a late night
Stuck in a lava flow of brake lights
I can hear a rattling bass drum driving back to where it came from
Sit back
I shop therefore I am the cause, protect me from what I was
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...
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
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
You're finding it hard to get very far
But we were born waiting in line
Grabbing the future by the eyes
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...
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
Is that what we want, is everything shot, is that what you ask for, 'cause that's what we got?
Nothing stands still
Nothing stands still
@alirylands10
Whether he is solo, with the strokes, with the voidz, or with daft punk, all of his songs are so amazingly beautiful. This man is a musical genius.
@MrLoowiz
You forgot Lonely Island.
@nataliavargas9299
this is a fact
@lukin5
+Mr. Loowiz I saw a Spanish guy doing the Bartman...
@fmiranda7067
agree
@Keila.keila1
Agree 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
@MoonchildMindaugas2
Honestly, Julian Casablancas is one of the best things that happened to the world of Music.
@nataliavargas9299
he's very underrated and not talked about as much as mediocre artists. this man is a musical genius and a perfect human being
@MoonchildMindaugas2
Natalia Vargas Absolutely. "Thank you", music industry and ignorant audience.
@jazminsapien2391
Moonchild for real. He’ll be the next Edgar Allan Poe