The eleventh track off The Strokes album "Is This It". A great song about f… Read Full Bio ↴The eleventh track off The Strokes album "Is This It". A great song about frustration with boy-girl dynamics.

Fun Fact: “Take it Or Leave It” is the last track of The Strokes' debut album, "Is This It" (2001). “Yes, I’ll take it” is one of the lines of “I Can’t Win”, last track of their second album – "Room On Fire" (2003).

Take It Or Leave It
Strokes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Leave me alone
I'm in control
I'm in control
And girls lie too much
And boys act too tough
Enough is enough

Well, on the minds

Of other men
I know she was

I said, "Just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, take it"

That's right

Oh, he's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna break your back for a chance
He's gonna steal your friends if he can
He's gonna win someday

I fell off the track
Now I can't go back
I'm not like that

Boys lie too much
Girls act too tough
Enough is enough

Well on the minds
Of other girls
I know he was

I said, "Just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, just take it or leave it
And take it or leave it
Oh, take it"

Oh that's right

Oh, he's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna let you down
He's gonna break your back for a chance
He's gonna steal your friends if he can
He's gonna win someday

Oh, he will

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to this song seem to be addressing an individual who is tired of playing games in their relationships, and who is tired of being lied to and made a fool of. The singer asserts that they are in control, and that they refuse to fall for these games anymore. They criticize both genders for different reasons - girls for lying too much and boys for acting too tough. It seems that they may have been hurt before and are now determined to take control of their relationships and not let others use or manipulate them.

Throughout the song, the refrain "just take it or leave it" not only serves as the title of the song but also serves as a statement of the singer's newfound confidence and insistence that they will no longer compromise or put up with mistreatment. The song also touches on the idea that someone may be clouded by their own desires and not realize that they are being used or hurt by another person. The line "on the minds of other men/girls, I know she/he was" seems to imply that others see what is really going on but the person themselves may be blinded by their own desires or need for love.

Overall, this song is about taking control of one's own life and relationships and not allowing others to play games or manipulate them. It is a statement of confidence and self-assuredness that is both empowering and relatable.

Line by Line Meaning

Leave me alone
I need some space, please back off

I'm in control
I'm in charge of myself and my actions

And girls lie too much
Women can be deceitful and untrustworthy

And boys act too tough
Men often put up a front of toughness

Enough is enough
I've had my fill of this behavior

Well, on the minds
It's on the minds or thoughts of others

Of other men
Other men are thinking about her, too

I know she was
I'm aware of her actions and thoughts

I said, "Just take it or leave it"
I'm being straightforward about my intentions

And take it or leave it
This is my final offer, it's up to you

Oh, just take it or leave it
Please consider my offer, no hard feelings either way