The numerous references to “wait time” throughout the song could be in reference to Julian Casablancas' apparent tendency to not show up at all during band sessions for the album.
Call Me Back
The Strokes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can hardly sit
No one has the time
Someone's always late
I look for you
And you look for me
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
I don't know why
I came down
I hold your phone
Don't wake up
I hear a voice
In the ground
Tell me, don't tell me, the hard part is telling you
Something that you would not like me to tell you
Tell me, don't tell me, the hard part is telling you
Something that you would not like me to tell you
Wait time is to blame
Mapped out fame's a trip
We all have the time
Someone's always fed
I look for you
And you look away
Oh, oh, oh, oh
I don't know why
I came down
I hold your phone
Don't wake up
I hear a voice
In the ground
(Waking up is so much fun to do) tell me, don't tell me
The hard part is telling you
Something that you would not like me to tell you
(An '80s movie make-out party with you) tell me, don't tell me
The hard part is telling you
Something that you would not like me to tell you
The Strokes' song "Call Me Back" is a song about waiting and the anxiety that comes with it. The opening lines express the singer's impatience, and the feeling of being left alone and ignored. He is waiting for someone, but they are not coming. The second verse implies that the two people involved in the song have a complicated relationship, with a hint of betrayal. In the chorus, the singer pleads with the other person not to tell him something, suggesting that there is a secret between them that could damage their relationship. The bridge is a playful break from the previous lyrics suggesting that fun, though often short-lived, is still worth it.
The dynamic between the two people in the song, whether romantic or not, is uncertain, but they are clearly not on the same page. There is tension between them, which is heightened by the waiting caused by the person not showing up. The chorus suggests that there is a part of their relationship that is not out in the open and must remain secret. The bridge breaks from the prior anxious lyrics and is suggestive of a desire for fun instead of the stress brought on by the waiting game they are currently playing.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait time is the worst
The agony of waiting is unbearable
I can hardly sit
Impatience makes it difficult to wait
No one has the time
Everyone is busy with their own lives
Someone's always late
Someone is always delaying things
I look for you
I seek your presence to make the wait less painful
And you look for me
You too seek my presence to make the wait less painful
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh
Exclamation of the agony of waiting
I don't know why
I am clueless about my own motives
I came down
I took a risk which led me down
I hold your phone
I am clutching your phone out of desperation
Don't wake up
I hope you don't get disturbed by my actions
I hear a voice
I sense a presence that is not physical
In the ground
The source of the voice is mysterious and ambiguous
Tell me, don't tell me
I am conflicted between wanting to know and not wanting to know
The hard part is damning
The truth can be catastrophic
There's something that you would not like me to tell you
The truth that I know can be hurtful for you
Wait time is to blame
The delay is responsible for the mess
Mat top frame's a trip
The situation is surreal and crazy
We all have the time
Everybody has equal amount of time
Someone's always fed
Somebody has always had enough and is not in a hurry
I look for you, and you look away
I seek your comfort while you detach yourself from this mess
Waking up is so much fun to do.
Getting out of this mess is an exciting challenge
('80 movie make out party, yeah / There's something that you would not like me to tell you)
Unrelated and cryptic phrases that further contribute to the surreal nature of the song
(Tell me, don't tell me / There's something that you would not like me to tell you)
Repetition of the previous lines, emphasizing the internal conflict
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabriel Díaz
LYRICS
Wait time is the worst
I can hardly sit
No one has the time
Someone is always late
I look for you
And you look for me, whoa, ohh
I don't know why I came down
I hold your phone, don't wake up
I hear a voice, in the ground
Tell me, don't tell me
The hard part is telling me
Something that you are not likely to tell me
Tell me, don't tell me
The hard part is telling me
Something that you are not likely to tell me
Wait time is to blame
I thought fame was a trip
We all have the time
Someone is always feared
I look for you
And you look away, ohh
I don't know why I came down
I hold your phone, don't wake up
I hear a voice in the ground
(Waking up is so much fun to do)
80s movies make out party yeah, ooh
Fernanda Carmona
Wait time is the worst
I can hardly sit
No one has the time
Someone is always late
I look for you
And you look for me, whoa, ohh
I don’t know why I came down
I hold your phone, don’t wake up
I hear a voice, in the ground…
Tell me, don’t tell me
The hard part is telling me
Something that you are not likely to telling
Tell me, don’t tell me
The hard part is telling me
Something that you are not likely to telling
Wait time is to blame
I thought fame was a trip
We all have the time
Someone is always feared
I look for you
And you look away, ohh
I don’t know why I came down
I hold your phone, don’t wake up
I hear a voice in the ground…
Waiting up is so much fun to do
80s movies make out party
Mikee22ification
You can tell that the Strokes are nice guys cause their music goes between trying to give out some joy and relating to people who haven't got any
smlb72245
The strokes are one of our era's best bands...it's a shame most people turn their nose at them.
BATSinherhair
These guitar riffs are playing at my heart strings! Just love this song. "No one has the time, someone's always late. Tch Tch Tch ah." Um.... His voice just hooks me! <3
Virat Singh
Here to remind you of this incredible piece of art after 11 years in case you forgot
Cristina s
its annoying when people say this video is boring because its actually like a piece of art
KrisTilclare
Cristina s yeah, boring.
Cristina s
lol, honey. im so sorry :(
KrisTilclare
Cristina s Nah i'm sorry, didn't mean to demean your comment, just thought it was a good opportunity to have a go at pretentious art. x
Mildred Bomgur
yesss♡
Alexander Koken
Cristina s I'm sorry, but this video really just doesn't do the song justice. You spend half of the video watching these dull metallic orbs, and then the other half watching water pour off a woman's face. It doesn't do anything new artistically that hasn't been done in a moisturizer commercial.