Games
The Strokes Lyrics

The Strokes' song Games is a haunting and enigmatic track that astutely captures the feeling of loneliness and isolation. The song features the image of a person being lost and trying to find their way back to some kind of connection, calling out for someone, but only experiencing the noise of the surrounding emptiness. The verse, "With all the noise above, he tried to call his name," is a reflection of this sentiment. The second line of the song, "The trial would go on, the day it just begun," has given rise to several different interpretations. Some interpret it as a reference to the trials and tribulations of life that one has to endure. Others see it as a reflection on the justice system's futility or the cyclic nature of existence.

The chorus, "Living in an empty world," is repeated multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's sense of isolation and loneliness. The lines, "The diamond cuts her eye, the crowd beyond went wild" seemingly allude to someone getting hurt during a performance. However, the ambiguity of the song makes it hard to interpret these lines' meaning with certainty. The final verse, "I'm okay, I'm all right. I was out late last night. Empty world, empty world. I will wait one more night," leaves us with a disquieting sense of unresolved tension. It is as though the singer is trying to reassure themselves that they are alright, but the emptiness of their world seeps into their words.