"Gratisfaction" is about wanting something more than what is available. The first verse describes a person regretting not having taken advantage of an opportunity that came their way. The chorus of the song explains that, in order to find true satisfaction, the person must get up in the morning and take some action in order to get what they want in life. The second verse then continues talking about a person engaging in risky behavior, such as getting involved with fights, in order to find satisfaction in life. The chorus here explains that, even though the person may take such actions, they will never be able to find the love they seek. The chorus then repeats in the third and fourth verses, conveying the idea that, no matter what someone does, no matter how hard they try, they will never be able to gain the love they seek. Ultimately, the song is conveying the idea that, even though we may never find the satisfaction we truly seek, we should still take action in order to make the most of life’s limited opportunities.
Gratisfaction
The Strokes Lyrics
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And she tries to recognize me with the eyes she saw me with in December
And she's starting to realize that it's actually not a good thing
And it's so tough because you're down to go out again and have another adventure
All her friends in the alleyway shout back but she can't hear them
But you're never gonna get my love
We can only play in the sun
Get up in the morning and run
You'll be frustrated 'til the day that you're done
He got punched in the mouth for sticking his nose in other people's business
No good solution, always on the verge of some revolution
Well tough luck, it may take a thousand years, but I think we can do it
Best friends fight but they never enjoy life as good as when they abuse it
He said, "The soldier is a necessity in light of all the failures of man", yeah
But you're never gonna get their love
We can only fight in the sand
You get tired when the days are too long
You get lonely when the days are gone
He could never mention it out here and now
Without quick tears in his eyes, ooh
'Cause you're never gonna get my love
We can only play in the sun
You get tired when the days are too long
You get lonely when the days are gone
Oh, you're never gonna get this love
We can roll around in the dark
That's about as far as we go
Get up in the morning and run
The lyrics of The Strokes's song Gratisfaction, from their 2011 album Angles, are full of enigmatic and cryptic phrases. The song seems to be about a person who is reflecting on a past relationship, possibly with regret or nostalgia. He admits that he barely remembers some details and that the person he used to know is starting to realize that it's not a good thing. There's a sense of frustration and a longing for adventure that the person wants to experience again, but also a realization that it might not be possible.
The lyrics also touch on some themes of violence, politics, and existentialism. The lines about getting punched in the mouth for sticking one's nose in other people's business and the soldier being a necessity despite the failures of humankind suggest a critical view of authority and oppression. The final lines about getting tired and lonely when the days are too long and gone indicate a sense of weariness and melancholy.
Overall, the song is musically and lyrically rich, with a mix of rock, pop, and new wave influences that characterize The Strokes's sound. Its lyrics are open to interpretation and can resonate with different listeners based on their own experiences and emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh b-baby, don't you be so mad because I barely remember
The singer apologizes for not being able to remember a past encounter and hopes that the other person is not upset about it.
And she tries to recognize me with the eyes she saw me with in December
The other person is trying to remember what the singer looked like the last time they saw each other in December in order to recognize them now.
And she's starting to realize that it's actually not a good thing
The other person is beginning to understand that the singer not remembering their encounter is not a positive sign and may impact their relationship moving forward.
And it's so tough because you're down to go out again and have another adventure
It's difficult because the other person is interested in going out and having another experience with the artist even though the artist can't remember the past one.
All her friends in the alleyway shout back, but she can't hear them
The other person is so focused on trying to connect with the artist that they are deaf to the feedback from their friends that this may not be a good idea.
But you're never gonna get my love
The singer is making it clear that they are not interested in a romantic relationship with the other person.
We can only blame the sun
The singer is suggesting that the reason why things may not work out with the other person is out of their control, much like the rising and setting of the sun each day.
Get up in the morning and run
The artist is suggesting that the other person needs to move on and find someone else who is interested in them.
You'll be frustrated 'til the day that you're done
The artist is warning that the other person will continue to be disappointed until they accept that the artist is not interested in them.
He got punched the mouth for sticking his nose in other people's business
The artist is telling a story of someone who got physically injured because they got involved in a situation that was none of their business.
No good solution, always on the verge of some revolution
The singer is lamenting the fact that sometimes there are no easy solutions to problems and that people often feel like they need to start a revolution to effect change.
With tough luck it may take a thousand years but I think we can do it
The artist is expressing hope that even though it may take a long time, people can still make a difference despite the odds being against them.
Best friends fight, but they never enjoy life as good as when they abuse it
The singer is reflecting on the fact that even though best friends may fight, they still have a special bond that allows them to enjoy life in a unique way.
He said the soldier is a necessity, lied of all the failures of man
The singer is criticizing someone who thinks that having a soldier is necessary because they believe that humans cannot be trusted to govern themselves and that soldiers are needed to maintain order.
You're never gonna get their love
The singer is suggesting that the other person will never be able to win over or change the feelings of others who are not interested in them.
We can only fight in the sand
The artist is saying that sometimes the only way to deal with a situation is to argue endlessly about it, similar to trying to fight in quicksand.
You get tired when the days are too long
The artist is acknowledging the fact that people can get worn out when faced with long and difficult situations.
You get lonely when the days are gone
The singer is highlighting the feeling of emptiness one can get when an experience or relationship ends and they are left alone.
He could never mention it out here and now
The singer is indicating that there is something they can't talk about in the current time and place due to outside pressures or personal limitations.
Without quick tears in his eyes
The artist is noting that the thing they can't talk about often brings them to tears, but they are not crying at this moment.
Oh you're never gonna get this love
The artist is emphasizing once again that they are not interested in reciprocating the romantic feelings of the other person.
We can roll around in the dark
The artist is suggesting that they are willing to engage in physical intimacy with the other person, but this does not mean they want a romantic relationship with them.
That's about as far as we go
The singer is again indicating that the physical relationship is the extent of what is possible between them, and it will not progress beyond that point.
Get up in the morning and run
The artist is once again suggesting that the other person should move on from their failed attempt at a relationship with them and find someone else.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Julian Casablancas, Fabrizio Morretti, Nick Valensi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind