The unofficial story behind this song is that Julian wrote it for Courtney … Read Full Bio ↴The unofficial story behind this song is that Julian wrote it for Courtney Love. This story is supported by the fact that Love later penned a song entitled, “But Julian, I’m A Little Older Than You.”. Even a tweet by Courtney Love seems to all but confirm it.

A book by music journalist Lizzy Goodman, entailing the history of New York City’s rebirth of rock and roll from 2001 to 2011 was named after this song.

Meet Me in the Bathroom
The Strokes Lyrics

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When they say promises
They mean promises
They'd say, that's okay
Long as we can celebrate
Ooh, you see, my uncle would say
Things would change when he's dead

Meet me in the bathroom

That's what she said
I don't mind
It's true
Hey

Never was on time
Yes, I once was mine
Well, that was long ago
And darling, I don't mind
Yeah, we were just two friends in lust
And baby, that just don't mean much
Oh yeah, you trained me not to love
After you showed me what it was

Now she's staring wide-eyed
Can't close her eyes
Say what?
Anywhere is fine
Just don't waste my time
Ah, you see, my uncle would say
Things would change once he's dead

Meet me in the bathroom
That's what she said
I don't mind
It's true

Never was on time
Yes, I once was mine
Well, that was long ago
And darling, I don't mind
Yeah, they were just two fucks in lust
Oh baby, that just don't mean much

Oh yeah, you trained me not to love
After you taught me what it was

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of The Strokes’ “Meet Me in the Bathroom” set the tone for a desperate plea against broken promises made in romantic entanglements. The lines “When they say promises, they mean promises / They’d say 'that's okay, long as we can celebrate'” point to the addictive nature of volatile relationships, where empty promises are fulfilled via fleeting moments of physical intimacy. The singer’s experience is contextualized by his uncle’s advice that “Things would change when he’s dead.” This line is particularly evocative, as it speaks to the misguided hope that change is always on the horizon.

As the song progresses, the singer is held up as the paradigm of someone who is constantly strung along, never being on time and always being in thrall to his subject of desire. The titular line, “Meet me in the bathroom,” is intriguing because it can be read in multiple ways - is it a whispered plea for privacy or a coded reference to drug use? The line “Yeah, we were just two friends in lust / And baby, that just don't mean much” speaks to the tragic consequences of being in relationships where emotions are sacrificed for fleeting physical pleasure.

The line "You trained me not to love, after you taught me what it was," reveals the painful realization that the subject of the singer's affection has caused him to become disillusioned about love itself. Overall, “Meet Me in the Bathroom” is a powerful portrait of a relationship teetering on the edge of collapse, where intimacy and connection are sustained by promises that are destined to be broken.

Line by Line Meaning

When they say promises
When people talk about making promises

They mean promises
They are talking about actual promises

They'd say, "that's ok,
They would agree to something

Long as we can celebrate"
As long as there is something to celebrate afterwards

You see, my uncle would say
In my experience, my uncle would often say

things would change when he's dead
Things will only change after he's gone

"Meet me in the bathroom"
Let's meet up in the bathroom

That's what she said
That's what the person I was talking to said

I don't mind, it's true.
I'm okay with it

Never was on time
I was never punctual

Yes, I once was mine
There was a time when I was in control of my life