Soma
The Strokes & The Strokes Lyrics
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Saw pain in a new way, high stakes for a few names
Racing against sun beams, losing against their dreams
In your eyes
And I am stop and go
In your eyes
See I am stop and go
Let's go
When I saw her for the first time, lips moved as her eyes closed
Heard something in his voice
"And I'll be there", he says, then he walks out
Somehow he was trying too hard to be like them
Well I am stop and go
In your eyes
And I am stop
Oh, darling, let me go
Tried it once and they like it, then tried to hide it
Says, "I've been doing this 25 years"
But I'm not listening no more
And these friends, they keep asking for more
Oh, yeah
Oh, but that's it
The song Soma by the Strokes is one of the most popular songs from their debut album Is This It. The song is named after the fictional drug Soma from Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World. The lyrics talk about people taking the drug Soma when hard times opened their eyes and suddenly they see pain in a new way. The song tells of people racing against sunbeams and losing against their dreams, and all this while being stop and go in someone's eyes.
The first verse of the song tells of how people take the drug Soma when they realize how hard life can be. They start seeing things differently, and the stakes they face become higher. The second verse describes someone trying too hard to be like their friends, but they can't keep up. The person is stop and go in someone else's eyes, unable to fully embrace their dreams. The singer then reaches out to this person, telling them to let him go.
Line by Line Meaning
Soma is what they would take when hard times opened their eyes
Soma refers to a drug that people turn to in difficult times to escape their reality.
Saw pain in a new way, high stakes for a few names
Taking Soma allows them to see their pain from a different perspective, but it comes with a high risk for a few individuals who stand to lose the most.
Racing against sun beams, losing against their dreams
Despite their desire to achieve their dreams, they are struggling to keep up with the endless passing of time.
In your eyes
The artist finds comfort and solace in the person's eyes.
And I am stop and go
The artist's thoughts are constantly fluctuating and changing.
See I am stop and go
The singer is reiterating his state of mind and how it is impacting his actions.
In your eyes
The person's eyes seem to possess the power to control or influence the singer's behavior.
When I saw her for the first time, lips moved as her eyes closed
The artist observes the subtle movements of the woman's lips as she closes her eyes.
Heard something in his voice
The artist detected something significant in the person's tone.
"And I'll be there", he says, then he walks out
The person makes a promise that he won't keep before leaving abruptly.
Somehow he was trying too hard to be like them
The person was attempting to fit in and mimic the behavior of those around him, even if it wasn't natural for him.
Oh, darling, let me go
The artist desires to free themselves from whatever hold the person has over them.
Tried it once and they like it, then tried to hide it
They experimented with Soma once and enjoyed it, but now they are trying to keep their usage a secret.
Says, "I've been doing this 25 years"
They try to justify their use of Soma by claiming to have extensive experience with it.
But I'm not listening no more
The singer is no longer willing to tolerate their friend's justifications for Soma usage.
And these friends, they keep asking for more
Despite the risks involved, their friends are still asking for more Soma.
Oh, yeah
An expression of frustration or annoyance.
Oh, but that's it
The singer has reached their limit and decides to move on from the situation.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JULIAN CASABLANCAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind