What Ever Happened
The Strokes & The Strokes Lyrics


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I wanna be forgotten
And I don't want to be reminded
You say, "Please don't make this harder"
No, I won't yet
I wanna be beside her
She wanna be admired
You say, "Please don't make this harder"
No, I won't yet

Oh dear, is it really all true?
Did they offend us and they want it to sound new?
Top ten ideas for countdown shows
Whose culture is this and does anybody know?
I wait and tell myself, life ain't chess
But no one comes in
And yes, you're alone
You don't miss me, I know

Oh Tennessee, what did you write?
I come together in the middle of the night
Oh, that's an ending that I can't write
'Cause I've got you to let me down

I wanna be forgotten
And I don't want to be reminded
You say, "Please don't make this harder"
No, I won't yet
I wanna be beside her
She wanna be admired




You say, "Please don't make this harder"
No, I won't yet

Overall Meaning

The Strokes's song "What Ever Happened?" is a track about being forgotten and wanting to move on from a past love. The lyrics convey a sense of detachment and indifference towards the person they used to be with. The singer wants to be forgotten and not reminded of their past relationship. The line "I wanna be beside her, she wants to be admired" suggests that the singer's ex-girlfriend has moved on and seeks attention from others while the singer wants to be forgotten.


The second part of the song highlights the cultural aspects of music and how it has evolved over time. The line "did they offend us and they want it to sound new" suggests that artists and musicians tend to recycle old ideas and present them in new ways, eventually offending people. The line "Whose culture is this and does anybody know?" questions the authenticity of modern art, reflecting on how cultural ideas can change without anyone noticing.


The last part of the song talks about Tennessee, emphasizing how the singer feels alone and let down. The ending suggests that the singer is still clinging to the past even though they want to move on.


Line by Line Meaning

I wanna be forgotten
I want to disappear and be erased from everyone's memory


And I don't want to be reminded
I don't want anyone to remember me or bring up my past


You say, "Please don't make this harder"
You are pleading with me not to make things more difficult for us


No, I won't yet
I won't agree to make things easier because I am too stubborn


I wanna be beside her
I want to be next to the person I desire


She wanna be admired
The person I desire wants to be worshiped


Oh dear, is it really all true?
Oh my, is everything that has been said about us actually factual?


Did they offend us and they want it to sound new?
Did they upset us and now they're trying to present it as something innovative?


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This is one of the top ten ideas for shows with a countdown


Whose culture is this and does anybody know?
What culture is this we're participating in, and does anyone actually understand it?


I wait and tell myself, life ain't chess
I wait around and try to convince myself that life isn't like a game of chess


But no one comes in
No one enters or makes an effort to communicate


And yes, you're alone
As a result, you're left feeling isolated and solitary


You don't miss me, I know
I understand that you do not long for my presence


Oh Tennessee, what did you write?
Oh Tennessee, what did you put down on paper?


I come together in the middle of the night
I come to a realization in the middle of the night


Oh, that's an ending that I can't write
Oh, that's a conclusion of our story that I am unable to create


'Cause I've got you to let me down
Because I have you who ultimately disappoints me


I wanna be forgotten
I desire to not exist in anyone's memories


And I don't want to be reminded
I reject any former memories of myself and my actions


You say, "Please don't make this harder"
You are asking me kindly to refrain from making our situation more challenging


No, I won't yet
But as always, I refuse to comply easily




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Julian Casablancas

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Lia-in1ts

I want to be forgotten,
and I don't want to be reminded.
You say "please don't make this harder."
No, I won't yet.

I wanna be beside her.
She wanna be admired.
You say "please don't make this harder."
No, I won't yet.

Oh dear, is it really all true?
Did they offend us and they want it to sound new?
Top ten ideas for countdown shows...
Whose culture is this and does anybody know?
I wait and tell myself "life ain't chess,"
But no one comes in and yes, you're alone...

You don't miss me, I know.

Oh Tennessee, what did you write?
I come together in the middle of the night.
Oh that's an ending that I can't write, 'cause
I've got you to let me down.

I want to be forgotten,
and I don't want to be reminded.
You say "please don't make this harder."
No, I won't yet.

I want to be beside her.
She wanna be admired.
You say "please don't make this harder."
No, I won't yet...



All comments from YouTube:

@ludrixte1938

“I wanna be beside her
She wanna be admired”

Probably the most relatable thing I’ve ever heard.

@mandrake287

He was dating an e-girl. 😂

@jairogarcia867

Man Drake lol

@jairogarcia867

Oh hush baby

@Kon2336

That guitar in the middle is just so....nice

@farzana2686

Kon2336 100% agreed

@naw2714

i wish there was more

@Message167

fucking, right?!

@clairemarz775

if you put it on .75 it’s longer ;)

@LeilaniRants

i'll never forget how i felt when i first heard 0:46 ...

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