Now everybody, have you heard, if you're in the game
Then the stroke's the word
Don't take no rhythm,
Don't take no style
Gotta thirst for killin',
Grab your vial and

Put your right hand out, give a firm handshake
Talk to me about that one big break
Spread your ear pollution, both far and wide
Keep your contributions by your side and

[Chorus]
Stroke me, stroke me
Could be a winner boy you move mighty well
Stroke me, stroke me, stroke me, stroke me
You got your number down, stroke me, stroke me
Say you're a winner but babe, you're just a sinner now

Put your left foot out, keep it all in place
Work your way right into my face
First you try to bet me, you make my backbone slide
When you find you've bled me, slip on by, and

[Chorus]

Put your left foot out, keep it all in place
Work your way right into my face
First you try to bet me, you make my backbone slide
When you find you've bled me, slip on by, and

Stroke, stroke stroke stroke
Better listen now, said it ain't no joke
Don't let your conscience fail ya' just do the stroke
Don't ya' take no chances, keep your eye on top
Do your fancy dances, you can't stop you just
Stroke me, stroke me



Lyrics submitted by Eli

Track duration: 03:38

"The Stroke" as written by Claydes Smith, James Taylor, Curtis Fitzgerald Williams, Ronald Bell, Robert Bell, George Brown, James L. Bonnefond, Clifford Alanza Adams

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., SPIRIT TWO MUSIC OBO SONGS OF THE KNIGHT

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Stroke song meanings
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26 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Akin to Heart's Barracuda.
    Flag Snoqueenon September 19, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I believe the song meaning is people constantly (o not constantly) "stroking" the band's ego, making them weak("You make my backbone slide"). Someone was having a good, steady conversation("Put your right hand out, give a firm handshake"), talking about their dreams("Talk to me about that one big break") and normal "We Just Met" stuff when they started to talk about the band, saying how good they were, without constructive criticism, and the media and his agency did this too("Spread your ear pollution, both far and wide Keep your contributions by your side")trying to keep him going, to keep the system going. It's talking about how this is happening to all musicians.
    Flag TheAnalyston June 10, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song isnt about sex. Its all about how the music industry and record companies use you to make profits and sell albums when they hit a low stop after losing a big artist, called stroking, where they find another artist. once they make the profits they needed to get back on top, they drop you and you need to find a new record producer or dealer or whatever you were dropped from. The first verse:
    Don't take no rhythm, Don't take no style
    Gotta thirst for killin', Grab your vial and

    Put your right hand out, give a firm handshake
    Talk to me about that one big break
    Spread your ear pollution, both far and wide
    Keep your contributions by your side and

    Chorus
    Stroke me, stroke me
    Could be a winner boy you move mighty well
    Stroke me, stroke me, stroke me, stroke me
    You got your number down, stroke me, stroke me
    Say you're a winner but babe, you're just a sinner now

    its like how you meet someone who says theyre gonna help you out ("could be a winner boy you move mighty well) but then the second and third verse is all about getting dropped out after a ton of work. And the first two lines is Billy kind of saying be aware of the guys who are gonna "stroke" you.
    Flag labrecque19on March 28, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:All I think of his Chaz Michael Micahels. "Thank you Denver,the City by the Bay"!!
    Yeah!
    Flag Thia007on November 30, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:There are three lines in this song which tell me that
    this song has nothing to do with sex whatsoever:

    1) Could be a winner boy, you move mighty well!

    2) Say you're a winner babe, you're just a sinner now!

    3) Don't let your conscious fail yuh, just do the stroke!

    p.s.

    Stroke is the word! And Grease is the word too!
    Flag DavidWolbeckon November 12, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I don't get the people who think this song is about a man and a woman. The song's about the recording industry, sure, but the metaphor it's couched in is clearly about a MAN picking up a MALE prostitute.
    Flag Akakuroon June 13, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I'm glad a few others here posted about the music industry. Back in the day, I loved this song...has a great beat. Now that I'm older and wiser and can see it more clearly. It also reminds me about many other songs regarding the industry, like Pink Floyd's "Have A Cigar". Every artist has a song like this if you look.


    Now everybody, have you heard, if you're in the game (game is the music industry)
    Then the stroke's the word (playing the game)
    Don't take no rhythm, Don't take no style
    Gotta thirst for killin', Grab your vial and (vial is for blood contract signing)

    Put your right hand out, give a firm handshake (meeting/agreement/soul-selling)
    Talk to me about that one big break (eager to do what they want)
    Spread your ear pollution, both far and wide (this is what they want)
    Keep your contributions by your side and (keep your own works to yourself, we own you now, here's the plan/agenda)

    Chorus
    Stroke me, stroke me
    Could be a winner boy you move mighty well (checking him out to perform)
    Stroke me, stroke me, stroke me, stroke me (doing good boy, keep going...)
    You got your number down, stroke me, stroke me (we'll contact you soon)
    Say you're a winner but babe, you're just a sinner now (selling your soul)

    Put your left foot out, keep it all in place
    Work your way right into my face (they are always in your face, perhaps?)
    First you try to bet me, you make my backbone slide (I think it's "bed" not bet)
    When you find you've bled me, slip on by, and (they got him, blood, he's owned)

    Chorus

    Put your left foot out, keep it all in place
    Work your way right into my face
    First you try to bet me, you make my backbone slide
    When you find you've bled me, slip on by, and

    Stroke, stroke stroke stroke
    Better listen now, said it ain't no joke (warning to other's, not kidding around)
    Don't let your conscience fail ya' just do the stroke (go along with it or die)
    Don't ya' take no chances, keep your eye on top (protect yourself, you're in the game now)
    Do your fancy dances, you can't stop you just ... (keep performing like a "lead role in a cage" from Floyd's Wish You Were Here)
    Stroke me, stroke me

    Like I said...you can do this with any any artist or band. I just used Pink Floyd because they are so universally well known.

    It's all the Grand Illusion (STYX) for the audience. For them, it's a living hell after awhile...that seems to be the consistent tone of the music industry.
    Flag soulfreedomon August 21, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:It is clearly a commentary on the way the music industry uses you up and then spits you out once the profit is gone. It is all about that one big and how they will tell you a bunch of bullshit and you are supposed to reply in bullshit and everyone is stroking every one's ego and then suddenly they spit you out.
    Flag mrobviouson June 04, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Nevermind about previous comment...I guess he isn't gay...he got married in 2002?
    Flagged firedance24on March 24, 2010   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:I've heard it's about taking a gay mans virginity. Gay sex not boy and girl because he says "Could be a winner boy you move mighty well". Billy Squier came out of the closet a few years after this song came out.
    Flagged firedance24on March 24, 2010   Link

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