You Only Live Once

some people think they're always right others are quiet and uptight others they seem so very nice nice nice nice nice inside they might feel sad and wrong

--- The differences in people's personalities, obviously. Also noting how people can appear one way & feel another way.

29 different attributes only 7 that you like 20 ways to see the world 20 ways to start a fight

---Someone has 29 traits, but you only like 7, making it hard to get along with them. The differences in people's perspectives can cause problems. Hence "20 ways to start a fight". Basically, it's easy to focus on people's flaws & allow differences to cause conflict.

don't don't don't get up I can't see the sunshine I'll be waiting for you baby cause I'm through

---He's telling the girl he's with to not make a big effort to change or please him (don't get up), basically. He can't see the positives right now (the sun shining), but he's willing to wait it out, because he's done with being overly critical of someone & throwing out a relationship with potential.

sit me down shut me up I'll calm down and I'll get along with you

--- He's telling her he'll get over his frustrations & make it work with her.

oh men don't notice what they got women think of that a lot 1,000 ways to please your man not even 1 requires a plan

---He's telling her not to get frustrated either, and that it's true men take women for granted, but that it's not difficult to please them still. He's telling her she doesn't need to fuss a lot over the relationship, but to just enjoy it & go with the flow.

countless odd religions too it does't matter which you choose one stubborn way to turn your back this I've tried and I refuse

--- He again mentions the differences people have (religion, used as an illustration), & how they get stuck on their one viewpoint even if several may lead to the same good outcome. He sees this as a stubbornness which makes you blind to possible good things. He's been stubborn & blind before & it didn't work for him, so now he refuses to give into the tendency.

In short, the song is about not being overly critical of someone you're in a relationship with, not focusing on their flaws, not stubbornly insisting on your way, not being impatient with them, not being overly demanding or accomodating, and basically getting over these negative perspectives, calming down, & appreciating the person for those qualities that drew you to them to begin with.

Musically, the song sounds more like their old stuff and the beginning of the song sounds like Queen’s I Want To Break Free – Which may mean they want to leave their old sound behind, maybe? After this song, it goes straight hardcore into their new sound with Juicebox.

Lyrically, the song sounds like a praise about Woman – they are so different, and men access them in different ways. Some accesses don’t work but some do.

wow im pretty sure this song is about settling down with his wife juliet and how he wants to settle down now. the title refers to what you are thinking before you go into the big gamble of marriage...you only live once...you only get married once. the lines"Oh, I'll be waiting for you baby 'Cause I'm through Sit me down, shut me up I'll calm down And I'll get along with you"

they all refer to how he wants a woman to whip him into shape and start this new life with her. He has had a problem with alcohol in the past and he needed her to shut him up and sit him down and calm down .

these are the correct lyrics

(ooh ooh) some people think they're always right others are quiet and uptight others they seem so very nice nice nice nice nice (oh) inside they might feel sad and wrong (oh no)

29 different attributes only 7 that you like (oh oh) 20 ways to see the world (oh) 20 ways to start a fight (oh)

don't don't don't get up I can't see the sunshine I'll be waiting for you baby cause I'm through

sit me down shut me up I'll calm down and I'll get along with you

(ooh ooh) oh men don't notice what they got women think of that a lot 1,000 ways to please your man (oh) not even 1 requires a plan (I know)

countless odd religions too it does't matter which you choose (oh no) one stubborn way to turn your back (oh) this I've tried and I refuse

don't don't don't get up I can't see the sunshine oh I'll be waiting for you baby cause I'm through

sit me down shut me up I'll calm down and I'll get along with you

First of all, let me just say that this song is easily one of favorites right now - I have it pretty much constant repeat =)

But anyways, this song is basically highlighting the fallacies humans often share, especially in regards to taking life way too seriously. This is supported in the title itself. It's saying you only live once, so why dwell on all your "problems" and put yourself into a depression, especially when most of the time they're not even that important in the long run as you make it sound at the time.

The first verse is describing different types of people, and how we all have problems at times with being ourselves completely. Some of the people that seem like they are "nice nice nice" and have it all together, may be the ones who at the time are the most messed up inside.

The next verse supplements the first by now saying how people can be so critical of themselves. By saying we have 29 attributes, but we only like 7 of them, Julian's pointing out how people tend to focus and magnify what they perceive to be their faults, instead of either working on what they think is wrong with them or simply just appreciating the good traits they do have.

The chorus is really my favorite part of the song cause it is so tongue-in-cheek with mocking these melodramatic people to an extent. The lines "don't don't don't get up" is saying how these people let such simple things get to them so much that they don't even want to get up anymore...then they further exaggerate everything by whining and saying "they can't see the sunshine" or any positive aspects to their life, when there really may be many good things happening to them if they'd only start having fun and open their eyes.

The mentionings of religion in the latter verses are there I believe to point out yet another way we humans screw up things. Religion can be a great thing and give someone balance, but he's saying that so many of us practice it wrongly and therefore, it only serves to segregate us even further and cause even more hurt.

The lines "there are 1000 ways to please your man, but only one requires a plan" are once again another example to quit overanalyzing EVERYTHING and quit trying so hard...especially when it comes to relationships.

Finally, the lines "sit me down/shut me up, i'll calm down" are what Julian feels melodramatic people like this are really feeling. Deep down they just really want someone to sit them down and appreciate them for who they are. Once this feeling of acceptance comes, they'll be satisfied and actually start enjoying life, instead of constantly feeling sorry for themselves and putting themselves into a state of unnecessary depression.

Just my two cents so remember "you only live once." =)

the booklet says many things other than written in the lyrics here. i forgot in in the office.. i would correct. sorry :D

i think its a good songe to be track one on the record. razorblade is also very nice. or am i just a "love"song addict ?

i think it wants to say that you should NEVER preestimate someone by their look. stop that stereotype way of thinking.

he cannot find a girl but is waiting for one that wakes him up, shuts him up, calms him down... he needs a sign because he is to shy to talk to her ?

damnit. my head is spinning

To be cleared up once and for all, the official Strokes website offers lyrics to their songs and are as follows:

Some people think they're always right. Others are quiet and uptight. Others they seem so very nice.

Inside they might feel sad and wrong.

29 different attributes. Only 7 that you like, 20 ways to see the world, 20 ways to start a fight. Don't get up. I can't see the sunshine. I'll be waiting for you baby,

'cause I'm through. Sit me down. Shut me up. I'll calm down. And I'll get along with you.

Oh men don't notice what they got. Women think of that a lot. 1,000 ways to please your man. Not even 1 requires a plan.

Countless add religions too. It doesn't matter which you choose. One stubborn way to turn your back. This I've tried, and now refuse. Don't get up. I can't see the sunshine. I'll be waiting for you baby 'cause I'm through.

Sit me down. Shut me up. I'll calm down and I'll get along with you

Everyone has perspective and so they don't always align with others perspectives. All fights are caused by differences in perspective. Men and women naturally have different perspectives. Sometimes perspectives are just too far apart and so there is no sense in fighting what can't be won. Consequently you focus on just getting along.

This is a great song by a great band that screams I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET ALONG WITH ME. I don't want you near me! I want you to take your superficial, plastic personality and get lost! At some point someone told you you are ALL THAT and that you're not middle age. Guess what. You're not ALL THAT and you ARE middle age. And something's wrong when you find it perfectly acceptable to be with young things who have the intellectual development of slugs and the wisdom of dung beetles but older adult women aren't your thing. Yes, this song screams I HAVE NO INTEREST in someone who finds me old and disgusting. NONE. So get lost! There are plenty of men who desire me regardless of my age and looks. Asshole!

i think it sounds completely different to what they usually do. its so great