Ten decisions shape your life
You'll be aware of five about
Seven ways to go through school
Either you're noticed or left out
Seven ways to get ahead
Seven reasons to drop out
When I said, "I can see me in your eyes"
You said, "I can see you in my bed"
That's not just friendship, that's romance, too
You like music we can dance to

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

There is a time when we all fail
Some people take it pretty well
Some take it all out on themselves
Some, they just take it out on friends
Oh, everybody plays the game
And if you don't, you're called insane

Don't, don't, don't, don't, it's not safe no more
I've got to see you one more time
That's when you were born in 1984

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

Everybody was well dressed
And everybody was a mess
Six things without fail you must do
So that your woman loves just you
Oh, all the girls played mental games
And all the guys were dressed the same

Why not try it all
If you only remember it once?
Ooh, ooh

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

(Okay, one more time)


Lyrics submitted by purplehazereptilia, edited by Tinterpret, mattieeee

I'll Try Anything Once Lyrics as written by Julian Casablancas

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid

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I'll Try Anything Once song meanings
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33 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I believe he says

    Seven ways to get ahead And seven reasons to drop out

    That seems like it would make more sense than "drop 'round."

    Eyeodineon November 29, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is so pretty. it has such a good sound, even though it's so slow (and you can actually understand the words!) more people should hear this song.

    limonataon May 02, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this is the Heart in a Cage B-side. I love it because it shows what a beautiful voice Julian really has (a lot of newbie Strokeians think he's just a raspy droner). It reminds me of the original Such Great Heights (by Iron & Wine). Download it NOW, or I'll have to spank you. (:

    stad1um_arcad1umon May 23, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The title is correct, its a B-side, early version of You Only live Once, and in my opinion a better song

    romsyon November 18, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i'm pretty sure the correct lyrics are as follows;

    Ten decisions shape your life, you'll be aware of 5 about, 7 ways to go through school, either you're noticed or left out, 7 ways to get ahead, 7 reasons to drop round, when i said ' I can see me in your eyes', you said 'I can see you in my bed', that's not just friendship that's romance too, you like music we can dance to,

    Sit me down, Shut me up, i'll calm down, and i'll get along with you,

    There is a time when we all fail, some people take it pretty well, some take it all out on themselves, some they just take it out on friends, oh everybody plays the game, and if you don't you're called insane,

    Don't don't don't don't it's not safe no more, i've got to see you one more time, soon you were born, in 1984,

    Sit me down, shut me up, i'll calm down, and i'll get along with you,

    Everybody was well dressed, and everybody was a mess, 6 things without fail you must do, so that your woman loves just you, oh all the girls played mental games, and all the guys were dressed the same,

    Why not try it all, if you only remember it once, oooh ooooooh,

    Sit me down, shut me up, i'll calm down, and i'll get along with you,

    (okay one more time)

    annexwoondon December 23, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    francovonbear, i think you're wrong.

    but it is drop out not drop round

    sexynicole666on September 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    As much as I love "You Only Live Once", this version is amazing. When you listen to the words, it sounds like they should have kept this a slow soothing song instead of what they did w/ Y.O.L.O. Much Like Such great heights, the postal service version doesn't let the listener really absorb the lyrics as much as the iron & wine version because it is played too quickly.

    lingeronon December 26, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    is anyone sure that it's "soon you were born in 1984"? "soon" doesn't seem to fit in... it sounds more like he's saying "son" or "saying"...?

    bagismon March 08, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is amazing, I think they should release it on an album eventually. Just the way it is.

    But to me this song shows the amazing talent of julian, he rights the lyrics AND the music for the strokes. he does that by writing the music for a keyboard and then transfering it over to the guitar. this song was the original version of you onlive live once this shows his skills and also how he writes a song its amazing

    aries44on March 08, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's also about how people react to certain situations

    "7 ways to go through school, either you're noticed or left out, 7 ways to get ahead, 7 reasons to drop out"

    Much of the song is also about the way society expects people to behave and how people react to that behaviour.

    "There is a time when we all fail, some people take it pretty well, some take it all out on themselves, some they just take it out on friends, oh everybody plays the game, and if you don't you're called insane"

    The only bit I can't figure out is...

    "Don't don't don't don't it's not safe no more, i've got to see you one more time, soon you were born, in 1984"

    I also think it's 'SON you were born...' rather than 'soon...' Great song though, probably my favourite Strokes song.

    thediscobiscuiton June 10, 2010   Link

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