Two could be complete without the rest of the world.
Two could be complete without the rest of the world.
Do it for the people that have died for your sake.
An entire generation that has nothing to say.

How'd you make your way to me?

Oh, let's say you made a deal with me
And I got your name and your home address.
You're all trashed up with your big red belt.
I would almost say that you might need help.
I could drop you off at the next red light
If it don't make sense or it don't feel right.

All the girls could never make me love them
The way I love you.

Can't you see the sky is not the limit no more?
I can see the elevator crash through the floor.
I can still see yesterday sailing away,
Seven billion people who have nothing to say.

Are you coming on to me?

I saw your face then I heard that song.
It was so inviting it hurt my bones.
Well it looks like you but your eyes are gray
And your hair is gone but your minds O.K.
I like your smile but your forehead's cold.
I don't want you to be afraid and go.

I would cheat and lie and steal
Now I'll stay at home and kneel for you.

I was waiting
For my baby to arrive
Right by my side.

Oh please leave me alone tonight...
Forget the past.

Two can be complete with out the rest of the world.
Oh you know I said it just to get you to laugh.
Do it for the people that have died for your sake.
An entire generation of entertainers to blame.

The light is red.
The camera's on.

Get yourself a lawyer and a gun.
Hate your friends's new friends like everyone.
Childhood's end can be so competitive.

Oh, the sky is not the limit
and you're never gonna guess what is...



Lyrics submitted by electricityscape

Track duration: 03:12


Red Light song meanings
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48 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:"I've always been frustrated about two people talking about the same thing. It's always really bothered me. I just think about [two people] arguing about some stupid little thing, and if they could just clarify it, because they're not arguing about anything! So it sort of drives you nuts. You feel that, somewhere, where we are, after all the centuries of writers, poets, thinkers, and philosophers, it's all there - the greed. The greed really effs everything up! It sounds so cheesy, but it's just annoying that it's a little shift, but it's so complicated to figure out how to do that and it's frustrating sometimes. Everything is one shift away; one shift in each direction. It's the end of the world or figuring a lot of shit out and finally getting stuff a little more Star Trekkie. Sometimes, you just feel like saying it. It's not about just saying what needs to be done, it's actually figuring out how to pull it off. I'm figuring it out; I'm learning. Sometimes you just need to say what's on your mind and that's what I was thinking."

    - Julian Casablancas, on the thought process behind writing Red Light
    Flag sarahl86on March 06, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Maybe you should cut yourself? But make sure you do it the right way to execute your demise and pathetic existence:)
    Flagged Nowandneveron October 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Nope, I want to be around so I can hope to read your name in the Chicago paper telling me of your death due to cutting too deep. Just do me a favor, cut off that 2 inch diseased thing first. It deserves a special burial seeing it's won some major records for use on children ;)
    Flagged MissCharlotteSometimeson October 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:That small diseased thing that can't find its way into anyone of legal age? Too funny. Psychopath? Sorry, I am 100% healthy...and single. Now you have a great night of cutting. Be sure to cut extra long and deep...vertically, of course. Hey, it's better to die from blood loss than a painful STD, right :D
    Flagged MissCharlotteSometimeson October 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Your a psycho path and more disturbing than the people who cut. What is wrong with you? Get off my jock and cock.
    Flagged Nowandneveron October 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I like their song about cutting more :D Have a lovely evening, All :)
    Flagged MissCharlotteSometimeson October 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Whose the celebrity he's talkin' about? Am a curious cat about this.
    Flag GrungyBeatleon October 27, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I think it's about how he fell in love with a girl but then she went on to become a celebrity, and thus his old beliefs of "two can be complete w/o the rest of the world" are shattered when she becomes high-profile and has different issues to deal with.
    Flag PlNKon June 17, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:I think this song is and isn't what some of you have mentioned. But for the deeper meaning, I know that Julian does write alot of lyrics that kind of reflect whats going on in his life/with the strokes. That being said, here's what I think the song is REALLY about...

    In short, Red Light is kind of like Julian talking to the rest of the band. Kind of letting them know that he still cares for them and doesn't want anything bad to happen between them despite some of the issues they've been having.


    "Two could be complete without the rest of the world.
    Two could be complete without the rest of the world."<< "Do it for the people that have died for your sake.
    An entire generation that has nothing to say."<<<<
    "How'd you make your way to me?"<<<<
    "Oh, let's say you made a deal with me
    "And I got your name and your home address."<<<< "You're all trashed up with your big red belt.
    "I would almost say that you might need help."<<<< "I could drop you off at the next red light
    If it don't make sense or it don't feel right."<<<<
    "All the girls could never make me love them
    The way I love you."<<<<
    "Can't you see the sky is not the limit no more?
    I can see the elevator crash through the floor."<<<< "I can still see yesterday sailing away,"I still remember when we first started
    "Seven billion people who have nothing to say.">>>>>We've made the whole world speechless with what we've done

    "Are you coming on to me?">>>>>Is all this really working out?

    "I saw your face then I heard that song.
    It was so inviting it hurt my bones.">>>>>I saw how you looked but the music/fame is so tempting
    "Well it looks like you but your eyes are gray
    And your hair is gone but your minds O.K.
    "I like your smile but your forehead's cold.">>>>>You look okay and you seem okay but I know your not okay
    "I don't want you to be afraid and go.">>>>>I don't want to keep this going if it'll force us to break up.

    "I would cheat and lie and steal
    Now I'll stay at home and kneel for you.">>>>>With all that we've done to ourselves for the band/for each other, it's time we take a break and recover for each other

    "I was waiting
    For my baby to arrive
    Right by my side.">>>>>I was waiting for things to get better, to be how they should be.

    "Oh please leave me alone tonight...
    Forget the past.">>>>>I don't want this to stop, let's just forget everything we've done.

    "Two can be complete with out the rest of the world.
    Oh you know I said it just to get you to laugh.">>>>>It may seem impossible, but we can make it on our own"
    "Do it for the people that have died for your sake.
    An entire generation of entertainers to blame.">>>>>Let's do it for the other bands in the same position. It's those 'entertainers' who got us in this position.


    "Get yourself a lawyer and a gun.">>>>>[Reference to things ending badly]
    "Hate your friends's new friends like everyone.">>>>>[Reference to all the petty drama celebrities have just because they're celebrities]
    "Childhood's end can be so competitive.">>>>>Getting to this point can be so difficult to decide what to do

    "Oh, the sky is not the limit
    and you're never gonna guess what is...">>>>>We've made it this far, just wait and see what we'll do next
    Flag DukeJCDCon April 02, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of my favorite songs by The Strokes, everything works perfectly in this one. Just an amazing song. Sometimes I wonder how and who picks singles for songs... they never seem to pick the ones I love hahaha.
    Flag JayoftheDeadon March 06, 2011   Link

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