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I'm putting your patience to the test.
I'm putting your body on the line, for less.
And didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours but someone elses voice.
Sellin your body to the street.
sending your girlfriends to the night, for cheap.
Wearing a jacket made of meat.
Sending a letter made with horse's feet.
And now you've heard that...
Waves turn to grey.
Life in the shade.
A violent cloud.
And that's on USA.
Running for the rights,
Sleep into the sky.
I'm just trying' to find...
A mountain I can climb.
I'm putting your patience to the test.
I'm putting your body on the line, for less.
And didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours but someone elses voice.
And now you've seen that...
Waltz on the grey.
Life in the shade.
A violent cloud,
And that's on USA.
Born on the rise.
Circles in the skies.
I'm just tryin' to find...
A mountain I can climb.
Tell us, whatever he trying to tell us
They're gonna be oh-so jealous
They're gonna be oh-so silent
They're gonna be swimming circles
(I didn't want to ask you baby,
I didn't want hurt you, anybody see me, can anyone else get near me, can anyone even hear me)
alright
Why are you waiting behind the door...
Life turns to dust,
and rain turns to rust.
Gossip is a truth.
(?) lie you took.
And why do you look surprised?
Ever since I'm in the skies.
I'm just tryin' to find,
a nice place for you and I.
I'm putting your body on the line, for less.
And didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours but someone elses voice.
Sellin your body to the street.
sending your girlfriends to the night, for cheap.
Wearing a jacket made of meat.
Sending a letter made with horse's feet.
And now you've heard that...
Waves turn to grey.
Life in the shade.
A violent cloud.
And that's on USA.
Running for the rights,
Sleep into the sky.
I'm just trying' to find...
A mountain I can climb.
I'm putting your patience to the test.
I'm putting your body on the line, for less.
And didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours but someone elses voice.
And now you've seen that...
Waltz on the grey.
Life in the shade.
A violent cloud,
And that's on USA.
Born on the rise.
Circles in the skies.
I'm just tryin' to find...
A mountain I can climb.
Tell us, whatever he trying to tell us
They're gonna be oh-so jealous
They're gonna be oh-so silent
They're gonna be swimming circles
(I didn't want to ask you baby,
I didn't want hurt you, anybody see me, can anyone else get near me, can anyone even hear me)
alright
Why are you waiting behind the door...
Life turns to dust,
and rain turns to rust.
Gossip is a truth.
(?) lie you took.
And why do you look surprised?
Ever since I'm in the skies.
I'm just tryin' to find,
a nice place for you and I.
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Putting your body on the line, for less
Didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours but someone else's voice
--> This is about the Obama healthcare reforms, specifically the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act --> expansion of Medicaid . Putting your PATIENCE/PATIENTS to the test -->It's not well supported --> and It's means/situation tested. Putting your body on the line for less --> it's cheaper, but at the cost of worse healthcare --> see comparative effectiveness research. If the government can't tell the difference between a cheaper and a more expensive treatment, you get the cheaper one. The state makes the choice for you.
Selling your body to the streets --> Working your ass off for Wallstreet.
Selling your girlfriend's to the night, for cheap --> Families being forced to have mothers working nightshifts to make ends meet.
Wearing a jacket made of meat
Sealing a letter made with horse's feet
This is referring to Lady Gaga getting a private letter from PETA inviting her to a dinner after she wore a meat dress.
And now you've heard that..
Waves turn to grey --> this refers to a grey wave investment i.e. an investment that would take so long to get a return, the investor has grey hair by the time they get it.
That's about all I can be bothered deciphering. lol.
(war in middle east has not ended yet, but keeps getting promised by President)
Putting your body on the line for less
(soldiers are putting their lives on the line for less money, budget cuts affecting military)
Didn't you know you had a choice
(the right to vote) (sarcastic)
It's never yours but someone else's voice
(electoral college is actually the group who casts votes in Presidential elections)
Selling your bodies to the street
Selling your girlfriends to the night for cheap
(prostitution on the rise in US)
Wearing a jacket made of meat
(leather jacket)
Sealing a letter made of horse's feet
(horse hooves are used to make glue)
And now you've heard that
Words turn to grey
(words become less meaningful)
Life in the shade
(easy lifestyle of most people in developed countries)
A violent clock
Non-stop USA
(Americans are always on the move, rushed for time)
Platinum's on the rise
(increasing value of precious metals, dollar losing value)
Playboys in disguise
I'm just trying to find a mountain I can climb
(Wanting to escape or get away from this society)
Life turns to dust and rain turns to rust
(Nothing lasts forever, decay is inevitable)
Gossip is the truth
(People believe everything they hear without questioning)
A little bit for the lie you told
(Tabloid magazines paying people for made up stories)
Long enough surprised, hopeless saints are in the stars
(Saint Jude is the Saint of hopeless cases...maybe this is a reference to the hopeless state of the world)
I'm just trying to find enough space for you and I.
(Man trying to provide for his woman)
I'm putting your body on the line, for less.
And didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours but someone elses voice.
Meaning:
patience of what is happening to you
I'll go with you anywhere you go
there's always a choice but
the decision you choose is not yours
but it's someone else who choose it for you (mind control he meant)
Slippin' your body through the street.
I'm sending your girlfriends to the night, for cheat.
Wearing a jacket, play the meat.
Sending a letter waved with walls so sweet.
And now you've heard that...
Meaning:
walking to the mall or anywhere in the night for party (something like that)
wearing a clothes made by meat of animal :( (especially woman, they like wearing it)
The 2 lines I don't really get it
Waves turn to grey.
Life in the shade.
A violent cloud.
And that's on USA.
Running for the rights,
Sleep into the sky.
I'm just trying' to find...
A mountain I can climb.
Meaning:
A war is coming
million of people didn't knew it coming
A very scary war, worst than ww2
and the one who started it, it's usa (meaning america)
taking the world rights (meaning direct to all of the citizen in the earth)
and they were mind control so they will never know
julian trying to tell us something by using anything necessary
I'm putting your patience to the test.
I'm putting your body on the line, for less.
And didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours but someone elses voice.
And now you've seen that...
Waltz on the grey.
Life in the shade.
A violent cloud,
And that's on USA.
[Born on the rise.
Circles in the skies.]
I'm just tryin' to find...
A mountain I can climb.
meaning:
they are very powerful
they could control anything they want
Tell us, are you gonna tell us?
Why do we feel so jealous?
Why do we feel so silent?
Why is it always silent?
(I didn't want to ask you baby,
I didn't want you to suffer , and everybody is singing .... )
meaning:
he meant to someone,
why they're angry to this people (maybe religion like the christian or the muslim) I think it's the muslim
why we do anything to you (deceive or destroy) but you ppl still get back up
he's telling to his love that he's not crazy about this kind of thing,
he didin't want his love too suffer and this people(muslim) they( the one who angry or jealous) want to kill but the ppl (muslim) will oneday be ready to counter or fight them and they(the angry one) are scared
Why are you waiting? By the door...
meaning:
who are they waiting? (maybe the messiah)
Life turns to dust,
And when it turns to rust.
Gossip is a truth.
(?) lie you took.
And why do you look surprised?
Ever since I'm in the skies.
I'm just tryin' to find,
A space for you and I.
meaning:
life is a short thing and fragile
what ever happened it could give an impact to your life
positive or negative
what we see in the news is true but someone twisted it
are you ppl surprise now what is happening to you or all over the is illusion to keep you guys in the cage
ever since I'm(julian) against them
it's tough and I need your helps people and I'LL TRY A WAY TO MAKE YOU PEOPLE NOTICE ABOUT THIS WORLD
and he's going to save his love (maybe his wife)
It's just my opinion, maybe my imagination
and sorry for the bad grammer :)
If I'm misunderstood what he meant and I'm really sorry :)
Putting you patience to the test
Putting yout body on the line, for less
Didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours but someone else's voice
Selling your body to the streets
Selling your girlfriend's to the night, for cheap
Wearing a jacket made of meat
Sealing a letter made with horse's feet
And now you've heard that..
Waves turn to grey, life in the shade,
A violent crime and that's the USA
Platinium's on the rise, playboys in disguise
I'm just tryin' to find a mountain I can climb
Putting you patience to the test
Putting yout body on the line, for less
Didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours but someone else's voice
And know you see that...
Blondes turn to grey, life in the shade
A violent crime and that's the USA
Porn's on the rise, psycho's in disguise
I'm just tryin' to find a mountain I can climb
Darling ain't nobody gonna tell us, they're gonna be oh so jelous
We're gonna be oh so silent, they're gonna be stoned in silence
I didn't want to ask you baby. I didn't want to have to ask anybody baby,
Is anyone asking maybe? Can anyone even hear me/this shit?
Why are you waiting beyond the door?
Life turns to dust, and rain turns to rust
And money pays for the lies we trust
Your love is a surprise, homeless saints are in disguise
I'm just tryin' to find a nice place for you and I
----------------------------------------------------------
Now they make much more sense to me, by the way, look at the picture from where I took the official lyrics: juliancasablancas.com/news/ - From the post of September 14th, 2011
I'm not surprised there's so many different interpretations of the lyrics, as when I first heard this on the radio I could only understand the "tell us" "jealous" bit with a few other odd words. I guess the only way of truly knowing will be looking at the lyrics in the official album booklet, if they're printed in there.
I don't understand why they don't play this live!!! I saw them at MSG in NYC last month and this was the one song I really wanted to hear that they didn't play (other than 12:51). They've played a bunch of shows since and still no Machu Picchu.
DEAR STROKES, IF YOU'RE READING THIS BY SOME SLIM CHANCE, PLEASE PLAY MACHU PICCHU NEXT TIME YOU PLAY IN NYC!
Anyway, Julian Casablancas has said several time that he doesn't put too much hidden meaning into the lyrics, and that The Strokes are much more focused on the music. But there is definitely more thought put into the lyrics on First Impressions and Angles compared to the ones from Is This It, which had a slew preliminary versions, all with different lyrics.
The song definitely seems like Julian recognizes that a lot of people saw The Strokes image when they first hit the scene in 2001 (the skinny t-shirts and jeans, the leather coats) and they literally went through body transformations. Because no one was dressing in that Post-modern chuck taylor fashion before they came along outside of maybe New York City. So guys wanted to look like fab moretti, and started losing weight (I'm puttin your body on the line for less)...
This song has a theme of disillusionment which I recognized when I first started listening to this band. "That was me up on the mountain, all alone, no one surrounded" . Like people had the choice of not being influenced, but they started becoming obsessed with the strokes image, likeness, and persona. "He was on the minds of other men, I know he was." Kids who were born into Right wing families, suddenly started feeling like cultured Rich kids who graduated from the Dwight School. They envisioned themselves in street scenes of the 1970's, and wanted to be looked at like Prostitutes of this re-created culture that The Strokes music captures...They've captured this whole thing in a Neo Post-modern fashion that is Hard to Explain...
but i love this song and realllyyy want to hear them play it live
when i heard this song as the first track on angles i knew it would be my fav on the album and it still is:)
I'm putting your patience to the test
I'm putting your body on the line, for less
And didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours, but someone else's voice
Selling your body to the street
Sending your girlfriends to the night, for cheap
Wearing a jacket made of meat
Sealing a letter made with horses feet
And now you've heard that
Words turn to gray
Life in the shade
A violent cry
And that's on USA
Platinum's on the rise
Payphones in the sky
I'm just trying' to find
A mountain I can climb
I'm putting your patience to the test
I'm putting your body on the line, for less
And didn't you know there was a choice?
And it's never yours, in someone else's voice
And now you've seen that
Waltz on the grave
Life in the shade
A violent cry
And that's on USA
Born on the right
Circles in disguise
I'm just tryin' to find
A mountain I can climb
Tell us
Can anybody tell us
They're gonna be oh so jealous
They're gonna be oh so silent
They're gonna be sworn in silence
I didn't wanna ask you, baby
I didn't wanna love you
And everybody saw me
And even if they knew me,
Can anyone even hear us?
Can anybody tell us
They're gonna be oh so jealous
They're gonna be oh so silent
They're gonna be sworn in silence
Can anybody tell us
They're gonna be oh so jealous
They're gonna be-
Aww, right...
Why are you waitin'
At my door?
Life turns to dust
And rain turns to rust
The gossip is the truth
The money paid for the lives we took
And why do you look surprised
Only since I'm in the skies
I'm just tryin' to find
Enough space for you and I
Hopefully that helps fill in a few gaps!
I'm putting your patience to the test
I'm putting your body on the line, for less
And didn't you know there was a choice?
It's never yours, but someone else's voice
Selling your body to the street
Sending your girlfriends to the night, for cheap
Wearing a jacket made of meat (*it's a leather jacket, guys)
Sealing a letter made with horses feet (*glue in envelopes is supposedly made from horse)
And now you've heard that
(?) turn to gray
Life in the shade
A violent cry
From Nassau, USA (* Nassau is a county in New York... The bad's played at Nassau Coliseum)
Bad moon's on the rise
(?) in the sky
I'm just trying' to find
A mountain I can climb
I'm putting your patience to the test
I'm putting your body on the line, for less
And didn't you know there was a choice?
And it's never yours, and someone else's voice
And now you've seen the
Marks on the grave
Life in the shade
A violent cry
In Nassau, USA
Porn on the rise(?)
Circles in the skies
I'm just tryin' to find
A mountain I can climb
Tell us
Can anybody tell us
They're gonna be oh so jealous
They're gonna be oh so silent
They're gonna be sworn in silence(?)
(I didn't wanna ask you, baby
I didn't wanna love you
And everybody saw me (?)
And even if they knew me,(?)
Can anyone even hear us? (?))
Can anybody tell us
They're gonna be oh so jealous
They're gonna be oh so silent
They're gonna be sworn in silence(?)
Can anybody tell us
They're gonna be oh so jealous
They're gonna be-
Aww, right...
Why are you waitin'
At my door?
Life turns to dust
And rain turns to rust
The gossip is the truth
... the lives we took (?)
And why do you look surprised(?)
Only since I'm in the skies(?)
I'm just tryin' to find
Enough space for you and I
And now you've heard that
WORDS ON THE GRAVE
Life in the shade
A violent cry...
That would make so much sense if the next chorus is:
And now you've seen the
MARKS ON THE GRAVE
Life in the shade...
Yay!