You said you couldn't stay
You've seen it all before, I know
They sold you on their way
Oh, honey, that's okay

No harm, he's armed
Settin' off all your alarms
When I find out
I hope it's you who set this trap

And storefronts rarely change
At least I'm on my own again
Instead of anywhere with you
Oh, tell me it's all the same

And I lost my page again
I know this is so rare
But I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Well, I am your one
Believe me, this is a chance, oh, oh

Let's see what is for sale
He's tryin' hard to give his job a chance
Oh, it's never gonna be
It's sad, but I agree

The signals don't seem right
They last for just one night, and then
I'm sorry that I said
That we were just good friends

No harm, he's armed
Setting off all your alarms
They're trapped, I can't
Be there in time, I'll think about that

And I lost my page again
I know this is so rare
But I'll try my luck with you
This life is on my side
Well, I am your one
Believe me, this is a chance, oh, oh


Lyrics submitted by mudfly

Trying Your Luck Lyrics as written by Julian Casablancas

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Trying Your Luck song meanings
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47 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment

    Great song. I think it's about someone who likes this girl and although she's giving him crayz mixed signals he's still going to try and take a chance with her. He's confused and keeps changing his mind about her, and at the same time tries to convince that he's right for her.

    alanna07on January 25, 2005   Link
  • +5
    General Comment

    Oh! I also think that they're not good friends, it gives me the feeling that he like barely knows her but they get along really well... thus adding to the confusion (not knowing her well + various events happening quickly + complex feelings + doubt + hope = super confusion)

    I think this song rocks! the musical arrangement is awesome as always in the strokes songs... I'm in a situation similar to this one... so this song makes me feel understood even though it confuses me more

    XIIIthGuyDudeon May 04, 2009   Link
  • +4
    Song Meaning

    I myself see/hear a story in this song. here is my take.

    You said you couldn't stay You'd seen it all before I know They sold you on their way Oh honey that's ok

    I guess she is saying that she won't get into any relationships no more cuz "they sold her on her way" he says it doesnt matter to him it ok

    No harm, he's armed Setting off all your alarms When I find out I hope it's you who set this trap

    Right here the girl finds someone she likes (guy2) and he is setting off all her alarms as in turning off. so she feels good with him. The guy (guy1) is hoping its not really happening cuz he likes her and hopes its just a trick or lie.

    And storefronts rarely change At least I'm on my own again instead of Anywhere with you but to me it's all the same

    right here guy1 is seeing her with guy2 and by storefronts rarely change he means things never change kind of like he foresees what will happen with them. he is on his own because she is with guy2 and comforts himself by saying that he is on his own instead of anywhere with her in other words he is better off without her but he doesnt really feel different because he might be confused or emotional.

    And I've lost my page again I know this is surreal But I'll try my luck with you This life is on my side Oh I am your one Believe me, this is a chance

    The first line shows guy1 "lost his page again" meaning he is either choosing between to options or messed up again. second and third line show he is saying fuck it I'll try my luck with her like probably ask her out or something and its rare for him to do decisions like that when he probably just lets things go by. fourth line shows that suddenly going right for him or will improve soon. fifth and sixth he is determined to be with here and wants her to give him a chance.

    Let's see what is for sale He's trying hard to give his job a chance It's never gonna be It's sad, but I agree The signals don't seem right It lasts for just one night, and then I'm sorry that I said That we were just good friends

    first line he is saying lets see what is new whats happening. Second line he hasnt tried his luck with her probably because he changed his mind and is trying currently hard to do his "job" which is trying his luck with her. Then he thinks things wont work out between them. He wants her really badly but is confused about it and got his chance to be with her but turned it down by saying that " they were Just good friends" and he regrets turning it down. he might have thought she was confused or something and thats why he turned it down but regrets it.

    No harm, he's armed Setting off all your alarms Entranced, I can't Be there in time I'll think about that

    Again guy2 is is being really good with her and guy1 is entranced to see its working between her and guy2 and the last line says he wont win her over time and now he can only ponder it.

    And I've lost my page again I know this is surreal But I'll try my luck with you This life is on my side Well I am your one Believe me, this is a chance

    Again he is confused or not caring and has decided to try his luck with her. Things are going his way or he is determined to make them go his in efforts to show her that he is the on for her . he wants her to believe him and trust him.

    Thats what i get.

    AleisterCrowleyon May 27, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    i think it's about young love. the guy in the relationship doesn't know what real love is, but ironically he's risking everything just to feel what it's like with the one he's with. what he doesn't know is that he's contradicting himself.

    "And I've lost my page again I know this is so rare But I'll try my luck with you This life is on my side Well I am your one Believe me, this is a chance"

    his naivety will eventually lead him to his ruin, but as cliche as it sounds, love will turn out for the better.

    i wanna make to my girlfriend with this song.

    jomeson March 27, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Reading other people's analysis has helped me to form my own, so thanks! I think in the first half the girl has blown him off ("you said you couldn't stay") and he's bitter about it ("at least i'm on my own again instead of anywhere with you"). Then in the chorus he decides to give it another go and manages to convince the girl to come back to him. When she does he gets cold feet this time and he blows her off, whether because he's unsure about the relationship or out of revenge, i think the former. He then regrets it when she goes back to someone else. I think the guy who 'sets off her alarms' is a guy who she's attracted to, and the line "I can't be here in time, I'll think about that" is him thinking to himself how he's mucked it up and it's too late now.

    REB_809on July 03, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is a good Strokes song... The bass is awesome.

    carmson July 03, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is awesome. Amazingly, this was the first Strokes song I ever heard and I fell in love with it and them instantly.

    FreakyTweakeron July 06, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    best song from the album! makes you wanna dance, makes you wanna live! but could anyone tell me want it means?

    desperado_88on July 28, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song has to do with a couple and or maybe a book.. its confusing but when you're confused this song is really good for the mind. I like this song it's great... I lost my page again!!!!

    bluestarstruckon August 17, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Umm...Ignore my last post...I was talking about another song...I don't know how come it ended up here...

    scouchieon January 21, 2006   Link

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