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Metabolism Lyrics

I wanna be outrageous
But inside I know I'm plain
So plain, just plain
Always, in pain

Silent as the dead
Just like anyone I guess
Tryin' for the perfect life
End up bein' in denial

I wanna be somebody
Wanna be somebody like you
Like you, like you
Like you, instead of me

Silent as the dead
Just like anyone I guess
Tryin' for the perfect life
End up bein' in denial
Song Info
Submitted by
screenager0 On Mar 16, 2011
11 Meanings

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Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

I don't know if it's really meant to be depressing. Maybe it's not about being obsessed with the concept of death in a kind of dark or even suicidal way, but about being obsessed with doing something before you die. He doesn't want to be "plain", he wants to be someone and he thinks that he's running out of time. Then it's not about wanting to die or anything, it's about worrying about the end before you've even got there yet, which, to be honest, is "just like anyone else, I guess".

Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

This is my favorite track of Angles.

My Opinion

This sounds the most like The Strokes I love... Still, Machu Picchu is way too good to not be my new favorite haha

Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

Just attempted through listening, can't quite make out that first line of the chorus. Help me out!

silently obsessed with it? thats what im hearing but im not too sure.

Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

i completely relate to this.

Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

"Silently obsessed with it, just like anyone I guess"

Honestly, it almost sounds like he's saying, "silently obsessed with death" to me, but that seems a little dark for a Strokes song...

Hi everyone. I absolutely LOVE this song so I spent ages yesterday trying to work the lyrics out. I think I've cracked them, so here is my version:

I wanna be outrageous but inside I know I'm plain so plain, just plain Boring and plain

Silently obsessed with death(or debt?-unlikely) just like anyone I guess Trying for the perfect life End up being in denial

I wanna be somebody, wanna be somebody like you like you, like you Like you, instead of me

Silently obsessed with death Just like anyone I guess Trying for the perfect life End up being in...

Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

I am new to this site, and just spotted that I can post as "lyric correction" rather than a reply to a comment so here it is again:

I wanna be outrageous but inside I know I'm plain so plain, just plain Boring and plain

Silently obsessed with death(or debt?-unlikely) just like anyone I guess Trying for the perfect life End up being in denial

I wanna be somebody, wanna be somebody like you like you, like you Like you, instead of me

Silently obsessed with death Just like anyone I guess Trying for the perfect life End up being in denial

Lyric Correction

Thanks so much, once I saw it I heard it haha... Don't know if that means I'm trying to hear what you put down but for now it seems right :D

I definitely agree with "boring and plain"

This song is pretty self explanatory.... I love it, dark like some of the stuff on FIOE which is my favorite album despite what anyone says. It's a song I think most people can relate to at one time or another and it's put in such simple yet elegant terms. Angles does not disappoint, I'm ashamed that I was ever...

Hi there. I'm pretty sure that's what he sings and it all makes good sense to me. I love this song too, lyrics and music. Yes, it is dark and there's a lot of emotion in the music and the way he sings and that's probably why I love it so much. FIOE is also my favourite Strokes album. I love Heart in a cage and Vision of division mostly, but also Electricityscape, Ize of the World and 15 minutes. I like Angles too (though a little less than FIOE) I instantly loved this one and Taken for a fool...

Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

As creepy as it may seem, I completely relate to this song. I'm an overall average/boring person who wishes he was cooler like all of his ridiculously popular friends. Death is never far from my mind, but not in an emo way. I totally relate to Metabolism though because I have a ridiculously fast metabolism, causing me to be extremely skinny naturally.

This song is a little too depressing for my taste, especially for a Strokes song.

My Opinion

You just described me, lol.

Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

does anyone know which stroke wrote this? julian normally does but this album was more of a collaborative effort... any idea?

Julian, Fab and Nick wrote it

Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

I too want to know who wrote this song, cuz i couldn't find that info anywhere, does anybody know?

@libertineboy Julian, Fabrizio, and Nick

Cover art for Metabolism lyrics by Strokes, The

I agree with afrolady. The song has a definite tone of anxiety, as if he's worried about death, about not having done something special, impactful in his life.

Metabolism is not really how fast one digests food, but the breakdown and regeneration of body cells. Many times, metabolism is equated to the progression of the body, ie. a person maturing, getting older.

Maybe the career, personal life or philosophical achievements that Julian (or the whole band) has accomplished in their lives do not seem to them enough. Like, they are not satisfied with what they have gotten done in life, and are worried that life will run out and they will have made no impact or change or anything meaningful.

It's a pretty universal worry ("I guess").

My Interpretation
 
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