Welcome To Japan

I think its about a man who leaves to go touring with his band and how he cheats on his woman back home by having sex with women while on tour. Towards the end of the song he feels the guilt for what he is doing and how he is barely home. I also think the title of the song, "Welcome To Japan," is a sort of justification of his actions. Sort of asking, "what do you expect?" Also maybe he isn't necessarily in Japan, maybe he is just using Japan to describe how far apart he feels from his woman back home.

Best song on the album. The last minute or so is fantastic

I think that this song has something to do with feeling compared to someone. But also sex.

This song obviously has something to do with cheating on someone that is just like you ("you're not just a friend, you're me born again" "he cheats on his clone") and then not expecting it to be so harmful ("i didn't know the gun was loaded").

This songs reminds me of when I'm on my period. This has a really strong '70s vibe to it which is really cool .

...when Jules says Welcome to Japan...! <33

I kinda think it's random ultimately, but if you want to try to put meaning to it it seems to me like it's about casual sex and an affair on a bad relationship... in Japan. Whatever it's about it's one of their best songs for me!

Does it sound like he's saying "come here get funky with me" to anyone else?

I think it has to with a rockstar who is getting with this girl and he gives off that typical rockstar vibe and she doesn't care still is choosing to be with him versus this everyday dude who has come to Japan and fallen for her and he's saying maybe I can't give you everything he can (drive a lotus) or be willing to kiss your ass as he does (pick up your shit for you) but I am every bit the man he is and he just wants her to give him a chance with her.

Welcome to Japan is basically about The Strokes being forced by their record label to produce another album.

"Putting posters up For your band (This lyric is written about the past, when the strokes first started playing gigs) Now I'll tear them down With my hand"- (This lyric is about present day, They resent touring now as it's forced)

If we don't watch the sun It will rise

the person is becoming aware that the world doesn't revolve around them but he has a band, the way Julian sings "we're playing come by" shows that the band thinks they are good

I didn't want to notice Didn't know the gun was loaded Didn't really know this What kind of asshole drives a Lotus?

this part is kind of absurd. it sounds like an excuse but you end up seeing the real intentions when they say "What kind of asshole drives a Lotus?"

Come here and go get with me I wanna see you Wednesday Come on, come on, come over Take it off your shoulder Come on and pull me over We gotta get to work now Sliding it off your shoulder As we're falling over

This is someone trying to "save" them. That person wants to take the guy's chip off his shoulder. "Sliding it off your shoulder" "Take it off your shoulder"

Oh, welcome to Japan! Scuba-dancing! Touchdown!

by the entonation of casablancas and the random words said we can guess it alludes to the band that thinks they are so cool like japan I guess.

You did it alone You did it for fun You did it for everyone who's on the run You're not just a friend You'll be born again We'll be in this race until the very end He lives on the phone He cheats on his clone You'll never believe me 'til you're on your own

this is another voice telling the main guy why he pulled the trigger

I never understood the "I'll be there"