He reuses the verse melody from the previous album's "Dirty Little Religion", the topics of the verses are all over the place, and he packs too many words into one line (goes to show...) and too few in another (it's pretty hard to find), and rhymes "Henley Regatta" with "Persona non grata", but gets away with it all as only he could.
Soma is what they would take when
Hard times opened their eyes
Saw pain in a new way
High stakes for a few names
Racing against sunbeams
Losing against fig trees
In your eyes
And I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
See, I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
Let's go
When I saw her for the first time
Lips moved as her eyes closed
Heard something in his voice
"And I'll be there," he says
Then he walks out
Somehow he was tryin'
Too hard to be like them
And I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
And I am
Stop
Oh, darlin' let me go
Tried it once and they liked it
And tried to hide it
Says, "I've been doin' this twenty-five years"
Well, I'm not listenin' no more
And these friends, they keep asking for more
Oh, yeah
Oh, but that's it
Hard times opened their eyes
Saw pain in a new way
High stakes for a few names
Racing against sunbeams
Losing against fig trees
In your eyes
And I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
See, I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
Let's go
When I saw her for the first time
Lips moved as her eyes closed
Heard something in his voice
"And I'll be there," he says
Then he walks out
Somehow he was tryin'
Too hard to be like them
And I am
Stop
And go
In your eyes
And I am
Stop
Oh, darlin' let me go
Tried it once and they liked it
And tried to hide it
Says, "I've been doin' this twenty-five years"
Well, I'm not listenin' no more
And these friends, they keep asking for more
Oh, yeah
Oh, but that's it
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The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I thought of soma the other day when my friend was drinking an energy drink that had nicotine in it (sorry-I'm on an extended holiday from the US, so you're not getting any you fiend). I already stopped drinking that crap anyway, but seeing that there are ones out there with nicotine in them took it to a different level. But anyway, there's gotta be an energy drink with soma in it out there somewhere.
This has always been my favorite Strokes song for some reason. I don't like it enough to read the book though. Though, I probably will read it if I get bored like I am right now and anyone has it with them. But I hardly have time and spend what little time I do have here or sleeping. I like to start a long run with this song because it starts out all mellow-like and then it's all amped, just how I imagine soma's affect, and also the way I like to run. The Strokes are great to listen to when you're running. Try it.