Under Cover of Darkness Lyrics

Lyric discussion by kyle16813 

Cover art for Under Cover of Darkness lyrics by Strokes, The

This is the undisclosed title track of the album. It is about what the band has gone through in the last 5 years. Seperately. The album is titled Angles because of all the different directions the members went through after the exhaustion of the 05-07 tours. They all had solo ventures (Valensi did photography and guested on albums including Sia's '10 release). This song is the backbone of the idea of spliting up and finally coming back together.

Know how folks back out, I still call Will you hate for me now?

-They tried to get back together but not all members were aboard at the same time-

Don't go that way I'll wait for you

-Don't do that solo album!! Go back to the band that made you big. Ok, you did, but I will be here when the strokes reform-

Get dressed jump out of bed and do it best Are you ok? I've been out around this town Everybody's been singing the same song ten years

-This is a reference to Last Nite and how much they hate the song but it is still their most popular one. Julian is saying move the fuck on!-

I'll wait for you Will you wait for me too?

-Jules is saying he'll wait for the band members/strokes fans and asking if they'll wait for him-

And they sacrifice their lives In our land are all closed eyes I've been saying we're beaten down, I won't say it again

-The last line in this verse is jules telling the members they have been beaten down as a group, they were overplayed and billed as the saviours of rock and roll. That is too much-

After watching the video for this song, I think you're absolutely right. Julian is frustrated, waiting for everyone to finish up their side-projects and they're finally get back together.

I laughed a little when Julian threw the microphone stand at the "Everybody's been singing the same song ten years" part - it's definitely a reference to Last Nite.

All of what you said is completely wrong. It's probably because you heard the lyrics wrong.

Correct lyrics

Slip back out of whack at your best. It's a nightmare, So I'm joining the army.

No house phones, but can i still call? Will you wait for me now?

We got the right cause they fight to use it, Got everything but you can just choose it I won't just be a puppet on a string

Don't go that way. I'll wait for you.

And I'm tired of all your friends Listening at your door I want, what's better for you,

...

The problem with your interpretation is that Julian Casablancas didn't write this song... look at the bottom of the lyrics, it was written by Albert Hammond and Diane Warren. On this album a lot of other band members wrote the songs; Julian Casablancas recorded his parts separate from the rest of them a lot so the rest of the band would have a bigger part in it.