“Selfless” by The Strokes
The singer, Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas, is ascribing the titular (“Selfless”) attribute onto the addressee of the song. Moreover this individual would seemingly be his romantic interest. And the lyrics do not center on describing what kind of person she is as much as his emotional dependency on her. In fact considering the way it all plays out, it can be said that he considers his relationship with her to be the highlight of his life. Moreover the reason he is compelled to express such obviously has to do with a situation in which the two of them are separated. Or at least we can say that he does not spend as much time with her as he would like to. And as such the primary sentiment being relayed centers on him entreating her to come back to him ASAP.
Outside of that, in the bridge for instance, Julian appears to focus on certain challenges he is facing in life. But what it all boils down to is the singer viewing the addressee as someone whose presence is a prerequisite for his overall emotional well-being. And whereas he never actually elaborates on why he is calling her “selfless”, the general implication would be she has impressed him in such a way that he perceives her to be someone akin to a role model, so to speak.
Facts about “Selfless”
“Selfless” was released, by RCA Records and Cult Records, on 10 April 2020. It is the second song on the playlist of The Strokes’ album “The New Abnormal”.
The members of The Strokes at the time wrote this track.
- Julian Casablancas
- Nikolai Fraiture
- Albert Hammond Jr.
- Fabrizio Moretti
- Nick Valensi
And its producer is Rick Rubin.
Seems to me this song is about an affair, but a significant one.
im curious now. why do you think it is about an affair?
I think it might be about his mother, particularly because of the line about judging her body. I think it could very directly be about her or a kind of hybrid sentiment that expresses his relationship to maternal feminine which would also apply to his wife in a way. he often gets symbolic and archetypal with song lyrics but I do believe some lines are specifically about his mother.
I think it might be about his mother but in a symbolic way towards the maternal feminine, which could also apply to his wife. I’ve noticed he often writes in universal. archetypal themes and adds nuances of personal detail. I think the details about letting them judge her body while he’s waiting outside is about his mother.and the last lyrics are about his awful father 🥺
In my opinion their best song ever…
To me I think he talking about god the way he says how could they let judge your body if you guys read the Bible that what happen to him they make fun of him and beat him up
Yes facts. Christ allowed that to happen to himself when He could have easily annihilated all the Roman solidiers through the power of His Holy Angels. Think about Him, this is a superhuman who could turn water into the most exquisite tasting wine, multiply quantities of food in baskets, command a storm to end, walk on water, heal the sick, even bring dead people back to life again…He did not have to put up with anyone’s abuse or crap. He died to free us from evil’s power when we were all led astray from truth & goodness. His Holy Spirit brings healing to the emotions from all kinds of trauma & pain. Trust in Him today because He is God !!!
I think he is talking about a partner who is no longer with him (probably with someone new) and so he asks her not to be long.
Damn I’m not an emotional guy normally but this song made me cry
Same bro. It hits hard… i love her all to much
I think it’s about a break up, in which one has already moved forward and found someone else, while the other is still stuck in his/her emotions and blindly hopes that they can be together again but won’t do anything except wait for it to happen, focusing on not interrupting what supposedly makes the other “happy”, that’s why it says “bite my tongue and wait my turn, I’ve waited for a century”
I went to prison for 7 years for fucking my underage girlfriend. ..I don’t care what your judgments are, but I waited for her the whole time.
She showed me this song when I got out. And it makes me fucking cry every time I hear it. We’re not together anymore, but she’s the only one that has made feel love so far.
I don’t think me going to prison fit into her story of how she wanted things to be for us at the time. She let people judge her body and went down a self destructive path. I felt all of this when I was on the inside. Sometimes trying to tell her across the walls that I would be out there waiting for her. And I felt her mucking off.. But I didn’t care.
The time we lost was all my fault because I made a stupid mistake that got me caught. Maybe the whole thing was a mistake. I don’t know. But when I got out, I had to turn and face the enemy. The State. The ones that took me away from her.. Because I knew how she felt. And I needed to let her know that I didn’t hate her, and I still loved her..
Everyone told me it was a bad idea. They could have thrown me back in prison for life. But I didn’t give a fuck. I wasn’t scared. I needed to see her. I had bitten my tongue for years, I didn’t tell hardly anyone. I couldn’t.
When I saw her, she was engaged, but it was my turn now. I waited century. I had to make her mine. She left her fiance to be with me not long after.
The short time we spent with each other is one of the most emotional experiences of my life. I don’t know that I’ll ever feel that way again. I’d do it all over. You could say no lessons learned..
Nonce writing about noncing and doing 7 yr for being DUMB enough to get caught, is hilarious
I find it interesting how some find the song lyrics to be about a relationship either a past or a previous girlfriend, or even his mother, while some find a more intrinsic relationship with God, Jesus, or a spiritual message. The first line is ambiguous. Is it a question, or a statement?
I think it could be about himself. I mean probably this song is about how he once loved himself but now this love is gone and he knows he can love himself because he did once in the past so he’s waiting for this part of him who gave him reasons to live and loved him. so probably those arms that appear in the song, would be his. It is just my point of view, probably it is not true but I think it is a interesting way to give a meaning to the song …
I swear this is exactly how I pictured the song. I feel like it’s a song I sing for myself. Thankyou really appreciate ❤
Comment #6 is the one for me !
It’s a song about himself, an ex, his mother, God, and a sex offender who did 7 years for having sex with a minor. The Strokes are brilliant!
xD
I didn’t hear ‘judge’ I heard ‘get’