When It Started – The Poignant Narrative of Modern Malaise
- Music Video
- Lyrics
- Song Meaning
- Unpacking the Enigma: The Everyday as Extraordinary
- The ‘Oh, why, oh, why?’ – The Perennial Question of Existence
- A Dichotomy of Engagement and Detachment Explored
- Decoding the Hidden Meaning – Aspiration vs. Reality
- Memorable Lines that Resonate with Generational Discontent
Lyrics
Said, “Thanks my friend, thought it was too late”
Oh, why, oh, why?
I don’t know
So you think things move pretty fast down here?
Well, just wait, my dear, ’til you look up there
Oh, maybe someday you’ll know
Had his second kid, was an early night
Got to be well-dressed ’cause he hates to fly
Oh, loves his job, takes it home
Anything they wanted
They could have it, have it
Didn’t even notice
I don’t mind it, mind it
Won’t decide, but he won’t debate
Said, “Thanks my friend, thought that we was dead”
Oh, why, oh, why?
I don’t know
Think things move pretty fast down here
But just wait, my dear, ’til we get up there
Oh, maybe someday they’ll know
Come on, tell me does she warm the room
When he comes?
Or does he just know how to leave
When it gets cold?
Well, I don’t care, I don’t care
‘Cause it’s free
As a mellifluous track off The Strokes’ celebrated repertory, ‘When It Started’ delves deep into the human psyche, navigating the complexities of life’s rapid pace and the quandaries of personal progress. The song’s lyricism, paired with the band’s disaffected charm, encapsulates a certain ennui that has become a signature motif of The Strokes’ songwriting.
Straddling the line between reflective introspection and existential pondering, ‘When It Started’ captures the essence of The Strokes’ early 2000s angst against a backdrop of melodic rock that resonates with listeners even decades past its initial release. The song is a plaintiff ode to the human condition, exploring the banalities and subtle tragedies of everyday life.
Unpacking the Enigma: The Everyday as Extraordinary
The Strokes’ ‘When It Started’ presents itself as a painting of suburban life – untouched at first glance yet revealing surreal complexities upon closer inspection. The song breathes life into the mundane, turning everyday decisions and non-decisions into a canvas of signifying moments that many might dismiss.
Described through lyrics that speak of life decisions, family dynamics, and personal satisfaction, the track stands as an auditory exploration of what it means to live unremarkably, yet with a sense of awareness that begs for a deeper understanding of ‘why’ and ‘what for’. This weaves a tale not just of the character but every listener who ever felt the weight of existence in the banality of day-to-day routines.
The ‘Oh, why, oh, why?’ – The Perennial Question of Existence
The reiterative ‘Oh, why, oh, why?’ hinges on The Strokes’ lyrical journey as a plea for meaning in a seemingly disinterested universe. It’s the rallying cry of an individual in search of a purpose, a cornerstone of philosophical inquiry that finds its way into the existential undertones of rock music.
Encapsulating the enervation that comes with the search for identity within the machine of modern society, this line acts as an axis upon which the song’s emotional resonance pivots – stark in its simplicity yet profound in its implications.
A Dichotomy of Engagement and Detachment Explored
Throughout ‘When It Started’, dichotomies abound, presenting the listener with narratives of engagement and detachment. The detailed description of a father, meticulously dressed yet emotionally aloof, embodies the conflicts and compromises individuals contend with as they navigate societal expectations.
The Strokes capture this duality with aplomb, offering a vignette that speaks to the heart of the human conundrum – how to reconcile one’s aspirations with the exigencies of daily life. It’s the push and pull between having to ‘love your job’ and ‘taking it home’, a reality faced by many in the grind for survival.
Decoding the Hidden Meaning – Aspiration vs. Reality
There’s an underlying sense of irony in ‘When It Started’ where the desire to rise above the mundane is counteracted by the inertia of contentment. This hidden meaning is the juxtaposition of ambition against the comfort of the status quo, where ‘anything they wanted’ juxtaposes with ‘didn’t even notice’.
The subtlety with which The Strokes present this dichotomy challenges the listener to question the nature of fulfillment – is it to have every option at your disposal or to be at peace with what unfolds? The introspective listener is coaxed into a dialogue with themselves, exploring the tenuous balance between desire and acceptance.
Memorable Lines that Resonate with Generational Discontent
In a track filled with contemplative observations, it’s the line ‘Well, I don’t care, I don’t care, ‘Cause it’s free’ that binds the song’s thematic elements with a stark ribbon of disaffection. It’s an epitaph for the free-spirited who find themselves ensnared by the trappings of conventional success.
This sentiment of resigned indifference is emblematic of a generation wrestling with the concept of freedom in its truest sense. It isn’t simply the availability of options that The Strokes highlight, but the paralysis that often comes with the wealth of choice and the stoic acceptance of what life offers, free of charge, regardless of individual intent.
