The Strokes: Hard to Explain Meaning

Hard to Explain Lyrics

Was an honest man.
Asked me for the phone;
Tried to take control

Oh, I don't see it that way
I don't see it that way

Oh, we shared some ideas.
All obsessed with fame;
Says we're all the same

Oh, I don't see it that way
I don't see...

1. anonymous

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   Sep 3rd 2015 !⃝

   I always thought this song was about when Julian was a bartender, about stories of people there and the conversations he had with people or about his day like missing the bus home or watching the tv at the bar and being asked for the phone by an honest working man at the bar. He likes it working here but he can't stay because he wants to be a musician. As we all know bar's are zoo's or mabey some of the conversation is something he overheard from someone. and the part where he says "He said, he can't decide
   I shake my head to say
   Every thing's just great
   Oh, I just can't remember
   I just can't remember"
   
   is a reference to someone not sure what he wanted to drink and he says everything is great but he can't remember how to make some drinks etc etc...
2. anonymous

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   Mar 11th 2014 !⃝

   This song talks about a relationship. One person in the relationship is more laid back and tries to make the other person happy. However the other person is controlling(ask me for the phone, tried to take control) and pretends to be the "nice one" in public to aggravate the person(pretend to be nice so I can be mean). This controlling person also likes to think highly of themselves. The lyrics, "Raised in Carolina," refers to a piece of literature where the main character is arrogant. The laid back person is in denial about the relationship,(shake my head to say, everything is great) but then eventually leaves the other person.
3. anonymous

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   Jun 27th 2012 !⃝

   This song is about visiting your girlfriends relatives in Carolina. The young rock star does not get on well with the older patriarchal father, and his girlfriend behaves differently around her family.
   
   Meet Me In The Bathroom is another episode from this visit.
4. anonymous

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   Apr 25th 2011 !⃝

   I think this song means that everyone is different although people think we're the same as suggested when said "Says we're all the same" and "I don't see it that way"
   I think this also points out you're just kidding yourself trying to blend in and wasting your time acting like others when the lyrics say "The joke is on you, this place is a zoo"
   The line "Says he can't decide, I shake my head to say- Everything's just great" also probably means things aren't always as people say they are and things are only as you make them.
   
   If this doesn't have anything to do with the meaning then I think the artist was simply just trying to make a rhyme because its "All about the money" as said by Julian Casablancas, the lead singer.

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