12– English Lyrics

• By: The Strokes
• Album: Room on Fire

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into The Strokes' "12:51" and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of early 2000s indie rock. This song is perfect for English language learners as Julian Casablancas' distinct, often laid-back vocal style allows for clear comprehension of the lyrics, which paint vivid pictures of youthful nights and profound contemplations. You'll grasp colloquial expressions and emotional nuances, making your English learning journey both engaging and stylish through this iconic track's unique sound and relatable themes.

[English]

♪ Talk to me now, I'm older ♪

♪ Your friend told you 'cause I told her ♪

♪ Friday nights have been lonely ♪

♪ Change your plans and then phone me ♪

♪ We could go and get forties ♪

♪ Fuck going to that party ♪

♪ Oh, really, your folks are away now ♪

♪ Alright, let's go, you convinced me ♪

♪ 12:51 ♪

♪ Is the time my voice ♪

♪ Found the words I sought ♪

♪ Is it this stage I want ♪

♪ The world is shuttin' out for us ♪

♪ Oh, we were tense for sure ♪

♪ But we was confident ♪

♪ Kiss me now that I'm older ♪

♪ I won't try to control you ♪

♪ Friday nights have been lonely ♪

♪ Take it slow but don't warn me ♪

♪ We'd go out and get forties ♪

♪ Then we'd go to some party ♪

♪ Oh, really, your folks are away now ♪

♪ Alright I'm coming, I'll be right there ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
older /ˈoʊldər/ A2	adjective - having lived for a longer time
friend /frend/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
nights /naɪts/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ B1	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company
plans /plænz/ A2	noun - a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something
voice /vɔɪs/ A2	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song
words /wɜːrdz/ A1	noun - a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed
stage /steɪdʒ/ B1	noun - a point, period, or step in a process or development
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features
tense /tens/ B2	adjective - unable to relax, especially because of nervousness, anxiety, or stimulation
confident /ˈkɑːnfɪdənt/ B2	adjective - feeling or showing confidence in oneself or one's abilities or qualities
slow /sloʊ/ A2	adjective - moving or operating at a low speed
folks /foʊks/ B1	noun - people in general (often used to address or refer to one's family)

Key Grammar Structures

• Talk to me now, I'm older

  ➔ Present simple tense to give advice or instructions

  ➔ It uses the **present tense** to suggest a current or ongoing action.

• Your friend told you 'cause I told her

  ➔ Past simple tense for reported speech

  ➔ It uses the **past simple** to report what someone else said in the past.

• Friday nights have been lonely

  ➔ Present perfect tense to describe an ongoing or recurring experience

  ➔ It uses the **present perfect** to indicate a situation that has been true over a period of time.

• Kiss me now that I'm older

  ➔ Relative clause starting with 'that' to give additional information

  ➔ The phrase uses a **relative clause** introduced by 'that' to specify the reason for the action.

• Is the time my voice

  ➔ Interrogative sentence with inversion to ask a question

  ➔ This is an **interrogative sentence** with subject-verb inversion typical of questions.

• I'll be right there

  ➔ Future simple tense with 'will' to make a promise or offer

  ➔ It uses **future simple with 'will'** to express a promise or immediate response.