Automatic Stop – English Lyrics

• By: The Strokes
• Album: Room On Fire

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw and introspective world of The Strokes with "Automatic Stop." This track offers a unique blend of their signature indie rock sound with unexpected reggae influences, providing a rich sonic landscape. Through its candid lyrics, you can explore expressions of yearning, confusion, and emotional reckoning, making it a compelling song to understand nuances of English related to relationships and self-discovery. The song's direct yet ambiguous storytelling makes it a fascinating piece for language learners to unpack.

[English]

So many fish there in the sea

I wanted you, you wanted me

That's just a phase, it's got to pass

I was a train moving too fast

Didn't understand what to see

Yeah, then I got a different view

It's you, no

...

Wait, I'm not gonna give it a break

I'm not your friend, I never was

I said, wait, I'm not gonna give it a break

I'm not your friend, I never was, no

...

So many fish there in the sea

She wanted him, he wanted me

That's just a phase, it's got to pass

I was a train moving too fast

Yeah, I know you warned me

But this is too important

And now I got a different view

It's you...

Why can't you wait?

I'm not gonna give it a break

I'm not your friend, I never was

I said you, wait, I'm not gonna give it a break

I'm not your friend, I never was

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fish /fɪʃ/ A1	noun - an animal that lives in water and swims
sea /siː/ A1	noun - a large area of salt water
phase /feɪz/ B2	noun - a period or stage in a process of change
train /treɪn/ A1	noun - a vehicle that runs on rails and carries passengers or goods verb - to teach or prepare someone or yourself for a skill or job
fast /fæst/ A1	adjective - moving or able to move quickly
understand /ˌʌndəˈstænd/ A2	verb - to know or realize the meaning of something
view /vjuː/ B1	noun - an opinion or way of thinking about something noun - what you can see from a particular place
warn /wɔːn/ B1	verb - to tell someone about possible danger or trouble
important /ɪmˈpɔːtənt/ A2	adjective - having a great effect or value
friend /frend/ A1	noun - a person you know well and like
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces suddenly or by force noun - a short rest or pause

Key Grammar Structures

• I wanted you, you wanted me

  ➔ Simple past tense

  ➔ The verb "wanted" shows an action or state that happened in the past and is now finished.

• That's just a phase, it's got to pass

  ➔ Modal expressing necessity: 'has got to'

  ➔ The phrase 'it's got to pass' means 'it must pass'; 'has got to' expresses strong necessity or inevitability.

• I was a train moving too fast

  ➔ Metaphorical comparison and present participle phrase

  ➔ The phrase 'train moving too fast' uses the present participle 'moving' to describe 'train'; it's a metaphor for being out of control.

• Didn't understand what to see

  ➔ Negative past and infinitive clause

  ➔ The phrase 'what to see' is an infinitive clause acting as the object of 'understand'; it means 'what I should look at or notice'.

• Wait, I'm not gonna give it a break

  ➔ Informal future form: 'gonna' = 'going to'

  ➔ The word 'gonna' replaces 'going to' in informal speech, showing a near-future intention.

• I'm not your friend, I never was

  ➔ Contrast with past simple for emphasis

  ➔ 'I never was' contrasts with the present 'I am not', reinforcing the idea that this was always true, not only now.

• She wanted him, he wanted me

  ➔ Parallel structure

  ➔ The repetition of 'wanted' creates balance and rhythm, showing mirrored relationships.

• Now I got a different view

  ➔ Present perfect implied through context

  ➔ The line uses 'got' in a present sense (informally), meaning 'I have now', suggesting a recent change of perspective.

• Why can't you wait?

  ➔ Interrogative with modal 'can'

  ➔ The modal 'can' expresses ability or possibility here; using 'can't' implies frustration or disbelief.