Call Me Back – English Lyrics

• By: The Strokes
• Album: Angles

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poignant lyrics of The Strokes' "Call Me Back" to explore how English can convey the subtle yet profound complexities of human connection. This song, from their *Angles* album, is a masterclass in expressing the universal anxieties of communication breakdowns and unspoken truths. Its raw, melancholic tone and evocative storytelling offer a unique opportunity to understand idiomatic expressions and emotional vocabulary in a rock context, making it a compelling listen for anyone eager to learn English through music.

[English]

♪ Wait time is the worst ♪

♪ I can hardly sit ♪

♪ No one has the time ♪

♪ Someone is always late ♪

♪ I look for you ♪

♪ And you look for me, whoa, oh ♪

♪ I don't know why I came down ♪

♪ I hold your phone, don't wake up ♪

♪ I hear a voice, in the ground ♪

♪ Tell me, don't tell me ♪

♪ The hard part is telling me ♪

♪ Something that you are not likely to tell me ♪

♪ Tell me, don't tell me ♪

♪ The hard part is telling me ♪

♪ Something that you are not likely to tell me ♪

♪ Wait time is to blame ♪

♪ I thought fame was a trip ♪

♪ We all have the time ♪

♪ Someone is always feared ♪

♪ I look for you ♪

♪ And you look away, oh ♪

♪ I don't know why I came down ♪

♪ I hold your phone, don't wake up ♪

♪ I hear a voice in the ground ♪

♪ Waking up is so much fun to do ♪

♪ 80s movies make-out party yeah, ooh ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wait /weɪt/ A2	verb - to stay in a place until a particular time or event
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the ongoing sequence of events taking place
sit /sɪt/ A1	verb - to rest with the body supported by the buttocks
look /lʊk/ A1	verb - to direct one's eyes towards something
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to have or keep in the hand or arms
phone /foʊn/ A1	noun - a device for voice communication
voice /vɔɪs/ B1	noun - the sound produced by humans when speaking or singing
tell /tɛl/ A1	verb - to say something to someone
hard /hɑrd/ A2	adjective - difficult to do or understand
likely /ˈlaɪkli/ B1	adjective - probable to happen
fame /feɪm/ B2	noun - the state of being known by many people
trip /trɪp/ B1	noun - a journey or excursion verb - to stumble or lose balance
fear /fɪər/ B1	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by danger or threat verb - to be afraid of something
awake /əˈweɪk/ B2	verb - to stop sleeping adjective - not asleep
fun /fʌn/ A2	noun - enjoyment or amusement adjective - causing enjoyment
party /ˈpɑrti/ A2	noun - a social gathering for celebration

Key Grammar Structures

• Wait time is the worst

  ➔ Present Simple - Stative Verb

  ➔ The verb 'is' describes a state of being ('the worst') rather than an action. Stative verbs like 'be', 'seem', 'appear' are typically used in the simple present to express enduring qualities.

• I don't know why I came down

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'why' clause

  ➔ The phrase 'came down' uses the simple past, but the overall sentence implies a continuing relevance to the present. The 'why' clause introduces a reason for the speaker's current state of uncertainty. The negative is formed with 'don't'.

• I hear a voice in the ground

  ➔ Present Simple - Sensory Verb

  ➔ "Hear" is a sensory verb describing a perception. Using the present simple suggests this is a recurring or habitual experience, or a general truth for the speaker.

• Waking up is so much fun to do

  ➔ Gerund as Subject, Intensifier 'so much'

  ➔ The gerund 'waking up' functions as the subject of the sentence. 'So much' intensifies the adjective 'fun', emphasizing the degree of enjoyment. The infinitive 'to do' is somewhat redundant but adds a colloquial feel.