The Adults Are Talking – English Lyrics

• By: The Strokes

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

(upbeat music)

♪ They've been sayin', "You're sophisticated ♪

♪ They're complainin', overeducated ♪

♪ You are saying all the words I'm dreaming ♪

♪ Say it after me ♪

♪ Say it after me ♪

♪ They will blame us, crucify and shame us ♪

♪ We can't help it if we are a problem ♪

♪ We are tryin' hard to get your attention ♪

♪ I'm climbin' up your wall ♪

♪ Climbin' up your wall ♪

♪ Don't go there 'cause you'll never return ♪

♪ I know you think of me when you think of her ♪

♪ But then it don't make sense when you're tryin' hard ♪

♪ To do the right thing but without recompense ♪

♪ And then you did something wrong and you said it was great ♪

♪ And now you don't know how you could ever complain ♪

♪ Because you're all confused 'cause you want me to ♪

♪ But then you want me to do it the same as you ♪

(upbeat electronic music)

♪ You were waitin' for the elevator ♪

♪ You were sayin' all the words I'm dreaming ♪

♪ No more askin' questions or excuses ♪

♪ Information's here ♪

♪ Here and everywhere ♪

♪ Don't go there 'cause you'll never return ♪

♪ I know you think of me when you think of her ♪

♪ But then it don't make sense when you're tryin' hard ♪

♪ To do the right thing but without recompense ♪

♪ And then you did something wrong and you said it was great ♪

♪ And now you don't know how you could ever complain ♪

♪ Because you're all confused 'cause you want me to ♪

♪ But then you want me to do it the same way as you ♪

♪ And, but ♪

♪ I don't, I don't want anything ♪

♪ I know it's not ♪

♪ It's not your fault ♪

♪ I don't want anyone ♪

♪ Always I do, it's not for you ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

(upbeat playful music)

♪ Stockholders ♪

♪ Same shit, a different lie ♪

♪ I'll get it right sometime ♪

♪ Oh, maybe not tonight ♪

♪ Oh, maybe not tonight ♪

♪ Oh, maybe not tonight ♪

♪ Oh, maybe not tonight ♪

♪ Oh, maybe not tonight ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sophisticated /ˌsɒfɪˈstɪkeɪtɪd/ C1	adjective - having a refined or complex knowledge or culture
complain /kəmˈpleɪn/ A2	verb - to express dissatisfaction or annoyance about something
crucify /ˈkruːsɪfaɪ/ B2	verb - to criticize someone harshly
attention /əˈtenʃən/ A1	noun - notice or interest
climb /klaɪm/ A2	verb - to move upwards, often using hands and feet
recompense /ˈrekəmˌpens/ C1	noun - reward or compensation
confused /kənˈfjuːzd/ A2	adjective - unable to think clearly
elevator /ˈɛlɪveɪtər/ A1	noun - a machine for carrying people or goods up and down in a building
information /ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/ A1	noun - knowledge or data
stockholders /ˈstɒkˌhoʊldərz/ B2	noun - people who own shares in a company
shit /ʃɪt/ B1	noun - rude slang for something considered unpleasant or of poor quality
lie /laɪ/ A1	noun - an untrue statement verb - to say something that is not true
blame /bleɪm/ A2	verb - to say or think that someone is responsible for something bad
shame /ʃeɪm/ A2	noun - a feeling of guilt or regret
problem /ˈprɒbləm/ A1	noun - a matter or situation that is difficult to deal with or understand
return /rɪˈtɜːrn/ A1	verb - to come or go back to a place

Key Grammar Structures

• They've been sayin', "You're sophisticated"

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ The use of "They've been saying" indicates an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. It emphasizes the duration of the action. The contraction "They've" is common in spoken English.

• We can't help it if we are a problem

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Type 1 implied) + Modal Verb

  ➔ This sentence implies a conditional situation: *If* we are a problem, we can't help it. The 'if' is implied. "Can't help it" is an idiomatic expression meaning unable to prevent something.

• But then it don't make sense when you're tryin' hard

  ➔ Non-standard English - Double Negative + Continuous Tense

  ➔ "Don't make sense" is a colloquialism and the use of "don't" with "it" is non-standard. The double negative (don't...sense) is common in some dialects. "Tryin'" is a contraction of "trying".

• Because you're all confused 'cause you want me to

  ➔ Reduced Relative Clause + Informal Conjunction

  ➔ "Because you're all confused" is a reduced relative clause (because you are all confused *which is why* you want me to...). "'Cause" is an informal contraction of "because".

• Stockholders, same shit, a different lie

  ➔ Vocative + Ellipsis + Parallel Structure

  ➔ "Stockholders" is used as a vocative (addressing directly). The phrase is elliptical – it implies "Stockholders, it's the same shit, just a different lie". The structure "same X, a different Y" is a parallel structure.