Threat of Joy – English Lyrics

• By: The Strokes
• Album: Future, Present, Past

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the nuanced language of indie rock with “Threat of Joy” by The Strokes. This song is a great way to explore themes of irony and social commentary through its clever lyrics and classic Strokes sound. Learning the lyrics can give you insight into colloquial expressions and the art of understated emotional expression in English.

[English]

Okay, I see how it is now

You don't have time to play with me anymore

That's how it goes, I guess

Fuck the rest

Be right there, honey!

I'm gonna take my time to say

Take my time today

I'm gonna take what comes my way

Take what they give me

Yeah, I want my money now

But he is not around

You better hold my money safe

What's your emergency?

And for the first time in my life

I'm gonna get myself right

Just get into trouble

Be there on the double

Place your bets this time

Just has to let it ride

I tr- I tried to take a roll

But the dice are on parole

I won't look down your dress

I bet you bend down as a test

I cannot wait to chase it all

Yeah, I saw it in my crystal ball

Friday night is shining like

A secret for a spy

I got a better idea

I'll bet you on the side

When I get up in your face

You know it's no surprise

Ah baby, why's it so hard to read the sentence in my eyes?

And for the first time

Chains on your legs

I spent a while

Then decided on you

My baby doll

You ignored your life

We'll do it together

I'll be there whenever

Oh, you took a minute break

And said, "Thumbs up, they're okay"

I'm going to watch the tidal wave

It's hard to chase away

Oh, oh

Oh, oh

Oh, oh

Oh, oh

...

(Got to chase away)

...

(Hard to chase away)

(It's hard to chase away)

...

Key Grammar Structures

• You don't have time to play with me anymore

  ➔ Present Simple, Adverb of Time

  ➔ The use of "don't have" in present simple expresses a general truth about the lack of time. "Anymore" indicates that this situation has changed from the past.

• I'm gonna take my time to say

  ➔ Future with "going to", Modal verb

  ➔ "I'm gonna" is a colloquial form of "I am going to", indicating a planned action in the future.

• You better hold my money safe

  ➔ Modal verb "better"

  ➔ "You better" is an informal way to give advice or make a suggestion, often implying a consequence if the advice isn't followed.

• I'm gonna get myself right

  ➔ Reflexive pronoun

  ➔ The use of "myself" indicates that the subject is performing an action on themselves, showing introspection or self-improvement.

• I bet you bend down as a test

  ➔ Present Simple, Subjunctive Mood

  ➔ "I bet" expresses a supposition or a strong opinion. "bend down" could be interpreted as a subjective wish or hypothetical situation.

• Friday night is shining like

  ➔ Present Simple, Simile

  ➔ The present simple tense is used. "Like" is used to create a simile, comparing Friday night's brightness.

• I saw it in my crystal ball

  ➔ Past Simple, Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The past simple "saw" describes a past action. "In my crystal ball" is a prepositional phrase describing where the event happened in context.

• I won't look down your dress

  ➔ Future Simple, Contraction, Possessive Adjective

  ➔ "Won't" is a contraction of "will not" in the future simple, stating future action. "Your" is a possessive adjective, showing ownership.

• I'll be there whenever

  ➔ Future simple, Time clause with "whenever"

  ➔ "I'll be there" is a future simple, and "whenever" introduces a time clause, indicating the speaker's availability at any time.