You Only Live Once – English Lyrics

• By: The Strokes
• Album: First Impressions of Earth

Lyrics & Translation

The Strokes' "You Only Live Once" is a masterpiece of New York rock that perfectly captures the band's blend of garage rock energy and melodic precision. For language learners, this song is excellent for studying contemporary rock vocabulary and conversational phrasing, especially in its simple, direct message about seizing the day. Julian Casablancas's signature vocal delivery—part detached cool, part urgent plea—offers a clear but stylized articulation that is a hallmark of modern indie music.

[English]

(upbeat rock music)

♪ Some people think they're always right ♪

♪ Others are quiet and uptight ♪

♪ Others, they seem so very nice, nice, nice, nice, oh ♪

♪ Inside they might feel sad and wrong, oh no ♪

♪ 29 different attributes ♪

♪ Only seven that you like, oh ♪

♪ 20 ways to see the world, oh ♪

♪ And 20 ways to start a fight, oh ♪

♪ Oh, don't, don't, don't get up ♪

♪ I can't see the sunshine ♪

♪ I'll be waiting for you, baby ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm through ♪

♪ Sit me down ♪

♪ Shut me up ♪

♪ I'll calm down ♪

♪ And I'll get along with you ♪

♪ Oh, men don't notice what they got ♪

♪ Oh, women think of that a lot ♪

♪ 1,000 ways to please your man, oh ♪

♪ Not even one requires a plan, I know ♪

♪ And countless odd religions too ♪

♪ It doesn't matter which you choose, oh no ♪

♪ One stubborn way to turn your back, oh ♪

♪ Now, This I've tried and now refuse, oh ♪

♪ Oh, don't, don't, don't get up ♪

♪ I can't see the sunshine ♪

♪ Oh, I'll be waiting for you, baby ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm through ♪

♪ Sit me down ♪

♪ Shut me up ♪

♪ I'll calm down ♪

♪ And I'll get along with you, all right ♪

♪ Shut me up ♪

♪ Shut me up, oh ♪

♪ And I'll get along with you ♪

(music fades)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
think /θɪŋk/ A2	verb - to use your mind to form ideas or opinions
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to experience an emotion or physical sensation
wrong /rɒŋ/ A1	adjective - not correct or not right
different /ˈdɪfrənt/ A2	adjective - not the same as something else
attribute /ˈætrɪbjuːt/ C1	noun - a quality or characteristic of someone or something
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth and all the people and things on it
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to use physical force or argument against someone
shine /ʃaɪn/ B1	verb - to give out light or make something bright
wait /weɪt/ A1	verb - to stay in one place until something happens
refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/ B2	verb - to say or show that you are not willing to do something
please /pliːz/ A2	verb - to make someone happy or satisfied
plan /plæn/ A2	noun - a set of actions arranged to achieve something
religion /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ B1	noun - the belief in and worship of a god or gods
stubborn /ˈstʌbən/ B2	adjective - refusing to change your ideas or behavior
notice /ˈnəʊtɪs/ B1	verb - to see or become aware of something
choose /tʃuːz/ A2	verb - to decide which person or thing you want

Key Grammar Structures

• Some people think they're always right

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "think" shows a habitual or general truth action.

• Others are quiet and uptight

  ➔ Linking verb with adjectives

  ➔ "are" links the subject to its characteristics "quiet and uptight."

• Inside they might feel sad and wrong

  ➔ Modal verb 'might' for possibility

  ➔ The word "might" suggests something that is possible but uncertain.

• 29 different attributes, only seven that you like

  ➔ Relative clause with 'that'

  ➔ The clause "that you like" describes or limits which seven attributes are meant.

• 20 ways to start a fight

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The phrase "to start" shows the purpose of the 'ways.'

• I'll be waiting for you, baby

  ➔ Future continuous tense

  ➔ "I'll be waiting" describes an action in progress at a specific future moment.

• Sit me down, shut me up

  ➔ Imperative with object pronoun

  ➔ The imperative "sit" and "shut" directly command an action affecting the speaker ('me').

• Men don't notice what they got

  ➔ Negative present simple with object clause

  ➔ "don't notice" is a negative form showing lack of awareness, and "what they got" is the object clause.

• Not even one requires a plan

  ➔ Negative inversion with emphasis

  ➔ "Not even one" starts the sentence for emphasis, drawing attention to the total absence.