Meet Me in the Bathroom – English Lyrics

• By: The Strokes
• Album: Room On Fire

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the cool, conversational English of New York City with 'Meet Me in the Bathroom.' This song is a perfect example of the 'detached' vocal style and idiomatic expressions used in urban social settings, making it a great tool for learning the nuance of modern American colloquialisms and irony.

[English]

When they say promises

They mean promises

They'd say, "that's ok

Long as we can celebrate"

You see, my uncle would say

Things would change when he's dead

"Meet me in the bathroom"

That's what she said

I don't mind... it's true

Never was on time

Yes, I once was mine

Well, that was long ago

And darling, I don't mind

Yeah, we were just two friends in lust

And baby, that just don't mean much

You trained me not to love

After you showed me what it was

Now she's staring wide-eyed

Can't close her eyes

Say what?

Anywhere is fine

Just don't waste my time

You see, my uncle would say

Things would change once he's dead

"Meet me in the bathroom"

That's what she said

I don't mind... it's true

Never was on time

Yes, I once was mine

Well, that was long ago

And darling, I don't mind

Yeah, they were just two fucks in lust

Baby, that just don't mean much

You trained me not to love

After you taught me what it was

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
promises /ˈprɒmɪsɪz/ A2	noun - a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified
celebrate /ˈselɪbreɪt/ A2	verb - to acknowledge a significant or happy day or event with a social gathering
bathroom /ˈbɑːθruːm/ A1	noun - a room containing a toilet and typically a washbasin and bath or shower
darling /ˈdɑːlɪŋ/ B1	noun - a person who is much loved
lust /lʌst/ C1	noun - very strong sexual desire
trained /treɪnd/ A2	verb - taught a specified skill or type of behavior
staring /ˈsteərɪŋ/ A2	verb - looking fixedly or vacantly at someone or something with one's eyes wide open
wide-eyed /ˈwaɪd.aɪd/ B2	adjective - having the eyes opened wide, especially in surprise or fear
waste /weɪst/ A2	verb - to use or expend carelessly or extravagantly
taught /tɔːt/ A2	verb - imparted knowledge or instructed

Key Grammar Structures

• When they say promises, they mean promises.

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time

  ➔ The clause starting with "When" introduces a condition or specific point in time to establish the context for the main clause.

• Things would change when he's dead.

  ➔ Future in the past (Would + Verb)

  ➔ "Would" is used to express a future prediction viewed from a past perspective (the uncle's past prediction).

• Never was on time.

  ➔ Subject ellipsis

  ➔ The subject "I" is omitted in informal speech to keep the rhythm and maintain a conversational tone.

• Yes, I once was mine.

  ➔ Adverb of time (Once)

  ➔ "Once" indicates a past occurrence that is no longer true at the present time.

• You trained me not to love.

  ➔ Infinitive with negative

  ➔ The negative "not" is placed before the infinitive "to love" to indicate the intended action or lack thereof.

• After you showed me what it was.

  ➔ Noun Clause (Relative clause structure)

  ➔ "what it was" acts as the object of the verb "showed", functioning as a noun clause.

• Anywhere is fine.

  ➔ Indefinite Pronoun as Subject

  ➔ "Anywhere" is used as an indefinite pronoun acting as the subject of the sentence, meaning "any place at all".

• Just don't waste my time.

  ➔ Imperative (Negative)

  ➔ The imperative mood is used here to give a direct command, with "don't" indicating the negative form.