The Strokes - Rock, Post-Punk Revival
Bad Decisions by The Strokes Lyrics
207.2K Plays
Duration: 4:53
View ArtistStory Behind the Song
Released on February 18, 2020, "Bad Decisions" arrived as the second single from The Strokes' sixth studio album, The New Abnormal. The track carries a notable lineage, incorporating elements from "Dancing with Myself," the iconic track by British punk and new wave musician Billy Idol. That creative debt is formally acknowledged in the songwriting credits, where Idol is listed as a co-writer alongside Tony James, his former bandmate and the song's original co-creator. The decision to weave that DNA into a new Strokes composition creates a fascinating generational thread, connecting two distinct eras of guitar-driven, urban rock energy. The single's visual presentation extended beyond the music video, with the artwork taking the form of Café Kiss, a painting by artist Ron Hicks, signaling a broader aesthetic ambition behind The New Abnormal's rollout. The music video itself dropped the same day as the single, giving fans an immediate visual companion to the release.
Lyrics
[Verse 1] Dropped down the lights, I'm sittin' with you Moscow, 1972 Always singin' in my sleep I will leave it in my dreams [Chorus] Oh, makin' bad decisions Oh, makin' bad decisions Makin' bad decisions for you Yeah, makin' bad decisions Uh-oh, makin' bad decisions Uh-oh, makin' bad decisions for you [Post-Chorus] Pick up your gun Put up those gloves Save us from harm Safe or alone [Verse 2] Oh, baby, I hang on everything you say I wanna write down every word But do me a favor when you come through When I look around, don't wanna see you I don't take advice from fools Never listenin' to you [Chorus] Oh, makin' bad decisions Oh, makin' bad decisions Oh, makin' bad decisions with you Oh, makin' bad decisions Uh-oh-oh, makin' bad decisions I'm makin' bad decisions with you [Post-Chorus] Pick up your gun Put up those gloves Save us from harm Safe or alone [Bridge] You, you didn't listen to me But I, I didn't listen to you I waited so long listening for Something to join [Outro] I'm makin' bad decisions Really, really bad decisions, oh-oh-oh I'm makin' bad decisions On you, on you Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh I'm not gonna give a lot of praise I don't know how to use power 'Cause I can't, I can't I can't, can't make anymore
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Meaning of "Bad Decisions" by The Strokes
The lyrics drop us into a tense, almost cinematic scene: "Moscow, 1972," with the lights down low. The narrator immediately confesses to "bad decisions," hinting at a relationship steeped in conflict. There's a palpable sense of internal struggle and a bond teetering on the edge. At its core, the lyrics explore a deeply conflicted relationship, marked by a push-pull dynamic.
This AI-assisted editorial analysis was reviewed, improved, and approved by the LyricsWeb editorial team.
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Credits
- Writers
- Nick Valensi
- Fabrizio Moretti
- Tony James
- Billy Idol
- Albert Hammond Jr.
- Nikolai Fraiture
- Julian Casablancas