Evening Sun

The Strokes' 'Evening Sun' is a song that seems to reflect on the dual nature of fame and the passage of time, tinged with a sense of nostalgia. The lyrics suggest a struggle with the public's perception, where the subject is either adored or despised, but never allowed to simply exist without judgment. This theme is encapsulated in the lines 'They love you or they hate you / But they will never let you be.' The song conveys the idea that fame can be both exhilarating and suffocating, providing thrills while also sedating one's true self.

The chorus, with its repeated reference to the 'evening sun,' evokes a feeling of the end of a day, which could be a metaphor for the later stages of life or a career. The amber hue of the evening sun can be seen as a symbol of warmth and comfort, but also of the inevitable approach of night, or the end. The Strokes often explore themes of youth, time, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships in their music, and 'Evening Sun' is no exception. The song's bridge, where the singer expresses a desire to keep a piece of a broken heart, suggests a longing to hold onto a part of something that was once whole, perhaps a relationship or a period in life.

The song also touches on the idea of authenticity, contrasting the honesty of children with the pretense of actors and singers. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the artificiality often found in the entertainment industry and a yearning for the genuine emotions and experiences of youth, as expressed in the line 'I love you more than being seventeen.' The Strokes, known for their garage rock and post-punk revival sound, often infuse their music with a sense of rawness and realness that resonates with these themes.