Soma

The song 'Soma' by The Strokes, a band known for their role in the early 2000s garage rock revival, delves into themes of escapism, the struggle for authenticity, and the pressures of conformity. The title 'Soma' itself is a reference to Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel 'Brave New World,' where 'soma' is a drug used by society to suppress emotions and maintain harmony. The song's lyrics suggest a similar use of 'soma' as a metaphor for whatever people turn to in order to cope with the difficulties of life.

The lyrics describe individuals who are facing 'hard times' and are seeking relief. The 'high stakes for a few names' line could imply that only a select few are able to rise above the challenges, while others are left 'racing against sunbeams' and 'losing against their dreams,' indicating a sense of futility and defeat. The repeated lines 'And I am / Stop / And go / In your eyes' might represent the singer's internal conflict and the perception of others as he grapples with his own identity and the desire to stop following the crowd.

The narrative of the song also touches on the allure of conformity and the difficulty of breaking free from it. The character in the song tries to fit in ('Somehow he was trying / Too hard to be like them') but ultimately seeks to assert his individuality ('Oh, darling, let me go'). The lines 'Tried it once and they like it / And tried to hide it' could be about the temptation to continue using 'soma' as a means of escape, even when one knows it's not the answer. The song ends with a rejection of the status quo and a refusal to listen to those who encourage the cycle of escapism.