Ode To The Mets
The Strokes
A Nostalgic Reflection: Unpacking The Strokes' 'Ode To The Mets'
The Strokes' 'Ode To The Mets' is a song that seems to weave a tapestry of introspection and nostalgia, tinged with a sense of resignation. The title itself is a nod to the New York Mets, a baseball team known for their storied history of ups and downs, which could serve as a metaphor for the trials and tribulations faced in life or in the band's own journey. The Strokes, hailing from New York City, often incorporate themes of urban life and personal struggle into their music, and this song is no exception.
The lyrics of 'Ode To The Mets' are somewhat cryptic, but they convey a sense of looking back on past experiences with a mix of fondness and regret. Phrases like 'Not gonna wake up here anymore' and 'It's just the story I tell to you' suggest a departure from the past and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of our experiences. The song's structure, with its repetitive 'Da-da-da' and the call for 'Drums please, Fab,' adds to the reflective mood, as if the music itself is part of the memory and the storytelling process.
The latter part of the song shifts to a more somber tone, with references to the 'old times' being 'forgotten' and the 'old ways at the bottom of the ocean.' This could symbolize the inevitable changes that come with time and the loss of the familiar. The mention of the Rubik's Cube not solving for them might represent life's complexities that remain unresolved. The song closes with a powerful image of silence turning into a 'deafening, painful, shameful roar,' perhaps indicating the emotional weight of these reflections and the impact of the past on the present. 'Ode To The Mets' is a poignant exploration of memory, change, and the struggle to come to terms with both.