29 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Q&A

Between Love And Hate Lyrics

Watched her as she wiped her eyes
You don't make me sorry. Now I know
That you never listened - Listen.

Thinking about that high school dance
Worrying about the finals
Yes I know
You're feeling lonely
Oh lonely, so lonely.

Never needed anybody, I never needed anybody
I never needed anybody, I never needed nobody
Don't worry about it, honey
I never needed anybody
I never needed anybody, it won't change now.

Am I wrong?
Don't sing along with me.
I said I was fine,
It's just the second time
We lost the war

She'd be in the kitchen
I would start the fire
Those days are gone
But you know I can't give up - Give up.

P.S. if i may ask why
When will they get tired
We've stayed up
All night tryin' - Tryin'.

Never needed anybody, I never needed nobody
I never needed anybody, I never needed anybody
Don't worry about it, honey
I never needed anybody
I never needed anybody, it won't change now.

Am I wrong?
Don't sing along with me.
I said I was fine.
The second time
We lost the war
Song Info
Submitted by
stoney On Apr 09, 2004
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

29 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

It sounds like a couple who worked out great for a while, then drifted apart, tried their hardest to make it work, but in the end she broke up with him, and he brushed it off and acted like he was fine but really it truly bothers him. Maybe it's just because I've experienced exactly this, but it fits the song perfectly.

She tearfully breaks up with him, but he doesn't feel sorry for her because he knows it's causing him more pain than her. He's realizing how she's done him wrong, and wants to make her feel terrible ("you're feeling lonely"). He tries to brush it off by convincing himself that he never needed anybody. He's reminiscing about the good times they had, and how they're gone now. She's agreeing with him, saying it's all her fault and she was terrible and he deserves better, but he wishes she could just stop it ("Don't sing along with me"). Basically, he didn't want to give up, but she did. And it sounds like it might have been their second try together? ("I'm fine, it's just the second time we lost the war")

As for the song, it's just amazing. I love the kind of melancholy verses mixed with the upbeat chorus, it really sounds like he's getting over something and is convincing himself that he never needed it and he's happy again.

Wow, that's exactly what's happened to me, too! I'd say it's a pretty spot on interpretation, then.

Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

I'm really surprised, I didn't see any comments mentioning the title of the song, which is sort of the centralized theme here. He's literally between loving and hating this girl, anyone who's ever been in love with someone who has hurt them can relate to that mix of emotions I'm sure.

I believe that this song was about a girl who ended up cheating on the main guy in the song, while he was away. It sounds like the lines: "Thinking about that high school dance Worrying about the finals Yes I know You're feeling lonely Oh lonely, so lonely." Is a conversation between the girl, and the guy she's cheating with (or about to cheat at this "flashback"). She's complaining to him about all her problems, and he took advantage of her vulnerability. She's worried about not having anyone to go to the dance with and everything else that's going on, and the guy she's talking to is the one sympathizing with her about how he knows how lonely she must be.

"Watched her as she wiped her eyes You don't make me sorry. Now I know That you never listened - Listen." I believe this is "present time" in the song, and she's feeding him a sob story about how it wasn't her fault for one reason or another, but she has to leave because there's someone else now. He's not buying her bullshit and the last line must mean he had told her he would be back someday or that he would always love her or something, and he knows she didn't listen because of what she did.

Never needed anybody, I never needed anybody I never needed anybody, I never needed nobody Don't worry about it, honey I never needed anybody I never needed anybody, it won't change now.

He's mad at her now, he's telling her he never needed anyone, not to worry about it he'll be fine without her.

Am I wrong? Don't sing along with me. I said I was fine, It's just the second time We lost the war

He's still in love with her, he's starting to doubt himself about being fine on his own, because he still needs her in his life. The bit about "war" i believe is referring to "all's fair in love and war" idea, saying that he's either lost this love twice, or this is the second love he's lost.

She'd be in the kitchen I would start the fire Those days are gone But you know I can't give up - Give up.

He can't stop thinking about the good times he had with this girl, he knows she'd gone but he has to keep trying to get her back.

P.S. if i may ask why He needs to know why she left him.

When will they get tired I think this line is him waiting for them to break up so he can be with the girl again

We've stayed up All night tryin' - Tryin'. I'm not entirely sure what these lines are about, but I think he might be trying to get over the girl by finding girl, and he's spent so long trying to love her but he can't

These are just my opinions, but that's what I've gathered from listening to this song

My Interpretation

I meant to say "by finding a new girl" in the second to last sentence, which there was an edit post option

Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

imo, an important lyric a lot people are missing out is 'she'd be in the kitchen, i would start the fire'. okay so, before, i was thinking that was about remembering 'good old times' and such, but now having been through a relationship where i was contradicted between love & hate, it has given me a whole new perspective and now i see it as kind of like 'she would start the problems, somehow blame it on me' kind of thing? does anyone else think that? idk but this song is now so incredibly meaningful to me, (more than before i mean) and i just think it holds so much value if you're someone going through that kind of thing. fun fact: the song before (you talk way too much) 's final lyric is 'is this how it ends? ' and in bl&h, the final lyric is 'i guess this is it', not sure what to make of it, but it's a cool Easter egg!

Positive
Subjective
Meaningful
Love-hate
Relationship
Perspective
Reflection
Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

Julian is so mean in this song! One of my favourites though

Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

i love how melancholy the lyrics are, but the music itself sounds almost upbeat. the way he sings "i never needed anybody" really does sound reassuring, but i don't believe him. definitely it's about a couple breaking up, apparently for the second time. easy enough to discern, but i love how the tone contrasts with the words.

Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

Watched her as she wiped her eyes You don't make me sorry.

BEST OPENING LINE EVER

Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

Yeah... this is about breaking up too. He's thinking back to before they were together 'I never needed anybody..., it won't change now." He keeps saying he's fine when he's anything but, he's trying to forget about things but he can't stop thinking about her. The part starting with 'P.S. if I may ask why' is about her new love. She's in a relationship and he's asking her (and himself) why they fell apart when they tried so hard.

Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

This is another kick ass song. My favorite part is when he says P.S. because it sounds like he is saying penis, itz funny! not so mature I know but its funny!

Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

i like the "Oh lonely, so lonely" part. His phrasing is great on that

Cover art for Between Love And Hate lyrics by Strokes, The

i think this is one of the greatest songs from the strokes ... besides, julian casablancas is very talented when it comes to song writing ... ;)