julian casablancas tourist

Song Meanings and Facts

• Julian Casablancas

Tourist – Unveiling the Poetic Canvas of Modern Existence

by SMF AI · January 24, 2024

• Music Video
• Song Meaning

A Nostalgic Yearning for Simplicity

The dissolution of geographical and cultural borders, rediscovering belonging in a fragmented world, the indomitable human spirit, uncovering the song’s hidden lyrical voyage.

I feel like a tourist out in the country Once this whole world was all countryside Feel like a tourist in the big city Soon I will simply evaporate

They took the strings up north, the drums down south After they crossed Afghanistan a long time ago You’re shuffling your feet into the next dimension Soon skyscrapers will be everywhere

I feel like a tourist lost in the suburbs Soon the whole world will be urban sprawl Feel like a land lover out on the ocean Feel like a teardrop streaming off your chin

Some will bet against you, try even to prevent you But not many can stop you man, if you got a perfect plan Can they possibly try, I demand to know why they would doubt you? In this hand, a thousand generations

Full Lyrics

Julian Casablancas, best known as the lead vocalist of The Strokes, embarks on a philosophical journey in his song ‘Tourist.’ At first listen, the track may come off as a simple introspection set to a melody, but further exploration unearths a rich tapestry of existential commentary.

‘Tourist’ masterfully excavates the depths of modern life’s dislocation and the yearning for a connectedness that seems just out of grasp. The lyrics hold a mirror up to the complexities of human nostalgia, progress, and the subtleties of existence in a world that’s ceaselessly changing.

Casablancas opens with a profound longing for the simplicity of childhood perceptions. The clouds which once represented a place of solace, and the rain which serves as a symbol for nature’s melodic symphony, highlights the disparity between youthful innocence and adult disenchantment.

This juxtaposition isn’t merely about the loss of innocence; it is a commentary on the severance from nature in our urbanized existence. The clouds and rain become poetic vehicles conveying a deeper discontentment with the artificial constructs of adulthood.

The visceral image of the ‘strings up north, the drums down south’ can be read as an ode to cultural dissemination and the blending of heritage through globalization. Casablancas gestures to the rich history of musical instruments traversing continents, perhaps lamenting the homogenization of global culture.

References to Afghanistan and the movement of musical instruments not only hint at a historical crossroads but also at the currents of migration and the impacts of modern warfare on cultural preservation and identity.

Feeling like a ‘tourist’ in various landscapes, Casablancas embodies the essence of detachment in the face of global urban sprawl. The imagery spans deserts to swamplands, big cities to suburbs—not merely as physical spaces but as symbols of individuals’ emotional and societal displacement.

This recurring theme of being a ‘tourist’ no matter where he goes reflects a universal struggle: the search for a sense of home in a world that’s increasingly fragmented.

Amid the overarching themes of displacement and desolation, ‘Tourist’ weaves in an undercurrent of resilience. The sentiment ‘But not many can stop you man, if you got a perfect plan’ serves as an affirmation of the human spirit’s tenacity to endure and adapt.

Here, Casablancas suggests that, despite external skepticism or barriers, innate human willpower and persistence can carve pathways to triumph.

On the surface, the song’s narrative meanders through images of places and emotional states, but a deeper reading reveals a poignant metaphorical pilgrimage. The ‘perfect plan’ could be an allegory for self-discovery, as the ‘thousand generations’ in the palm of one’s hand emphasize the cumulative wisdom guiding our existential odyssey.

‘Tourist’ in this context transforms from a commentary on literal travel to an exploration of life’s journey, with its sights set on understanding and acceptance of the self within the broad strokes of human history and geography.

Related posts:

“instant crush” by daft punk (ft. julian casablancas), 11th dimension – unraveling the enigmatic tapestry of human experience, out of the blue – the transformational odyssey of emotions.

• Left & Right in the Dark – Unraveling the Labyrinth of Nostalgia and Existence
• 4 Chords of the Apocalypse – Unraveling the Depths of Modern Love and Disillusionment

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March 1, 2021

 by Amanda London · Published March 1, 2021

January 3, 2024

 by SMF AI · Published January 3, 2024

January 16, 2024

 by SMF AI · Published January 16, 2024

Song Meanings & Facts

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Julian Casablancas

I wish that clouds could hold me up

Like I thought as a child growing up

I wish I could sound as soothing as the rainfall

But I am only a drop from the storm

I feel like a tourist out in the country

Once this whole world was all countryside

Feel like a tourist in the big city

Soon I will simply evaporate

They took the strings up north, the drums down south

After they crossed Afghanistan a long time ago

You're shuffling your feet into the next dimension

Soon skyscrapers will be everywhere

I feel like a tourist lost in the suburbs

Soon the whole world will be urban sprawl

Feel like a land lover out on the ocean

Feel like a teardrop streaming off your chin

Some will bet against you, try even to prevent you

But not many can stop you man, if you got a perfect plan

Can they possibly try, I demand to know why they would doubt you?

In this hand, a thousand generations

Feel like a tourist out in the desert

So hot it feels like the Devil's breath

Feel like a tourist out in the swampland

This world is just patches of water and land

Everywhere I go I'm a tourist

But if you stay with me, I'll always be at home

Featured in

Phrazes for the Young

by Julian Casablancas

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Phrazes for the Young Julian Casablancas 29 September 2009

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Tourist by Julian Casablancas

Songfacts®:

• In an interview with Pitchfork Media the comment was made to Casablancas that this song sounds like it's as if he feels there's no place he can call home. He replied: "Yeah, I've been thinking that lately. Especially since New York is like one bar/restaurant/Whole Foods/Starbucks thing now. You used to have a range of neighborhoods but now there's like two cool streets in Manhattan. Somewhere between Lower East Side and Chinatown there's the 'old vibe.' That's what ' Ludlow St ' is about, too - that feeling of 'what is your home?' It's like where you grew up is an illusion because it changes so much."
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• Julian Casablancas

10 Comments

Lyrics submitted by 4ChordsoftheApocalypse

Tourist Lyrics as written by Julian Casablancas

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

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This song always makes me want to hear the entire album all over again :-).

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This song is amazing. Also, first!

Anyhow,... this song's deep.

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Great love song.<br /> <br /> How does he come up with this stuff?

i feel like this song is a metaphor for not feeling like you belong anywhere, which is what everyone feels at some point in their life. amazing song, cant wait to see julian live!

OFFICIAL LYRICS ( juliancasablancas.com )

I wish that clouds could hold me up like I thought as a child growing up I wish I could sound as soothing as the rainfall But I am only a drop from the storm.

I feel like a tourist out in the country Once this whole world was all countryside Feel like a tourist in the big city Soon I will simply evaporate

...They took the strings up north, the drums down south After they crossed Afghanistan a long time ago You're shuffling your feet into the next dimension Soon skyscrapers will be everywhere

I feel like a tourist lost in the suburbs Soon the whole world will be urban sprawl Feel like a land lover out on the ocean Feel like a teardrop streaming off your chin

Some will bet against you, try even to prevent you But not many can stop you man, if you got a perfect plan Can they possibly try - I demand to know why they would doubt you? In this hand, a thousand generations...

Feel like a tourist out in the desert. So hot it feels like the Devil's breath Feel like a tourist out in the swampland This world is just patches of water and land Everywhere I go I'm a tourist, But if you stay with me, I'll always be at home

This song is fantastic, this album is fantastic. The more I listen to it, the more I am captured by the melody and the lyrics.

I really like this song, despite its depressing qualities..

It's interesting how he start off the song with a swinging 8th-note feeling, and then comes in with standard 8th note hip-hop high hat. It's a very cool contrast.. never heard it before..

I'm guessing this song is about how when he is away from, or broken up with ,his lover, he's completely lost and doesn't find the sense of comfort anywhere he may be..

Well written...

Oh, and be careful of the gain-guitar solo... it can really get stuck in your head and will haunt you haaha I've been suffering from it for a while Go Julian!

I feel in this song he's talking about being a drop of rain...

The line that makes me think this is:

"Soon I will simple evaporate"

Rain evaporates...

I don't know, maybe it's just me.

i think the main concept of the song is the idea of, loneliness and feeling lost with know sense of direction without someone and feeling completely content and fearless with that person.

however this year i have been studying the novel "the kite runner" at school and if feels almost the first few verses refer to the novel and carry similar themes from the novel

"I wish that clouds could hold me up like I thought as a child growing up I wish I could sound as soothing as the rainfall But I am only a drop from the storm."

• after an incident in the book the main character wishes to be good again, and wishes to feel the innocence he felt as a child before the incident even though he didn't realize he wasn't the most innocent child as he was sometimes mean to his best friend "like I thought as a child growing up" . He feels he is a bad person (a drop from the storm?). The verse seems to be about redemption which is the main theme of the kite runner. "clouds could hold me up" could also refer to symbolism of the kite running and how running the kite in the clouds- with his best friend(the someone who makes him content and not feel lost)was something that made the main character feel happy

"I feel like a tourist out in the country Once this whole world was all countryside Feel like a tourist in the big city Soon I will simply evaporate" one of the novel's famous quotes is "i feel like a tourist in my own country" which may have stemmed the main idea of the song. However in the book he feels like a tourist because his home country, Afghanistan, has changed due to war and taliban ruling. So I feel this verse relates more closely to Julian's personal feelings of 'feeling like a tourist'.

"They took the strings up north, the drums down south After they crossed Afghanistan a long time ago You're shuffling your feet into the next dimension Soon skyscrapers will be everywhere"

the references of Afghanistan relates to the setting of the book as the main characters home town is Afghanistan. he moves however to San Francisco a city with 'skyscrapers'. Also we know from the meaning of Julian's music video "11th dimension", the idea of becoming a better person, listening to your wholesome good conscience, will lead you on to the next dimension. And so i connect this to the main character in the kite runner, listening to his good conscience to finally seek redemption. After he seeks redemption, his guilt is no longer relentless so he is in the "next dimension" a better place in his mind. The character also seems lost without his best friend, and found when he is united with his best friends son.

Ultimately I doubt Julian wrote this song purposely relating so close to the book, but it just reminds me a lot of it. I've noticed him using references before so it would be cool if he had made some with 'the kite runner'.

but the song must relate to redemption and following a good conscious, and the idea of feeling lost without someone and found with them

"In this hand, a thousand generations"

This single lyric is probably the most important in the entire album. With these few words it says that with your own hands, there is an immense amount of potential and possibility. To create, to destroy --- it's up to you. But know the choices you make today bear the responsibility of countless generations into the future.

"This hand has the potential to mold our future. Think wisely about how you decide to use it."

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Julian Casablancas - Tourist Lyrics

Artist: Julian Casablancas

Album: Phrazes for the Young

Genre: Rock

I wish that clouds could hold me up Like I thought as a child growing up I wish I could sound as soothing as the rainfall But I am only a drop from the storm Feel like a tourist out in the country Once this whole world was all countryside Feel like a tourist in the big city Soon I will simply evaporate They took the strings up North the drums down South After they crossed Afghanistan a long time ago You're shuffling your feet into the next dimension Soon skyscrapers will be everywhere I feel like a tourist lost in the suburbs Soon the whole world will be urban sprawl Feel like a land lover out on the ocean Feel like a teardrop streaming off your chin Some will bet against you Try even to prevent you But not many can stop you man If you got a perfect plan Can they possibly try- I demand to know why they would doubt you In this hand, a thousand generations Feel like a tourist out in the desert So hot it feels like the Devil's breath Feel like a tourist out in the swampland This world is just patches of water and land Everywhere I go I'm a tourist But if you stay with me, I'll always be at home

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Julian Casablancas

I wish that clouds could hold me up like I thought as a child growing up, I wish I could sound as soothing as the rainfall But I am only a drop from the storm

Feel like a tourist out in the country Once this whole world was all countryside Feel like a tourist in the big city Soon I will simply evaporate

They took the strings up north, the drums down south After they crossed Afghanistan a long time ago You're shuffling your feet into the next dimension Soon skyscrapers will be everywhere

I feel like a tourist lost in the suburbs Soon the whole world will be urban sprawl Feel like a land lover out on the ocean Feel like a teardrop streaming off of your chin

Some will bet against you, try even to prevent you But not many can stop you man, if you got a perfect plan Can they possibly try I demand to know why they would doubt you? In this hand, a thousand generations?

Feel like a tourist out in the desert So hot it feels like the Devil's breath Feel like a tourist out in the swampland This world is just patches of water and land Everywhere I go I'm the tourist But if you stay with me I'll always be at home

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