The Adults Are Talking

Album: The New Abnormal (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "The Adults Are Talking" is an idiom used when the grown-ups tell the children to be quiet as they're discussing something important. During this taut rocker, Julian Casablancas likens the phrase to the relationship between the powerful and the powerless.

    We can't help it if we are a problem
    We are tryin' hard to get your attention
    I'm climbin' up your wall


    The exact meaning is ambiguous, but a possible interpretation is Casablancas is talking about the division between the politicians (the adults) and the common people (the kids).
  • The Strokes premiered the song during a May 13, 2019 charity show at The Wiltern in Los Angeles benefitting the homeless.
  • The Strokes performed this song on the October 31, 2020 episode of Saturday Night Live. It marked the group's fourth appearance on the show and their first in nine years. The New York quintet also played another The New Abnormal track, "Bad Decisions."
  • Directed by filmmaker Roman Coppola, the video finds The Strokes battling a team of robots in a baseball game. Coppola also helmed the clips for the New York band's classic tunes "Last Nite" and "Someday."

Comments: 3

  • Anonymous from N/a(Oct 16, 2023 - Monday)
    This song speaks to me as a tale of a love triangle. Kinda like the realisation part of the one who sees the bigger picture. But yeah it does sound this rebellious, though this will always be a beautiful tear-jerking song to me.
    - azi
  • Anonymousi love this song its like my fav anyways i love how its about adults telling kids to be quiet "its grown up talk" lol i got this telled alot
  • .0. from Um, NoI love this song the lyrics, really speak to me, because it's true that sometimes you feel unheard, almost as if you can't speak, for fear of what they might say, or because you're being controlled. That's what I think, at least.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.

Band Names

Band NamesFact or Fiction

Was "Pearl" Eddie Vedder's grandmother, and did she really make a hallucinogenic jam? Did Journey have a contest to name the group? And what does KISS stand for anyway?

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.