Songs
Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men
Description
"Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men" is a song orginally composed, performed, recorded and released by Regina Spektor and The Strokes. The song was first written in 2003 during The Strokes' Room on Fire tour, during which they were supported by openers Kings of Leon and Regina Spektor.
The first known performance of the song occured on 2003-10-29 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. It was played again the following night at The Strokes' second Madison Square Garden show. The song was performed in studio at 99x Studios shortly thereafter. Later that month, a demo called "Post Modern Girls" by The Strokes and Regina Spektor was played on New York radio stations. This demo, almost identifical to "Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men", features slightly different mixing.
"Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men" was released as the b-side to The Strokes' single Reptilia / Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men on 2004-02-09. The song would not be performed again until a surprise appearance by Regina Spektor at The Strokes 2023-08-19 performance at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York, nearly twenty years since its last live performance.
In a 2022 interview, Gordon Raphael, one of both Regina Spektor and the Strokes' producers, noted that a music video for "Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men" was created but never released.
Official Releases
There are no known official releases associated with this song.
Music Videos
Live Performances
This song has no known live performances.
Lyrics
You were
Modern girls always have to go (Right on time)
Old-fashioned men always want a mistress (You were right)
Modern girls always get their way (I was wrong)
Modern men dream of what they can't say (That's alright)
Right? Right? Right? Right? Right?
I don't belong (I don't belong)
Why you gotta say it if you know it's something wrong? (Why're you sitting over there?)
Says that he'll apologize and it won't take too long
Well, you don't wanna trust nobody else (Always thinking 'bout yourself)
There's a few things that are gonna have to change (I'm your son)
Everyone has the same opinion (Won't you please?)
Your time is almost over (Don't be mean)
We won't get the chance to do this over (That's alright)
Right? Right? Right? Right? Right?
I don't belong (I don't belong)
I don't want the imprint of your key upon my nose (Why're you sitting over there?)
You don't have to tell no one 'cause no one wants to know
That you don't have no happiness at all (Always thinking 'bout yourself)
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
Oh yes, we're falling down
So fucking help me up
Always thinking 'bout yourself (You don't love me)
Always thinking 'bout yourself (I am an animal)
Always thinking 'bout yourself (I am not practical)
Was I?
Sheet Music
Transcribers
There's no sheet music associated with this song.
Song Facts
Release Status:
Released
Originally By:
Original
Collaborators:
The Strokes
Alternate Titles:
N/A
Written:
Unknown
Demo:
First Official Release:
First Live Performance:
Last Live Performance:
Song Stats
First Known Date:
Last Known Date:
Time Between First Known Date and Last Known Date:
Time Between First and Last Performance:
about 19 years and 9 months
# of Appearances on Official Releases:
1
# of Times Performed Live:
8
Themes & References
​
Trivia
​
Media Features
There are no known media features associated with this song.