“The Stroke” Lyrics & Meaning (Billy Squier)

Most people think the same thing when they first hear The Stroke.

You can’t help it, really.

The Stroke lyrics meaning sounds very sexual.

But it isn’t. Not even close.

At least that’s not what Billy Squier was thinking when he wrote the lyrics.

They have to do with something else entirely. Any guesses? Now keep reading and see if you were close.

 

The Stroke Lyrics And Meaning

The Stroke is a song performed by Billy Squier. It was released in 1981 and became instantly successful due to its catchy melody and critical lyrics about the music industry.

This song is featured on Squier’s second album, Don’t Say No. It peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and had even greater success on the rock chart, where it reached number 3. The song reached number 52 on the UK Singles Chart.

The Stroke also earned the title of the 59th best rock song of all time, thanks to VH1. The whole of Squier’s second album is considered a landmark, because it bridged the gap between hard rock music and pop music.

The Stroke has been featured on a large number of TV shows and movies and has even been sampled by other artists in the music industry. Some of these movies included Blades of Glory and the recent film No Hard Feelings.

Many artists and other people resonate with the song, due to its critical take that it’s had on the music industry, making it a staple song in rock music.

An acoustic blues version of this song was recorded in 1998 and titled Stroke Me Blues. It was featured on Squier’s Happy Blue album.

Squier had been a part of the music scene since the late 1960s, but it wasn’t until this 1981 hit that he achieved large amounts of success.

 

The Stroke Lyrics

 

Verse 1

Now, everybody
Have you heard?
If you’re in the game
Then the stroke’s the word
Don’t take no rhythm
Don’t take no style
Got a thirst for killin’
Grab your vial, yeah
Woo!

Verse 2

Put your right hand out
Give a firm handshake
Talk to me
About that one big break
Spread your ear pollution both far and wide
Keep your contributions by your side and

Chorus

(Stroke me, stroke me)
Could be a winner, boy, you move quite well
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Stroke!
(Stroke me, stroke me)
You got your number down
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Say you’re a winner, but, man, you’re just a sinner now

Verse 3

Put your left foot out
Keep it all in place
Work your way
Right into my case
First you try to bed me
You make my backbone slide
But when you find you bled me
Step on by
Keep on

Chorus

(Stroke me, stroke me)
Give me the business all night long
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Stroke!
(Stroke me, stroke me)
You’re so together, boy
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Say you’re a winner, but, man, you’re just a sinner now

Stroke! Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!
Stroke! Stroke! Stroke!
Oh!

Verse 4

Better listen now
Said it ain’t no joke
Let your conscience fail you
Just do the stroke
Don’t you take no chances
Keep your eye on top
Do your fancy dances
You can’t stop, you just

Outro

(Stroke me, stroke me)
Stroke! Stroke!
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Stroke! Stroke!
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Stroke! Stroke!
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Stroke!
Do it
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Stroke!
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Keep on Stroke!
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Yeah, you’re gonna Stroke
(Stroke me, stroke me)
Say you’re a winner, but, man, you’re just a sinner now

 

The Stroke Meaning

When you first listen to the song, you can be mistaken for thinking that it has sexual undertones. So much so that Squier even had to put out a statement explaining that the song is about the music industry.

The song criticizes how musicians are often “stroked” or flattered by executives to exploit their talents for their own financial gain. Then these artists are disregarded when they are no longer considered useful.

In The Stroke Squier sings about superficial relationships, empty promises and how artists can lose their identity in the pursuit of fame.

The lyrics of the song use the term “stroke” as a metaphor to suggest both flattery and manipulation. The opening line of the song introduces us to the exploitation of the industry with Squier singing, “Now everybody, have you heard, if you’re in the game, then the stroke’s the word.”

The line is supposed to show that success doesn’t always depend on a person’s musical talent, but rather on how they can navigate through the industry.

Even though Squier wrote the song about the music industry, he doesn’t mind that others interpret it to have a more sexual meaning. The way the song can be interpreted in different ways has only added to its success and allowed listeners to come up with their own meanings for the song.

Lyrics that can make the song feel like it has a sexual meaning include lines such as “stroke me” in the chorus and “say you’re a winner, but babe, you’re just a sinner now.”

When you first listen to the song, you don’t think it means anything serious, but the more you listen to it, the easier it becomes to understand that The Stroke is about the music industry.

When asked about the sexual content in the song, Squier explained that he never intended for it to sound as sexual as it does. He said, “I take songwriting very seriously and I wouldn’t want anything I do to be construed as frivolous or mundane.”

 

The Stroke Lyrics Meaning: Final Thoughts

I’ll admit, I thought The Stroke lyrics meaning was sexual, just like most others. At least at first. Once you listen to the lyrics more closely, especially the second verse, you begin to suspect it may mean something else.

Well, you suspect it may have a double meaning. Even now, knowing what Billy Squier himself has said about the meaning, I find it impossible to believe that he did not purposefully write the lyrics the way he did to create a dual meaning, with one of them being sexual.