The diversity of narration and voice in this song painted over a central guitar melody illustrates how the complexity of loving and losing someone is universally experienced.
[Verse 1: Dijon]
I saw a stranger
He was wiry
He was handsome
He was handsome, and he
Was talking in his sleep
He's looking out for me
What a love
[Verse 2: Sachi]
I saw a stranger
And he saw me
He was handsome
He was dancin' and he
Swept me off my feet
When he grabbed ahold of me
And the mornin' set us free
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, how are you, stranger? And
How have you been? You said
"Three Hail Marys full
To wash away my sin"
[Chorus]
But baby, I'm guilty
Silver-barrel spinnin'
Gold-teeth shinin'
Guilty
And it's hard to let you in
And I don't know how
[Verse 3: Dan Reeder]
(Two, three, four)
She was a stranger
On the 47 line
I looked into her big room
And she looked into mine
It was like wе were the samе
It was like we were the same person
[Verse 4: Tobias Jesso Jr.]
I got a stranger
I'm ashamed of
He keeps coming out
He keeps coming out
Every time I drink
Gets angry (He gets angry and I)
Starts cryin'
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, how are you, stranger? And
How have you been? You said
"Three Hail Marys full
To wash away my sin"
[Chorus]
But baby, I'm guilty
Silver-barrel spinnin'
Gold-teeth shinin'
Guilty
And it's hard to let you in
And I don't know how
[Verse 5: John C. Reilly]
I saw a stranger
Pass me on the street
Her eyes were so like yours
And it took me there
Completely unprepared
When I kissed you on the stairs
[Verse 6: Becky and the Birds]
Oh, stranger
She is right here
She's watching me
She's watching me like
"Baby, go ahead, turn up"
She really fucked it up this time
But I know you needed friends so it’s alright
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, how are you, stranger? And
How have you been? You said
"Three Hail Marys full
To wash away my sin"
[Chorus]
But baby, I'm guilty
Silver-barrel spinnin'
Gold-teeth shinin'
Guilty
And it's hard to let you in
And I don't know how
The Stranger was written by Dijon & Jack Karaszewski & Henry Kwapis & SACHI & Dan Reeder & Tobias Jesso Jr. & John C. Reilly & Becky and the Birds.
The Stranger was produced by Dijon & Henry Kwapis & Jack Karaszewski.
Dijon released The Stranger on Fri Dec 18 2020.