‘The Stroke’ by Billy Squier – Frustration Hits

"You put your right hand out give a firm handshake." The popular consensus of the meaning behind 'The Stroke' by Billy Squier is "self-gratuitous" for lack of a better term. According to Billy, the meaning behind the song is very different.

"The Stroke" by Billy Squier is about the stroking of egos. In an interview with VH1, Billy talked about his frustration with the record industry. Billy felt that the record industry would stroke the artists' egos and take advantage of their talents. "The Stroke" serves as a cautionary tale of how to survive as an artist in the record industry.

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

If you have some time, here's the complete VH1 interview:

Billy didn't mean the lyrics of "The Stroke" to be of a sexual nature. In an interview with the Baltimore Sun, Billy said, "I take songwriting very seriously and I wouldn't want anything I do to be construed as frivolous or mundane." Billy further commented, "I mean, I'm happy if people get something sexual out of it, but that was not its original intent or purpose." There's no shame in the game, my friend.

Billy Squier had been making music for a good 12 years before he released Don't Say No. At age 31, Billy's first big hit was "The Stroke." The album has sold more than three million copies to date.

MTV played Billy Squier videos a lot in the early days. Not many American artists were making videos in the beginning so MTV couldn't afford to be picky.