Outside
My door
Unlocked
I'm lookin'
At this sound
That chime out of nowhere
Yeah, nowhere
Whoo
Wheels turnin'
Scratchin'
And burnin'
Yeah
I fought guns
Tanks
Cannon
Cannon
Yeah
Tell me who's that writin'
John the revelator
Tell me who's that writin'
John the revelator
Tell me who's that writin'
John the revelator
Wrote the book on the seven seas
Christ went down on Easter mornin'
Mary mother went down to see it
Gotta tell my disciples to meet me in Galilee
Who's writin'
John the revelator
Tell me who's that writin'
John the revelator
Tell me who's that writin'
John the revelator
Wrote the book on the seven seas
Hey
Whoo
Lord above
I command
I've been evil
Evil
Yeah
Evil


Lyrics submitted by Stoney

Cannon Lyrics as written by Jack White

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Cannon song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

30 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    Or a reference to "John the Revelator" himself, i.e. St. John who wrote the book of Revelation, the "Book of the Seven Seals." Plus the four lines about Christ and the seemingly apocolyptic theme of the song...it's refreshing to see a religious (I'm assuming) musician not making religious music, per se. I love their early stuff, although it's more melodic than their newer songs, but I think rhythm and melody are underrated in today's music. Not every song has to be 2 minutes of guitar solo and a chorus, you know?

    ROBRAM89on December 28, 2004   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.