She's got stickers on her locker
And the boy's number's there in magic marker
I'm hungry and the hunger will linger
I eat sixteen saltine crackers then I lick my fingers

Well every morning I deliver the news
Black hat white shoes and I'm red all over
She's got a big mailbox, that she puts up front
Garbage in, garbage out, she's getting what she wants

Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
If I get busy then I couldn't care less what you do
But when I'm by myself I think of nothing else
Than if a boy just might be getting through and touching you

Spike heels make a hole in a lifeboat
Jumpin' and weaving, I'm talking and laughing as we float
I hear a whistle, that's how I know she's home
Lipstick, eyelash, broke mirror, broken home

Force fed, force mixed 'till I drop dead
You can't defeat her, when you meet her you'll be what I said
And Lord knows there's a method to her madness
Bustin' those jokes as I float in a sea of sadness

She doesn't know but when she's gonna sit and drink up a few
I'm sure she's drinkin too, but wondering what for and who
And I'm solo rollin'. I'm one side off the boat.
Looking out, throwing up, a lifesaver down my throat

Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?


Lyrics submitted by mariafl, edited by TR33S, pandadance, Brass

Sixteen Saltines Lyrics as written by John Anthony White

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Sixteen Saltines song meanings
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    General Comment

    this song is definitely about his relationship with Karen Elson (Jack's 2nd wife, super model), or indirectly about a man's obsession over a woman that he knows little about (in general: a person who loves a celebrity).

    pop culture and american media convince us to love celebrities... marketing them in a way that draws unhealthy obssssions. while we dont really know them at all... just the sexy photos and scripted interviews that paint them in a certain light, from which we draw our opinions.

    the song tells a story about a boy who obsesses over a girl, then gets her (or someone like her) in his adulthood and deals with the consequences of wanting something so bad with blind faith. "who's jealous of who?" are you jealous of me because i have her, or am i jealous of you because you dont have to deal with it. "when she's gone i sit and drink her perfume" - this is a play on the term "drinking the kool-aid" which is a popular metaphor for a person's unquestioned belief or philosophy with little to no examination (google: jonestown massacre). if you love (insert celebrity here) and would do anything for her/him... you've "drank the kool-aid" that the media has fed to you.

    jack white is great at story telling, and this song is no different:

    1st stanza: high school obsession, showing where it all starts, and possibly where you are influenced in your choice of unattainable women (celebrities represent youth, sex and talent...an abundance of each can be found in highschool) 2nd stanza: the length you go to in order to feed your obsession 3rd stanza: some clarity, he knows whats happening but his mind is still wandering and he still wants it, more than ever. 4th stanza: he has matured, and has the woman but realizes that fantasy is nothing like reality 5th stanza: he's looking for a way out, but it's too late 6th stanza: they're both alone now, but the desire is engrained and he's addicted. 7th: wrapping it up... the tides have turned and he wants to be normal, like the boy sitting at home with no one. in the 3rd stanza.

    if you follow me with this interpretation, the lyrics are easy to understand.

    "stickers on her locker" noticing things about her that paint a picture about her without really knowing her. "the boys numbers there in magic marker" -- she's taken boys' numbers, they are clearly displayed and those boys wait, expecting her call. the obsession begins.

    "i'm hungry and the hunger will linger" -- he's waiting for her, or he wants her and he's not getting her.

    "i eat sixteen saltine crackers and i lick my fingers" -- this is taking the previous line into more depth... he wants her and, just like salty foods, they don't do anything to quench your appetite, they dehydrate you and make you hungrier... then he licks the salt off of his fingers because "the hunger will linger", he keeps going.

    "every morning i deliver the news / black hat white shoes and i'm read all over" -- the old riddle: what is black and white and red all over? a newspaper. he brings her what she wants, not a literal newspaper, but attention which is continued:

    "she's got a big mailbox that she puts out front..garbage in, garbage out, she's getting what she wants" -- she putting out the signals for the boys and they are all giving her attention, and she doesn't care what kind.

    "who's jealous of who" -- this begs the question: Do I want to be you, or do you want to be me, and of course, we get the answer at the end when he asks the same question.

    "when i get busy then i couldn't care less what you do" -- he's a young boy, when he's engaged in other activities, he's totally healthy and normal.

    "but when i'm by myself, i think of nothing else" the obsession and competition with the other boys begins

    "spike heels make a hole in a lifeboat" -- referencing vanity and even though he loves it, it's killing them and their relationship.

    "jumping and waving, i'm talking and laughing as we float" going back and forth between trying to get rescued and being drawn in to her.

    "lipstick, eyelash, broke mirror broken home" -- its back to the vanity issue, but it's now ruined them. broke mirror could refer to her compact that she uses for her makeup (eyelash and lipstick... women who use them alot usually drop them and the mirror breaks) or it could be the common metaphor for bad luck.

    "force fed forced meds til i drop dead" prescription drugs given by his doctor (he's being forced to take drugs that were forced upon him) who thinks he's dealing with depression or what have you. burying the issues until they (the drugs or the issues) kill him.

    "you cant defeat her when you meet her you'll be what i said" he's giving advice for the next guy who is drawn in.

    "god knows there's a method to her madess" she knows exactly what she's doing, even though it doesn't seem like it (she's a natural)

    "but the lord's joke is a boat in a sea of sadness" this is continuing with the faith reference from the previous line... she is evil and she will have to face the consequences of her actions... she will end up being alone or abused by someone worse than her, but as a by product, he is also damaged and alone.

    "she doesn't know but when I'm gone I sit and drink her perfume" this is the kool-aid reference: making decisions on blind faith.

    "i'm sure she's drinking too, but wondering what for and who" she's drinking it too, but she's empty and grasping at anything (lost in a sea of sadness)

    "now i'm solo rowing, on one side of the boat" she's gone and he's by himself, rowing along without anyone

    "looking out, throwing up, a lifesaver down my throat" he's searching for help, he's sick, maybe going through withdrawals, and the one thing that is there to help him (lifesaver the mint (from throwing up), lifesaver the marine device (lost in a sea of sadness)), is killing him.

    "whos jealous of who" now that you know the story, are you really so envious of him, or finding her so desirable?

    eshottyon September 17, 2012   Link

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