Your Southern Can Is Mine

This is one of my favorite songs, first done by Blind Willie McTell in

1927. At that time, at the height of the segregation system, singing any kind of open protest song would likely mean that you would wind up dead by sundown. If someone dared to protest, it would have to be done in a coded way coded so white people could not understand it. A common form of coding back then was to sing about WOMEN when what they really meant was WHITE PEOPLE.

People often deride blues as a bunch of songs about bein' mistreated by bad women. That's absolutely, absolutely true. And if McTell is singing about someone's southern can -- (i.e. southern ass) -- belonging to someone else, well, that may very well be social commentary. The references to violence make an awful lot more sense this way.

Of course, I may be totally wrong. Yet, it's certainly worth re-listening to a lot of your old blues records and thinking about what they might be trying to say.

In the early 20th century, black bluesmen often used "woman" and other feminine terms to secretly describe white men. picture a black bluesman singing about killing or beating a white man back then...he'd be strung from a tree before he finished the 2nd verse.

that said, read these lyrics again and you'll get a better idea of what blind willie was REALLY talking about.

Jesus you guys are wrong, the song is about the strength of Jacks Pimphand

I can't believe nobody put these lyrics in yet! This song is so fun to sing. Had to add them. The White Stripes are definately my favorite band and prove that simple CAN be beautiful. As to the song meaning, I think it means, well.... her southern can is his.

You all do realize this is a cover of a Blinde Willie McTell song don't you? Not that the White Stripes do a bad job. I love the fact that they love all the great blues artists.

I don't understand this song!!! Am I the only one in the world who doesn't have a clue what a southern can is??? I like how it sounds, though. And of course I love the White Stripes and they are my favorite band ever!! That's why I wanted to know what this meant.. Urgh.

Can is another word for backside.....southern can....And he doesn't mean it in a sexual way...see now?

its a nice song but if ya kinda tilt your head it's about beating up a woman (possibly prostitute?) if she tries to get away from you.

Or it might be written from the position of the owner of a black slave woman who he assaults. either way its pretty dark.

Yes, this is a Blind Willie McTell song, and its misogynistic lyrics are not what Jack really believes in. I think they just covered it because both Jack and Meg have a passion for old folk and blues artists like Blind Willie McTell, and perhaps they were trying to make a statement on how women are treated today.

Jack is totally about that 'old fashioned' kinda love--call it misogynistic, violent, or whatever.

I'm just kidding, geez!