In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Oh, don't you think that I'm bound to react now?
Well, my fingers definitely turning to black now
Yeah, maybe I'll put my love on ice
And teach myself, and maybe that'll be nice, yeah
My books are sitting at the top of the stack now
Well, the longer words are really breaking my back now
Yeah, maybe I'll learn to understand
I'm drawing a square with a pencil in hand, yeah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Mathematically turning the page
Unequivocally showing my age
I'm practically center stage
Undeniably earning your wage
Well, maybe I'll put my love on ice
Teach myself, maybe that'll be nice, yeah
Well, listen master, can you answer a question?
Is it the fingers or the brain that you're teaching the lesson?
Oh, I can't tell ya how proud I am
I'm writing down things that I don't understand
Well, maybe I'll put my love on ice
And teach myself, and maybe that'll be nice, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Well, my fingers definitely turning to black now
Yeah, maybe I'll put my love on ice
And teach myself, and maybe that'll be nice, yeah
My books are sitting at the top of the stack now
Well, the longer words are really breaking my back now
Yeah, maybe I'll learn to understand
I'm drawing a square with a pencil in hand, yeah
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Mathematically turning the page
Unequivocally showing my age
I'm practically center stage
Undeniably earning your wage
Well, maybe I'll put my love on ice
Teach myself, maybe that'll be nice, yeah
Well, listen master, can you answer a question?
Is it the fingers or the brain that you're teaching the lesson?
Oh, I can't tell ya how proud I am
I'm writing down things that I don't understand
Well, maybe I'll put my love on ice
And teach myself, and maybe that'll be nice, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Lyrics submitted by ruben, edited by mmargerison
Black Math Lyrics as written by Jack White
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i happen to know that jack's brother leo is a brilliant mathematician(it's math way way over my head) so maybe jack got inspiration from leo for this song. check out leo's webpage. i can't remember the address but just google him.