The White Stripes – Little Acorns

Take all your problems
And rip 'em apart
Oh oh oh
Carry them off
In a shopping cart
Oh oh oh

And another thing you
Should've known from the start
The problems in hand
Are lighter than at heart

Be like the squirrel, girl
Be like the squirrel
Give it a whirl, girl
Be like the squirrel

And another thing
You have to know in this world
Cut up your hair
Straighten your curls
Well you problems
Hide in your curls


Lyrics submitted by ruben, edited by spikecb

"Little Acorns" as written by Jack White

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Little Acorns song meanings
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48 Comments

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  • +7
    General CommentAs an acorn, I find this song highly offensive. It is far too violent for young acornlings.
    bunny-loon June 04, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General CommentI agree with Schwealdsondottir and AppleScruffs; this has a very sarcastic overtone. The parts that go "Another thing you should've known from the start" and "And another thing you have to know in this world" seem sort of frustrated and mocking; as though the message is "These ridiculously simple philosophies being offered up to solve all the complicated problems in your life - why hadn't you thought of them before?! Oh yeah, maybe because the idea of trying to fix the big problems in life by doing something this inane seems to undermine those thing seriousness and importance in your life. Maybe those big problems and the struggles to overcome them are what makes life interesting and you already inherently knew that it was vaguely demeaning to try to tackle them with dumb, cutesy little metaphors like this."

    That's just my interpretation though... 8^)
    AdamImMadamon January 10, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Commentsomeone should add this;

    When problems overwhelm us and sadness smothers us, where do we find the will and the courage to continue? Well, the answer may come in the caring voice of a friend, a chance encounter with a book, or from a personal faith. For Janet, help came from her faith but it also came from a squirrel. Shortly after her divorce, Janet lost her father, then she lost her job. She had mounting money problems. But Janet not only survived, she worked her way out of despondency and now she says life is good again. How could this happen? She told me that late one autumn day, when she was at her lowest, she watched a squirrel storing up nuts for the winter. One at a time, he would take them to the nest; and she thought ''If that squirrel can take care of himself with a harsh winter coming on, so can I. Once I broke my problems into small pieces I was able to carrry them just like those acorns; one at a time.''
    happensallthetimeon February 25, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General CommentYOU STUPID FUCK, WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU LEAVE OUT THE OPENING, ITS NOT LIKE ITS NOT PART OF THE SONG TO BEGIN WITH LET ALONE ITS THE FUCKING BEST PART YOU STUPID PIECE OF SHIT FUCKER, YOU SHOLD BE SHOT FOR THIS ABOSLUTELY ATROCIOUS DECISION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    RandomOckon June 11, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentBe Like The Squirrell, Girl. Be Like The Squirrell....

    Words To Live By.
    D4MVPon September 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI definitely agree with Schwealdson...yeah, that person.

    The fact that it starts out with that kind of weird, not stripsy self help introduction seems to set it up- and then moves to rather heavy rock and roll with a kind of sarcastic edge.

    To me, it almost seems to say that the "acorn" analogy completely trivializes complex problems- because "the problems at hand are lighter than at heart." We're complex creatures.

    @huambo- I immediately thought that the "cut up your hair/straighten your curls" line was a reference to youth- kind of the curly-headed cherubic image. I think this also adds to the sarcastic message that everything will be fine if you just get over yourself and stop being emotional. Maybe. I don't know.
    AppleScruffson July 23, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentOhh hardcore Zeppelin sounding song, pretty cool song though. Nice riff he plays.
    Muzzyon June 17, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song is very rad. its all about not letting your problems weigh you down and what not. but musically its so great.
    xthexpiratexon June 24, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWho is that guy talking about Janet at the begining of little acorns?
    PeppermintChickon June 28, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI've heard the guy before on a Michigan radio station- has his own talk show... I forget his name though
    wvmccormickon June 11, 2004   Link

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