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

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Cannon song meanings
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30 Comments

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  • +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
  • +1
    General Comment

    yeah, the lyrics can be pretty unintelligible. i love the pounding guitar riff throughout the whole song. i love the line near the end .."lord above...i command" where Jack really sings, i mean, he always sings, but he holds a note. it's strange but cool.

    turquoiseumbrellaon March 03, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    another religious song is "i fought pirahnas" its about the death, decent, and rising of jesus

    adrinfgbithon July 14, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I always see a crazy man singing this...especially the way he talks about the sh*t he's been through..."I fought guns, tanks, cannon" and the challenging way he screams "Lord Above! I command, I've been evil..."

    RMTFoxon January 28, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    wow, you people suck. This is perhaps the most brilliant combination i've ever seen from an artist of words and music to accompany and perfectly deliver their point... and yet, all you can say about it is "its like...awesome" and something about a crazy man singing. just read these, THINK about them for a moment, and then listen to the song, and it will change your life

    WeezDayon April 10, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    tell us what it means if you're so clever.

    scatter_brainon July 16, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    actually the lines "whos that writin' john the revelator" are lines straight out of the song "John the Revelator". they arent refering to Song House writing the song john the revelator

    Alex321on July 18, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    its not a religious song, the part that goes:

    christ went down on easter mornin' mary mother went down to see it gotta tell my disciples to meet me in galilee

    is part of the song john the revelator, which was covered by son house, one of jacks favorite artists. the original song was done by the delta blues singer blind willie johnson. its a tribute, as many people have already said.

    jpottruckon July 18, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    John the Revelator is a song by Son House, whom the White Stripes are a fan of. Their tribute to him in this song are the lines tell me who's that writin', John the revelator, etc.

    velloceton July 05, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of the White Stripes' best songs if you ask me, along with Quit Breaking Down

    canrockson January 02, 2005   Link

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