Rich Kid Blues

What another amazing song. Jack's rips at the ending are fantastic, really fits with the lyrics. Props, Jack!

ohh man.. jack is exquisite in this song.. one of my favorite songs on the album.

Is love just a game to those with everything? (Oh they're in my game) A player that can manipulate women? (I know what's going on .. And I know just exactly what is on your mind.) He thinks he's playing to win true love, but he can't seem to get it? (Always play to win, But always seem to lose)

Might it be a 'be careful what you wish for' messages?

Jack's vocals in the chorus give me chills every time. Wow.

leakeg, have you heard this song? annoying?! I assume you meant "...whining about nothing..."? (not sure how you can 'wing' about something)

Either way you are mistaken. He's not whining, he's admitting/discovering. Listen to the MUSIC! What does it tell you?! This song is triumphant, not woe-is-me. LISTEN to the chorus.

This is a kind of expression of self awareness through the example of a fling with a girl.

First thing I noted is that he's juxtaposing SHOES, MONEY, and FRIENDS (the essentials of shelter, food and emotional stability) with both "good times" in one stanza and "bad times" in another. So these 'essentials' are a constant, regardless of success. This establishes a basis from which the song fluctuates.

(Also, it should be noted that 'money' is implying 'enough money,' not a shitload of money. This is evidenced by its attachment to 'shoes' in the same line)

In this song Jack is admitting (realizing?) that many of his 'troubles' today are banal by comparison to these 'essentials' that are taken for granted.

Also, note the way in which he refers to his 'blues':

"I THINK I've got A RICH KID'S blues." Like a foreign ailment that he has acquired. And the use of "think" here is what gives me the impression that this is a song of self discovery.

"A Rich Kid's Blues" seems to be the problem of people wanting you for your money/success and not for who you really are. Or more universally: they are drawn to you for superficial reasons rather than by a truly intimate connection.

But I'm wondering why, girl Did I ask your name? And all the people standing by Oh, they're in my game

He's asking himself 'What did I see in you?' The "people" around may be an entourage of the entertainment biz ("they're in my game") and are probably an afterthought ("Oh,.."), not anyone of true importance to him - and certainly not his "good friends." Maybe he attributes his meeting her, in part, to their influence, hence their inclusion in this stanza. But he can't justify (in an honorable sense) letting her 'in' in the first place. He is recognizing that he's guilty of the ephemeral lifestyle that befits celebrity. He's playing (the "game") to win, but always seems to lose (out on true intimacy).

And I know what is going on And I know, but I'll wait til dawn

He knows her real agenda, but screw it, he's gonna do her anyway and give her the boot in the morning. Note the crescendo at this chorus. He's declaring above all that he recognizes the situation and is in CONTROL of it. He's not forsaking the lifestyle, he's just keeping perspective on it.

I think this song is partially about the very disgust you are misinterpreting from it leakeg. I think Jack share's your disgust, but in this case it's a self disgust.

i hope all you guys know that this song is a Marianne Faithful cover...so it's not Jack's song. just an fyi.

It's a song written and sang originally by Terry Reid 1969...FYI....also covered by Marianne Faithful and now The Raconteurs. Its about being rich...you got the money in the world... you got friends...but...you cant buy... LOVE! wwww.djderick.blogspot.com

djderick is right. this is a terry reid song--great musician. too bad it seems like nobody knows about him anymore.

anyhow, this is a fantastic and respectful cover of the song; makes me love jack white and the rest of the raconteurs even more.

Terry Reid has one of the greatest voices of all-time. It would have been a mistake for Jack and Brendan to try and emulate Terry. I think they do a great job.

I do not however think that the song works on the album. It could have made an awesome B-side for die-hard fans. Instead i think it stops the momentum of a marvelous record.

I think someone is rich in monetary terms, but they still have something missing from their lives.

what a damned annoying song! its enough to ruin the whole album for me. sounds like a couple of massively rich guys winging about nothing... ugh so annoying.