okay so i'm in the thinking that this is one of the most meaningful songs the dead weather have come up with (and jack white in general). also like some dead weather songs (opposed to stripes and raconteurs i think it is autobiographical)
so the first part is probably the most important and the most elusive.
"i love you so much i don't need to resist, don't need to exist, dripping blue blood from my wrist", i'm guessing "don't need to exist" is about the occurrence of invisible music, and the "don't need to resist" might be the fact there is no fighting the current musical climate. and "bleeding blue blood from my wrist" is because Jack white's musical crusade (the return of tangible music and vinyl records) is a self inflicted one, that seems reasonably logical in context with much of the song.
" all the neighbours get pissed when i come home, i make em nervous" seems pretty strait forward, others within the music industry are un-nerved and worried when jack is around.
the next bit "crack a window, crack a broken bone" i took to be purely ryme with no reason, just a few throwaway lyrics.
the next bit is the really important bit as it refers to the album name "sea of cowards" and the cover, with the masks.
"all you had to do was ask, who is it that wears a mask" this is about cowardice on the internet, "masks" referring to avatars and false screen names (jack mentions this alot in interviews)
I believe the next line is "when you put me to task, you leave me broke and shirtless" another thing about the internet, "put to task" is fans asking for new music "leave me broke and shirtless" is downloading it illegally.
"check your lips at the door woman" i think is also about the on-line coward thing. think before you say your opinion, words are powerful. jack mentions this more than anything else when confronted with the internet.
"shake your hips like battle ships" i think is another throwaway line to make the song seem more hip hop. just for atmosphere.
"all the white girls trip when i sing at Sunday service" here i dont think "white girls" is literal, i think he means "white" as in his own surname. as in "Jack White fans". so "All the white girls trip when i sing at sunday service." sunday service is a real life experience comparable to seeing a live band.
i think this bit means "all my fans still like to experience me sing live" its a bit of a stretch but i honestly think thats what it means. "people still appreciate tangible experiences"
the next bit "i only got one face" is about him not lying online or to the media about himself. "i tryed to long to erase" i guess is about him trying to be only Jack White rather than John Gillis (his birth name), hes now only the musician.
the last lines i still haven't figured out "if i left you woman i would't leave a trace" could be about him quitting the industry, if he left no one would here any news from him, but i don't really have a clue on this bit. well thats all my thoughts on this one.
okay so i'm in the thinking that this is one of the most meaningful songs the dead weather have come up with (and jack white in general). also like some dead weather songs (opposed to stripes and raconteurs i think it is autobiographical) so the first part is probably the most important and the most elusive. "i love you so much i don't need to resist, don't need to exist, dripping blue blood from my wrist", i'm guessing "don't need to exist" is about the occurrence of invisible music, and the "don't need to resist" might be the fact there is no fighting the current musical climate. and "bleeding blue blood from my wrist" is because Jack white's musical crusade (the return of tangible music and vinyl records) is a self inflicted one, that seems reasonably logical in context with much of the song. " all the neighbours get pissed when i come home, i make em nervous" seems pretty strait forward, others within the music industry are un-nerved and worried when jack is around.
the next bit "crack a window, crack a broken bone" i took to be purely ryme with no reason, just a few throwaway lyrics. the next bit is the really important bit as it refers to the album name "sea of cowards" and the cover, with the masks. "all you had to do was ask, who is it that wears a mask" this is about cowardice on the internet, "masks" referring to avatars and false screen names (jack mentions this alot in interviews) I believe the next line is "when you put me to task, you leave me broke and shirtless" another thing about the internet, "put to task" is fans asking for new music "leave me broke and shirtless" is downloading it illegally. "check your lips at the door woman" i think is also about the on-line coward thing. think before you say your opinion, words are powerful. jack mentions this more than anything else when confronted with the internet. "shake your hips like battle ships" i think is another throwaway line to make the song seem more hip hop. just for atmosphere. "all the white girls trip when i sing at Sunday service" here i dont think "white girls" is literal, i think he means "white" as in his own surname. as in "Jack White fans". so "All the white girls trip when i sing at sunday service." sunday service is a real life experience comparable to seeing a live band. i think this bit means "all my fans still like to experience me sing live" its a bit of a stretch but i honestly think thats what it means. "people still appreciate tangible experiences" the next bit "i only got one face" is about him not lying online or to the media about himself. "i tryed to long to erase" i guess is about him trying to be only Jack White rather than John Gillis (his birth name), hes now only the musician. the last lines i still haven't figured out "if i left you woman i would't leave a trace" could be about him quitting the industry, if he left no one would here any news from him, but i don't really have a clue on this bit. well thats all my thoughts on this one.
Very interesting. However, Jack, L.J, and Dean wrote this song together. So you can't really base this all on Jack's thinking alone.
Very interesting. However, Jack, L.J, and Dean wrote this song together. So you can't really base this all on Jack's thinking alone.