Artist: White Stripes
Song: Seven Nation Army
Year: 2003
Album: Elephant
If the album White Blood Cells brought the White Stripes to the mainstream, Elephant established them. After I heard "Fell In Love With A Girl", I went back and dug out all the older White Stripes releases. They were surprisingly good. I guess it takes just one song to get noticed. If the rest of your stuff is decent, it will get resurrected.
"Seven Nation Army" was the lead single from Elephant. There was a buzz about this song that was very strong. After the first listen, I thought that it sounded a lot like the type of music that my friend and I make in the garage. It had a grimy sound, but was poppy and stayed in your head for days.
Meg isn't the best drummer in the world, but she also isn't trying to be. She is capable enough for what is required. That simplistic approach works for this song. The song itself is simplistic, but it's simple enough that it works.
I first heard this song on a long drive to a friend's house. I try to listen to most of my music while doing mundane things. It helps me determine if I like a song for the song or for the reputation. I can think of a few songs that I liked by reputation, but ended up not liking in the long run. This is definitely not one of those. This song has a catchy riff and a desirable melody. It's the opening that grabs you and never lets you go.
Lyrics:
I'm gonna fight 'em off
A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
They're gonna rip it off
Taking their time right behind my back
And I'm talking to myself at night
Because I can't forget
Back and forth through my mind
Behind a cigarette
And the message coming from my eyes
Says leave it alone
Don't want to hear about it
Every single one's got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it
From the Queen of England to the hounds of hell
And if I catch it coming back my way
I'm gonna serve it to you
And that ain't what you want to hear
But that's what I'll do
And a feeling coming from my bones
Says find a home
I'm going to Wichita
Far from this opera forevermore
I'm gonna work the straw
Make the sweat drip out of every pore
And I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding
Right before the lord
All the words are gonna bleed from me
And I will think no more
And the stains coming from my blood
tell me "go back home"
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2 comments:
u should really check out icky thump their 2007 release.
it has some brilliant songs.
Already have! It's a great album and one of their best. There will be plenty of other White Stripes songs on this blog in the future.
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