Song of the Week

The riff that every person knows and the song that’s every drummer’s first. “Seven Nation Army” is a rock classic renowned for its contagious guitar melody. The White Stripes consists solely of their two members, Jack and Meg White. They chose their name because of Meg’s preference for red and white stripped peppermint candy. Written by Jack White himself, “Seven Nation Army” went on to reach number one on the Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart and stayed there for three weeks in the summer of it’s release in 2003.

According to Rolling Stone, White came up with the song during a soundcheck on an Australian tour. White admitted he only called the song “Seven Nation Army” because that’s what he used to call The Salvation Army as a kid and he needed a way to remember what riff he was talking about. The riff has even been picked up as a team chant by sports culture.

The song itself is about rampant gossiping and the White’s frustrations dealing with having such a public relationship. The Whites were divorced in 2000 and “Seven Nation Army” wasn’t released until later in 2003. In an interesting turn of events Meg and Jack proceeded to present themselves as siblings in later years to add an edge to their image although It does seem strange since they were married years before.

Thinking about people talking keeps Jack up at night. He sings, “I’m talkin’ to myself at night because I can’t forget / Back and forth through my mind, behind a cigarette.” His mind goes in circles as he lets it get under his skin and then convinces himself to “Leave it alone.” He’s tired of people he trusts spreading his private information and “Takin’ their time right behind my back.” White drops many hits about the song’s integral theme of hearsay but it’s still neglected by the audience because of its ambiguity.

The other topic that comes up here is White contemplating leaving the spotlight for a simple life. He wants roots to go back to every day. “And the feelin’ comin’ from my bones says, “Find a Home” / I’m goin’ to Wichita / Far from this opera forevermore / I’m gonna work the straw.” Wichita is a town in Kansas that would be as good as any to start a new undercover life. Wichita is the setting in Whites daydreams about what a peaceful life would look like. This seems to be a grass is always greener situation because as of right now he’s had 20 years to go and he remains on the scene. The simple life isn’t for everybody and there are certainly worse fates then being a rockstar.