After releasing several singles and three albums within the Detroit independent music underground, The White Stripes rose to prominence in 2002, as part of the garage rock revival scene. Their successful albums White Blood Cells and Elephant drew them attention from a large variety of media outlets in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The White Stripes used a low-fidelity, do-it-yourself approach to writing and recording. Their music features a melding of punk and blues influences and a raw simplicity of composition, arrangement, and performance. The duo is also noted for their fashion and design aesthetic which features a simple color scheme of red, white, and black.
The White Stripes' discography consists of six studio albums, two extended plays (EP), one video album, 26 singles and fourteen music videos. The band has sold approximately 12 million albums worldwide, 2 million in the US alone, and their latest three albums have each won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
On February 2, 2011, the band announced on their website that they had disbanded.
Official band website: www.whitestripes.com
Let's Shake Hands
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh
Let's shake hands
Oh
Baby lets shake hands
Well there's something here in the air
Jump up and let me know when you're there
Baby lets shake hands
Oh
Let's be friends
Oh
Baby lets be friends
I can't come up with a better plan
Put your fingers in my hand
Baby lets be friends
Yeah
Oh
Say my name
Oh
Baby say my name
Well you can do what you want to do
Throw it in the garbage can
But just say my name
Yeah
Yeah
The White Stripes's song, Let's Shake Hands, is a simple but intriguing track. It appears to be an invitation from the singer of the song to another person to shake hands, be friends, and simply acknowledge each other's presence. The lyrics of the song go on to express something hanging in the air that needs to be unravelled. The singer urges the other person to jump up and acknowledge him/her when they are ready to do so. He then urges the other person to put their fingers in his hand and become friends - "Baby, let's be friends."
The singer then implores the other person to "say my name." This appears to be an indication of the singer's desire for the other person to acknowledge his/her presence and worthiness. And even if the other person chooses to throw their acknowledgment away, he still wants them to say his name. The song's simplicity in its lyrics and the repetitive nature of the chorus help to emphasize this intense need for acknowledgement and connection.
In summary, Let's Shake Hands seems to be a song about the human desire to be seen and valued by others. The singer seeks acknowledgement, friendship, and a simple handshake from the other person. The song offers an invitation to connect and reach out to one another, even in the midst of something hanging in the air.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
This is an excited and enthusiastic affirmation of what is to come in the song.
Oh
This interjection suggests a sudden realization or direct address to someone or something.
Let's shake hands
The singer wants to establish a connection with someone and make a greeting, possibly with a deeper intention.
Baby lets shake hands
This line conveys a more romantic or intimate desire for a connection.
Well there's something here in the air
This is a statement that something significant is happening in this moment, perhaps suggesting that there is a mutual attraction between two people.
Jump up and let me know when you're there
This line can be interpreted as a playful dare, asking someone to show their enthusiasm for a connection in a physical way.
Let's be friends
After the initial greeting and physical connection, the singer suggests that they want to build a level of comfort and trust between themselves and the other person.
Baby lets be friends
This rewording of the previous line adds a more intimate or romantic tone to the suggestion of friendship.
I can't come up with a better plan
This line suggests that the singer is invested in this connection and wants to make it work, but cannot think of a better way to do so than to start with a friendship.
Put your fingers in my hand
This line is a literal request for the other person to place their fingers in the singer's hand as a gesture of connection and trust.
Baby lets be friends
This repetition of the earlier line reinforces the singer's desire for a friendship and the benefits that could come with it.
Yeah
This is another interjection of enthusiasm and excitement for the building of a connection between two people.
Oh
This interjection suggests another sudden realization or desire for direct communication.
Say my name
This line suggests that the singer wants the other person to acknowledge their name and therefore their identity as another human being.
Baby say my name
This rewording of the previous line adds a more romantic or intimate tone to the request for self-identification by the other person.
Well you can do what you want to do
This line suggests that the other person has some measure of control or power over the situation.
Throw it in the garbage can
This is a playful but somewhat confrontational way of saying that the other person can reject the opportunity for connection if they choose to do so.
But just say my name
Despite the potential for rejection or dismissal, the singer still wants the other person to acknowledge and remember them.
Yeah
This final interjection reiterates the singer's excitement and enthusiasm for the possibility of connection with another person.
Yeah
This final interjection reiterates the singer's excitement and enthusiasm for the possibility of connection with another person.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACK WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robyn
on Candy Cane Children
The meaning of this song is basically saying the older you get, the less fun Christmas becomes usually do to adulthood. The lines "don't you know your name?...", probably refers to the adults telling kids to grow up as if they're saying "Do you know how old you are? You're getting too old for this stuff." Probably why he put the lines "nobody knows how to talk to children". Also, he puts the lines "think again" after a thought of one of the kids thinking of wishing to participate in Christmas activities. As if they're thinking "Yeah I probably AM too old for this.." "364 more tears girl" the sadness of getting older. Not participating feels like a missed opportunity and causes even more sadness..