Jack White first played as a professional musician in the early 1990s, as a drummer for the Detroit cowpunk band Goober & the Peas. White produced Loretta Lynn's Van Lear Rose in 2004, which won them a Grammy for best country album, and an additional Grammy for best country collaboration for the song Portland Oregon.
The Love Interruption Songfacts reports that his debut solo single, Love Interruption, was made available on January 30, 2012 at White's pay-to-join club Vault and at Jackwhiteiii.com. A week later, it was released on the singer’s preferred format, vinyl. It was produced by the ex White Stripe and recorded at his own Third Man Studio in Nashville along with its exclusive non-LP B-side Machine Gun Silhouette. This was followed by his first solo album, Blunderbuss, later in 2012, and an accompanying tour. This is not said to indicate an end to either the Raconteurs or the Dead Weather.
His blaring guitar solos and ability to pull sound from the simplest of "instruments" are his greatest strengths along with his desire to partner with female vocalists.
He currently resides in Tennessee. He announced his divorce in 2011 from wife since 2005, fellow musician Karen Elson, and they have two children. Third Man Records (White's label) and Elson's clothing boutique are also located there.
Last.fm Group: http://www.last.fm/group/Blunderbuss
Sixteen Saltines
Jack White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the boy's number's there in magic marker
I'm hungry and the hunger will linger
I eat sixteen saltine crackers then I lick my fingers
Well every morning I deliver the news
Black hat white shoes and I'm red all over
She's got a big mailbox, that she puts up front
Garbage in, garbage out, she's getting what she wants
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
If I get busy then I couldn't care less what you do
But when I'm by myself I think of nothing else
Than if a boy just might be getting through and touching you
Spike heels make a hole in a lifeboat
Jumpin' and weaving, I'm talking and laughing as we float
I hear a whistle, that's how I know she's home
Lipstick, eyelash, broke mirror, broken home
Force fed, force mixed 'till I drop dead
You can't defeat her, when you meet her you'll be what I said
And Lord knows there's a method to her madness
Bustin' those jokes as I float in a sea of sadness
She doesn't know but when she's gonna sit and drink up a few
I'm sure she's drinkin too, but wondering what for and who
And I'm solo rollin'. I'm one side off the boat.
Looking out, throwing up, a lifesaver down my throat
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
The song Sixteen Saltines by Jack White is about a girl who seems to have a carefree attitude towards life, while the singer is struggling with his own hunger and insecurity. The lyrics describe the girl as having stickers on her locker and a list of boys' numbers written in magic marker, implying that she is popular and unattainable. Meanwhile, the singer is hungry, and his hunger will continue to linger. He eats sixteen saltine crackers and licks his fingers, perhaps to satisfy his hunger or to assert control in some way.
The song continues with the singer delivering the news every morning, dressed in black and white with a red stain on his clothes. The girl has a big mailbox, and she puts up with garbage in and garbage out, implying that she accepts anything that comes her way. The singer is envious of the boy who might be touching her, thinking of nothing else when he's alone. Spike heels make a hole in a lifeboat, representing how the girl is careless and willing to risk everything for thrills.
The song ends with the singer throwing up a lifesaver down his throat, hinting at his own struggle to survive in a sea of sadness. The repeated chorus of "who's jealous of who" highlights the tension and jealousy between the singer and the girl, as well as the larger societal context that breeds jealousy and competition.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got stickers on her locker
She has decorated her locker with stickers.
And the boy's number's there in magic marker
She has written a boy's phone number on her locker using magic marker.
I'm hungry and the hunger will linger
I am currently hungry and the feeling of hunger will not go away soon.
I eat sixteen saltine crackers then I lick my fingers
To satisfy my hunger, I eat sixteen saltine crackers and then lick my fingers clean.
Well every morning I deliver the news
Every morning, I am responsible for delivering the news.
Black hat white shoes and I'm red all over
I am wearing a black hat and white shoes, and I am blushing with embarrassment.
She's got a big mailbox, that she puts up front
She has a large mailbox that she places in front of her house.
Garbage in, garbage out, she's getting what she wants
She is getting what she desires, but it is of low quality or value.
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
I am questioning who is envious of whom (or who is jealous in general).
If I get busy then I couldn't care less what you do
If I am occupied, I would have no concern about what you are doing.
But when I'm by myself I think of nothing else
When I am alone, I cannot stop thinking about one thing.
Than if a boy just might be getting through and touching you
I am thinking about the possibility of a boy communicating and connecting with you in a certain way.
Spike heels make a hole in a lifeboat
Wearing high-heeled shoes can damage a lifeboat.
Jumpin' and weaving, I'm talking and laughing as we float
I am enjoying myself while jumping and weaving on the floating lifeboat.
I hear a whistle, that's how I know she's home
The sound of a whistle indicates that she has arrived home.
Lipstick, eyelash, broke mirror, broken home
She wears makeup and has a broken mirror, which reflects a troubled or unhappy home life.
Force fed, force mixed 'till I drop dead
I am being forced to consume something until I can no longer continue.
You can't defeat her, when you meet her you'll be what I said
She is a formidable opponent, and if you confront her, you will become what I have warned you about.
And Lord knows there's a method to her madness
There is a reason and strategy behind her seeming insanity.
Bustin' those jokes as I float in a sea of sadness
She is making jokes while I am struggling with deep sadness.
She doesn't know but when she's gonna sit and drink up a few
She is unaware that when she sits down to have a few drinks.
I'm sure she's drinkin too, but wondering what for and who
I am certain that she is also drinking, but questioning the reason and the company she keeps.
And I'm solo rollin'. I'm one side off the boat.
I am alone and unbalanced on the boat, one side being lower than the other.
Looking out, throwing up, a lifesaver down my throat
I feel sick while looking outside, and I try to alleviate it by holding a lifesaver in my mouth.
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
I am still wondering who is experiencing feelings of envy or jealousy towards whom.
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
I am again contemplating the same idea of who is jealous of whom.
Who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous who's jealous of who?
I still cannot stop thinking about who is feeling jealous or envious towards whom.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN ANTHONY WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind