The style began to develop in the mid-1960s in England and the United States, as what one music critic called a "genre of rhythm'n'blues played by white European musicians". UK Bands such as The Animals, Cream and The Rolling Stones experimented with music from the older American bluesmen like Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed and Muddy Waters. While the early blues-rock bands "attempted to play long, involved improvisations which were commonplace on jazz records", by the 1970s, blues rock got heavier and more riff-based. By the "early '70s, the lines between blues-rock and hard rock were barely visible", as bands began recording rock-style albums. In the 1980s and 1990s, blues-rock bands returned to their bluesy roots, and some of these bands, such as the "Fabulous Thunderbirds and Stevie Ray Vaughan flirted with rock stardom."
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues-rock
Blues-rock can be characterized by bluesy improvisation, the 12-bar blues, extended boogie jams typically focused on the electric guitar player, and often a heavier, riff-oriented sound and feel to the songs than might be found in traditional Chicago-style blues. Blues rock bands "borrow[ed] the idea of an instrumental combo and loud amplification from rock & roll". It is also often played at a fast tempo, again distinguishing it from the blues.
The core of the blues rock sound is created by the electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit. The electric guitar is usually amplified through a tube guitar amplifier or using an overdrive effect. Often two guitars are played in blues rock bands, one playing the accompaniment riffs and chords on rhythm guitar and one playing the melodic lines and solos of the lead guitar part. While 1950s-era blues bands would sometimes still use the upright bass, the blues rock bands of the 1960s used the electric bass, which was easier to amplify to loud volumes. Keyboard instruments such as the piano and Hammond organ are also occasionally used. As with the electric guitar, the sound of the Hammond organ is typically amplified with a tube amplifier, which gives a growling, "overdriven" sound quality to the instrument. Vocals also typically play a key role, although the vocals may be equal in importance or even subordinate to the lead guitar playing; as well, a number of blues-rock pieces are instrumental-only.
Catch Hell Blues
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you really want some hot water, I can help you find it.
Oh
Oh
Ah yeah
Well, if they catch me around, you're playing rock the boat
I'm gonna catch Hell
And if you're throwing your voice in bed singing a note
I'm gonna catch Hell
I know it
That's right
Try and catch me
Oh yeah
Tricky, tricky
Yeah
Oh
Oh
If you're getting tricky, lying to yourself
You're gonna catch Hell
And if you're testing God, lying to his face
You're gonna catch Hell
C'mon
Hey
That's it
They're gonna catch you
They're gonna catch you
The White Stripes' song Catch Hell Blues is a warning about the consequences of your actions. The first lyrics, "If you go looking for hot water, don't act shocked when you get burned a little bit" suggest that if you want to take risks, you can expect to face the consequences of those risks, implying that you should take responsibility for your actions. The song is about accountability and the inevitable consequences that will follow when one is caught doing something wrong. The use of the phrase "catch Hell" implies punishment or retribution for a wrongdoing.
The rest of the song addresses specific situations where the singer will "catch Hell." They include playing rock the boat, singing a note in bed, lying to yourself, and testing God. In each of these situations, the singer is warned that they will face the consequences of their actions, possibly in the form of punishment or criticism.
The song is a cautionary tale about taking responsibility for one's actions and understanding that there are consequences for every action you take. It highlights the importance of being accountable for your behavior and the impact it has on others.
Line by Line Meaning
If you go looking for hot water, don't act shocked when you get burned a little bit.
I warned you that your actions may result in negative consequences, so don't act surprised when they do.
If they catch me around, you're playing rock the boat, I'm gonna catch Hell.
If I'm caught in a situation that involves any trouble you've caused, I will also face the consequences and punishment.
And if you're throwing your voice in bed singing a note, I'm gonna catch Hell, I know it.
If your actions in private affect me in any negative way, I will have to suffer the consequences imposed on me.
If you're getting tricky, lying to yourself, you're gonna catch Hell.
If you deceive yourself and refuse to acknowledge the reality of a situation, you'll face the negative consequences of your choices.
And if you're testing God, lying to his face, you're gonna catch Hell.
If you lie and deceive, especially in a religious context or to a divine entity, you'll face the negative consequences of your actions.
They're gonna catch you
Eventually, those who act deceptively and without regard for others will face consequences for their actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACK WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christopher Adams
(If you go looking for hot water
Don't act shocked when you get
Burned a little bit)
If you really want some hot water
I can help you find it
Oh
Oh
Ah yeah
Well if they catch me around
You're playing rock the boat
I'm gonna catch hell
And if you're throwing your voice
In bed singing a note
I'm gonna catch hell
I know it
Yes, alright
Try and catch me
Oh yeah
Tricky, tricky
Yeah
Oh
Oh
If you're getting tricky
Lying to yourself
You're gonna catch hell
And if you're testing God
Lying to his face
You're gonna catch hell
C'mon
Hey
That's it
They're gonna catch you
Ha, they're gonna catch you
(Easy)
Paul Canche
If you really want some hot water, I can help you find it.
Oh
Oh
Ah yeah
Well, if they catch me around, you're playing rock the boat
I'm gonna catch Hell
And if you're throwing your voice in bed singing a note
I'm gonna catch Hell
I know it
That's right
Try and catch me
Oh yeah
Tricky, tricky
Yeah
Oh
Oh
If you're getting tricky, lying to yourself
You're gonna catch Hell
And if you're testing God, lying to his face
You're gonna catch Hell
C'mon
Hey
That's it
They're gonna catch you
They're gonna catch you
Christopher Adams
(If you go looking for hot water
Don't act shocked when you get
Burned a little bit)
If you really want some hot water
I can help you find it
Oh
Oh
Ah yeah
Well if they catch me around
You're playing rock the boat
I'm gonna catch hell
And if you're throwing your voice
In bed singing a note
I'm gonna catch hell
I know it
Yes, alright
Try and catch me
Oh yeah
Tricky, tricky
Yeah
Oh
Oh
If you're getting tricky
Lying to yourself
You're gonna catch hell
And if you're testing God
Lying to his face
You're gonna catch hell
C'mon
Hey
That's it
They're gonna catch you
Ha, they're gonna catch you
(Easy)
Bobby Goro Majima
If your testing god, liyin to his face, your gonna catch hell
This is a beautifully deep lyric. What do we truly know? Only our own consciousness, we’ve not, none of us, experienced anything beyond that. God, if he does exist, can only exist within.
Testing god & lying to his face would be lying to yourself through pride or grief or pity. All of which lead to frames of mind which are traps.
Your gonna catch hell.
It makes sense to me.
Marvin Rodney
@Steven Roger Definitely, I have been using flixzone for since december myself :D
Steven Roger
pro tip: watch movies at flixzone. I've been using it for watching all kinds of movies recently.
Thomas Leighton
I love old internet drama at 12 am
Christopher Adams
@Injurious Personalities I have been known to troll, but never without a good reason, and never for just trolling sake. I prefer to kill two birds with one stone. As for debates, the harder the better, and I've honed my skills by doing so in liberal, athiest, feminist, and many other echo chambers. Resisting the urge to bite back and troll, until I've got them hooked enough that I can bite back without them blocking or booting me. Though they always play the victim afterwards, when they provoked the trolling, and I have to apologize for being better at it than them
MegaJetJaguar
One of the best fuckin' White Stripes songs ever!
n3Cr0ManCeD
THE best IMHO
Rohlua Khiangte
This riff makes me wanna go insane everytime
Aaron Loftin
Crazzzy fuckin insane!