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Catch Hell Blues
The White Stripes Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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
Oh 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
Hell, they're gonna catch you

Overall Meaning

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
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@smadaman101

(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)



@paulecl

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



All comments from YouTube:

@smadaman101

(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)

@InjuriousPersonalities

"testin god lyin to his face" umm what? sounds like a bot wrote these lyrics lmao

@smadaman101

@@InjuriousPersonalities what about that doesn't ring true, and even has some pretty obvious word play, so I just assume that you did see, it, and thought it just wasn't clever enough for your taste. But the next section of lyrics makes me think I'm missing a meaning or one of the play on words in it, which makes it look to me as you describe the one before

@InjuriousPersonalities

@@smadaman101 the line just doesn’t made sense, that’s all I’m sayin. What do you think?

@smadaman101

@@InjuriousPersonalities "I think" after trying to figure out what could not make sense to someone, that you may be taking it too literal. Lying to God's face maybe? I mean God is the one that does the testing, in my personal beliefs as well, Jack being known for his faith to an extent, if I had to bet, he means believers that slip, we always catch hell for it. There's a lesson in it though. Some folks you see just stepping all over folks to get to the top, yeah... There's no point in bothering at a point. Just my thoughts on it lol but the one I mentioned before, which I think was the next line maybe, was coincidentally the only one I didn't get.

@InjuriousPersonalities

@@smadaman101 dude, you seem super confused. Let me break it down for you. Duh it’s impossible to be “too literal” in this case anyway.. god is metaphysical not literal. Im not even religious and I know that. 🤦‍♂️ 🙄I’m saying god is a universal presence and doesn’t have a face so, any way you slice it, it’s just a bunch of words that don’t really add up. It’s okay to be part of the Jack white cult, he be jammin! I wouldn’t take that away from anybody 😉 🤟rock on bud

7 More Replies...

@MegaJetJaguar

One of the best fuckin' White Stripes songs ever!

@n3Cr0ManCeD

THE best IMHO

@aliciaspinelli9381

if you like this, you might like Pali gap by Jimi hendrix. it is under-appreciated and mostly instrumental. different style, of course, but equally delicious. enjoy

@rohluakhiangte6093

This riff makes me wanna go insane everytime

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