99
Jack White ft Beck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of clueless blues,
Pays the views,
And no-mans news.
Blades will fade from blood to sport,
The heroin's cut these fuses short,
Smokers rode a colonial pig, [Smoke is rolling colonial pink,]
Drink and frame this pain i think.
You bleed your wings and then disappear.
The moving scenes and pilot lights, [...pyre lights]
Smithereens have got 'em scaling heights.
Modern times come talk me down,
And battle lines are drawn across this town.
Parisian boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Ghetto stones instead of chains,
Talk 'em down cause it's up in flames, [Talk me down...]
And nothing's changed.
Parisian boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Riot like 1968 again.
The days of rage yeah nothing's changed,
Well pretty flames.
In school I would just bite my tongue,
And now your words they strike me down. [But now your words have struck me dumb.]
The flags are false and they contradict,
They point and click which wounds to lick,
On avenues this christian breeze,
Turns it's heart to more needles please.
Our eyes roll back and we beg for more,
It frays this skin and then underscore.
The case for war you spin and bleed,
The sales you feel screensavers feed,
The girls you breed the soaps that you write,
The graceless charm of your gutter snipes.
The moving scenes and suburbanites,
And smithereens got 'em scaling heights.
Modern times come talk me down,
The battle lines are drawn across this town.
English boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Ghetto stones instead of chains,
Hearts and minds and US Planes,
Nothing's changed...
And english boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Riot like the 1980's again,
The days of rage yeah nothing's changed,
More pretty flames.
The lyrics to "99" by Jack White ft Beck explore societal issues and the disillusionment of the modern era. The opening stanza sets the tone by juxtaposing the mundane city life with the overwhelming chaos of the world's news. The lines, "Blades will fade from blood to sport, The heroin's cut these fuses short" seem to comment on society's desensitization to violence and the destructive nature of addiction.
The second verse alludes to the historic Parisian riots of 1968 and 1980s riots in England. The lines, "The days of rage yeah nothing's changed, Well pretty flames," suggest a cyclical pattern of societal unrest that never truly resolves pressing issues. The lyrics critique modern media and its role in perpetuating the cycle with lines like "The case for war you spin and bleed, The sales you feel screensavers feed."
The chorus "Modern times come talk me down, And battle lines are drawn across this town" expresses a longing for a deeper connection or understanding. But the reality of the situation is that society has become so polarized that there are only "battle lines" that are drawn across the town.
Overall, "99" is a thoughtful and introspective commentary on society's failures to progress and address systemic issues.
Line by Line Meaning
In city shoes,
Wearing fancy footwear
Of clueless blues,
Feeling disconnected and uninspired
Pays the views,
Succumbing to societal pressure and expectations
And no-mans news.
Being apathetic to current events and global issues
Blades will fade from blood to sport,
Violent behavior becoming normalized and accepted due to desensitization
The heroin's cut these fuses short,
Drug addiction leading to shortened life spans
Smokers rode a colonial pig, [Smoke is rolling colonial pink,]
Cigarette smoking being made glamorous and marketed as a symbol of power
Drink and frame this pain i think.
Using alcohol to escape emotional pain
I'm melting silver poles my dear,
Feeling overwhelmed and losing one's sense of identity
You bleed your wings and then disappear.
Self-destructive behavior causing harm and leading to isolation
The moving scenes and pilot lights, [...pyre lights]
The flashing lights and excitement of modern life leading to a false sense of happiness
Smithereens have got 'em scaling heights.
Destruction and chaos leading to temporary power and status
Modern times come talk me down,
Feeling overwhelmed and needing to be grounded
And battle lines are drawn across this town.
Societal division and conflict
Parisian boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Anonymous individuals caught up in the unrest of the city
Ghetto stones instead of chains,
Using makeshift weapons to fight against oppression
Talk 'em down cause it's up in flames, [Talk me down...]
Attempting to calm the chaos and find peace
And nothing's changed.
Despite the unrest, nothing has truly improved
Riot like 1968 again.
Similarities to past outbreaks of violence and unrest
The days of rage yeah nothing's changed,
The cycle of violence and unrest continues
Well pretty flames.
Finding beauty in destruction
In school I would just bite my tongue,
Suppressing one's voice and opinions to fit in
And now your words they strike me down. [But now your words have struck me dumb.]
Being hurt by the words of others and feeling powerless to speak out
The flags are false and they contradict,
Lack of authenticity and truth in symbols and institutions
They point and click which wounds to lick,
The media choosing which issues to focus on and amplify, leading to further division and pain
On avenues this christian breeze,
Religion and morality being manipulated and used for personal gain
Turns it's heart to more needles please.
Seeking comfort and relief through drug use
Our eyes roll back and we beg for more,
Being addicted to the rush and escape of drugs
It frays this skin and then underscore.
The physical and emotional toll of drug addiction
The case for war you spin and bleed,
The manipulation of public opinion and justification for violence
The sales you feel screensavers feed,
Consumerism and materialism being pushed by media and advertising
The girls you breed the soaps that you write,
Sensationalized and unrealistic portrayals of relationships and beauty standards in media
The graceless charm of your gutter snipes.
The ugliness and decay of society's most vulnerable and marginalized communities
The moving scenes and suburbanites,
Comfortable and oblivious suburban life contrasted with the chaos of the city
And smithereens got 'em scaling heights.
Destructive behavior leading to temporary gains in power and status
English boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Anonymous individuals caught up in the unrest of the city
Ghetto stones instead of chains,
Using makeshift weapons to fight against oppression
Hearts and minds and US Planes,
The psychological and physical violence of war and imperialism
Nothing's changed...
The cycle of violence and oppression continues
And english boys without your names, [...with obscure names]
Anonymous individuals caught up in the unrest of the city
Riot like the 1980's again,
Similarities to past outbreaks of violence and unrest
The days of rage yeah nothing's changed,
The cycle of violence and unrest continues
More pretty flames.
Finding beauty in destruction
Contributed by Levi C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@steviecane3227
Two of my favorite musicians together....wonderful
@MrThundersocks
99 = 3 X 33 Silly Jack White, always trying to find a way to use the number three!
@jetsamperes5762
Agent 99 was Get Smart's partner's 'name'. The song has that 60's vibe and the whole time listening to it I thought it sounded like that. Then at the end he says "Would you believe..." and that confirmed it was Get Smart before Jack said it. I'm very proud of my useless trivia knowledge right now.
@rubtub1464
Sounds similar to love potion no. 9 in the chorus lol. The stripes also performed that at their first concert.
@porklardproduction
he was born in 1975 and 7 times 5 is 35 and 3 plus 5 is 8 times 2 is 16 and 16 minus 7 is 9 divided by 3 is 3
@shawnahannam980
oooooooooo wowza, and?
@SolarSailor1967
I wish the audio was better. It sounds like a fun moment.
@bbnraeraefrevr
also, I fucking love how it's beck's show, but it's titled "Jack White ft Beck"... Fuckin' brilliant.
@mussman717word
I love the picture of Beck at 2:20, with the shoes. These two people fucking rock.
@HolyDiverII757
Introducing Ghost Face Killa .... .... (whoo!) ...oh yeah, and Jack White WWWOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHH!!!!!!! The audience has spoken!