The Raconteurs is an alternative rock band, formed in Detroit, Michigan, Un… Read Full Bio ↴The Raconteurs is an alternative rock band, formed in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 2005. The band consists of Jack White (vocals, guitar), Brendan Benson (vocals, guitar), Jack Lawrence (bass) and Patrick Keeler (drums). The band considers themselves to be a "new band made up of old friends" and the members are also members of other rock groups: White was a member of The White Stripes (and, along with Lawrence, is also a member of The Dead Weather), Benson is a solo singer/songwriter and Lawrence and Keeler are members of The Greenhornes.

The band has released three albums, 2006's "Broken Boy Soldiers", 2008's Consolers of the Lonely and 2019's Help Us Stranger.

Dean Fertita from The Waxwings did live keyboards for the band in 2006; he also played in Brendan Benson's band and is now touring with Queens Of The Stone Age, and is a member of White and Lawrence's band The Dead Weather.

The band had to change their name in Australia, since there already was a band named The Raconteurs there. The band is referred to as The Saboteurs in Australia.

Top Yourself
The Raconteurs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How are you going to top yourself
When there is nobody else
How are you gonna do it by yourself
Cause I'm not gonna be here to help you
Yeah

(Alright)
How you gonna top yourself

When there is nobody else
How are you gonna do it by yourself
Cause I'm not gonna be here to help you

How you gonna do it alone?
When I don't pick up my phone
I'd love to give a dog a bone
But I'm not gonna stick around to help you!

Yeah, How you gonna stop yourself when,
your man stops ringing your bell (your bell)
You're right between heaven and hell
And you gonna need the good lord to help you
How I'm gonna make you see?
That this ain't no way to be
See you been getting it all for free
Guess you better get yourself a sugar daddy to help you!

Such a little girl, like a spinning time mama
But she's, spinning out of control
Take sleeping with a snake like you to
Rip apart my soul!
Yeah!
Rip apart my soul
Rip apart my soul
Yeah

How're you gonna rock yourself to sleep
When I give up my midnight creep girl
How're gonna get that deep
When your daddy ain't around here to do it to you
Yeah, how you're gonna do it alone?
When I don't pick up my phone
I'd love to give a dog a bone
But I'm not gonna stick around to help you!

Top yourself

Top yourself
Top yourself

Overall Meaning

The Raconteurs' song "Top Yourself" is a defiant break-up song that explores the fear and anxiety that can come with leaving a toxic relationship. The lyrics express a sense of frustration with a partner who is too dependent on the singer, and unable to function without them. The repeated refrain "how you gonna top yourself when there is nobody else, how are you gonna do it by yourself" emphasizes the idea that the partner is incapable of managing their own life and suggests that they are not as strong or self-sufficient as the singer.

The song also touches on themes of power dynamics within relationships. The singer seems to feel exploited by their partner, who has been taking advantage of their support and generosity. In the lines "guess you better get yourself a sugar daddy to help you", the singer is suggesting that their partner is only with them for material gain and is attempting to shift the balance of power back in their own favor.

Overall, "Top Yourself" is a bold statement of independence and a rejection of the fear that can come with ending a toxic relationship. It presents a complex, nuanced view of the dynamics of romantic partnerships and women's social and economic vulnerability.

Line by Line Meaning

How are you going to top yourself
How do you plan to outdo yourself

When there is nobody else
When no one else is around

How are you gonna do it by yourself
How will you manage to do it alone

Cause I'm not gonna be here to help you
I won't be here to offer assistance

How you gonna do it alone?
How will you do it on your own

When I don't pick up my phone
If I don't answer my phone

I'd love to give a dog a bone
I wish I could offer help

But I'm not gonna stick around to help you!
But I won't be around to help

How you gonna stop yourself when,
How will you prevent yourself from

your man stops ringing your bell (your bell)
Your man stops trying to contact you

You're right between heaven and hell
You're in a difficult situation