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.
Yellow Sun
The Raconteurs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd really like to tell you but I feel it's too soon
My actions are dictated by the phase of the moon
The phase of the moon
The sun it isn't hiding when it sets on you
It's not a coward like me and I know but it's true
Waiting for the darkness now is all I can do
And if the sun should follow us into your room
Then the courage will be robbed from me to tell you the truth
The setting sun's the only thing that's shining on you
That's shining on you
You're making me hungry
But what's really funny's it's not sunny anymore
And when I finally told you when the sun has gone
You're laughing 'cause I thought I was the only one
And the only thing that's left for me's the rising sun
The rising sun
You're making hungry, you're making me hungry
But what's really funny's it's not sunny anymore
It's not sunny anymore, it's not sunny anymore, it's not sunny anymore....
In The Raconteurs' song "Yellow Sun," the opening line immediately sets the mood as the singer observes the sun shining in the afternoon. However, despite the catchy rhythm of the song, the singer hesitates to reveal their true feelings, telling the listener that it's too soon to confess. The singer's actions seem to be dictated by the phase of the moon, suggesting that they are in a phase of careful observation and contemplation.
As the song progresses, the singer admits to being a coward and waiting for the darkness to hide their truth. They fear that if the sun were to follow them into the room, they would lose their courage to speak the truth. The setting sun is the only thing shining on the person the singer desires, emphasizing the fleeting nature of their opportunity to reveal their emotions.
In the final section of the song, the singer's hunger is used as a metaphor for their desire to confess their feelings. However, the irony is that despite their hunger, it's not sunny anymore, which suggests that the opportunity has passed. The singer tells the person they desire that they have finally confessed, but it's too late as the person reveals they already knew. The song ends with the rising sun, which could symbolize a new beginning, but also serves as a reminder of the missed opportunity.
Overall, "Yellow Sun" is a song about missed opportunities and the reluctance to reveal one's true feelings. It captures the vulnerability and hesitation that often accompanies feelings of attraction and desire.
Line by Line Meaning
Yellow sun is shining in the afternoon
The sun is bright and shining during the day.
I'd really like to tell you but I feel it's too soon
I have something to say, but I'm not sure if it's the right time yet.
My actions are dictated by the phase of the moon
My actions are influenced by the different stages of the moon.
The sun it isn't hiding when it sets on you
The sun sets on you without any fear or hesitation.
It's not a coward like me and I know but it's true
I feel like a coward compared to the brave sun, even though I know it's true.
Waiting for the darkness now is all I can do
I can only wait for the darkness to provide me with some courage.
And if the sun should follow us into your room
If the sun was shining in the room, it would make it harder for me to speak the truth.
Then the courage will be robbed from me to tell you the truth
If the sun was shining on us, I would lose my courage to speak honestly.
The setting sun's the only thing that's shining on you
The only light in the room is the setting sun shining on you.
You're making me hungry
You're creating a strong desire in me.
But what's really funny's it's not sunny anymore
Despite the feeling of wanting something, the sun has set and it is no longer sunny.
And when I finally told you when the sun has gone
When the sun had set, I finally had the courage to speak the truth to you.
You're laughing 'cause I thought I was the only one
You find it funny when I thought I was the only one feeling a certain way.
And the only thing that's left for me's the rising sun
The only thing left for me now is to wait for the rising sun and start anew.
It's not sunny anymore, it's not sunny anymore, it's not sunny anymore....
Repeating that it is no longer sunny emphasizes the change in the mood and situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRENDAN BENSON, JOHN ANTHONY WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind