After releasing several singles and three albums within the Detroit independent music underground, The White Stripes rose to prominence in 2002, as part of the garage rock revival scene. Their successful albums White Blood Cells and Elephant drew them attention from a large variety of media outlets in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The White Stripes used a low-fidelity, do-it-yourself approach to writing and recording. Their music features a melding of punk and blues influences and a raw simplicity of composition, arrangement, and performance. The duo is also noted for their fashion and design aesthetic which features a simple color scheme of red, white, and black.
The White Stripes' discography consists of six studio albums, two extended plays (EP), one video album, 26 singles and fourteen music videos. The band has sold approximately 12 million albums worldwide, 2 million in the US alone, and their latest three albums have each won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
On February 2, 2011, the band announced on their website that they had disbanded.
Official band website: www.whitestripes.com
_Elephant_-_Hypnotise
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many times I called your house just to hear the tone
And though I knew that you weren't home
I didn't mind so much 'cause I'm so alone
I want to hypnotize you, baby, on the telephone
I want to spin my little watch right before your eyes
You're the kinda girl a guy like me could hypnotize
Just think of all those guys who would tell you lies
I want to spin my little watch right before your eyes
I want to hold your little hand if I can be so bold
And be your right hand man 'til your hands get old
And then when all the feeling's gone
Just decide if you want to keep holding on
I want to hold your little hand if I can be so bold
If I can be so bold
If I can be so bold
The lyrics of The White Stripes' song "Hypnotize" suggest an obsessive desire to connect with someone through hypnotization, trying to capture their attention and keep it focused on the singer through various means. The first verse deals with the idea of hypnotizing someone through a telephone call, repeatedly calling the person's number just to hear the ringtone, even when there's no chance of reaching them directly. This desire to connect with someone, even through such a roundabout means, suggests a deep loneliness and need for attention.
The second verse suggests an even more direct desire for hypnotic control, as the singer mentions wanting to spin a watch in front of the person's eyes, a classic trope of hypnotic induction. The lyrics suggest that the person being addressed is the kind of person who can be easily controlled, and that the singer is aware of this and is trying to use it to get closer to them.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to hypnotize you, baby, on the telephone
The singer desires to hypnotize the listener over the telephone.
So many times I called your house just to hear the tone
The singer called the listener's house repeatedly to hear the sound of the ringing phone, regardless of whether the listener was there or not.
And though I knew that you weren't home
The singer was aware that the listener was not at home.
I didn't mind so much 'cause I'm so alone
The artist did not mind that the listener was not there, as they themselves are lonely.
I want to spin my little watch right before your eyes
The artist wishes to hypnotize the listener by swinging a watch in front of their eyes.
You're the kinda girl a guy like me could hypnotize
The singer believes that they have the power to hypnotize the listener, specifically citing the listener's susceptibility to hypnosis.
And if this comes as a surprise
The singer acknowledges that their claim of being able to hypnotize the listener could be unexpected.
Just think of all those guys who would tell you lies
The artist suggests that other men have lied to the listener in the past, thereby undermining their trust in men.
I want to hold your little hand if I can be so bold
The artist desires to hold the listener's hand.
And be your right hand man 'til your hands get old
The artist desires to be a loyal and supportive companion to the listener for a long time.
And then when all the feeling's gone
The singer acknowledges that feelings can fade over time.
Just decide if you want to keep holding on
The artist leaves the decision of whether to maintain the relationship up to the listener.
If I can be so bold
The singer asks for permission to express their feelings and desires.
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ezegonz4567
most underrated song on the album
@Definotjames
True
@jonathanbarnes3061
Not underestimated, typical but when your talking Meg and Jack typical is excellence.
@jeepz669
No cap yo
@HANNAHLUMERIA-it5rw
Ball and biscuit
@PamelaHdz-jp2xt
Pensa che Γ© la mia preferita
Poi non era cold cold night?
@Isaac_TheGreat
This is the kind of rock we need in this day in ageπ
@Zugzzzwang
No lie brooooo!
@thedinkmaster69
i gotchu give me a month
@subun1t
life long fan of The White Stripes..... just fucking yes.