The lyrics follow the perspective of a self-purported seventh son as he apparently courts a woman. He mentions that it is quite possible that he is the girl's "third man" and that the girl is ambivalent towards him, but he insistently tries to impress her with his claim to be a seventh son.
The ball (cocaine) and biscuit (amphetamine) may refer to serious drugs. "We'll get clean together/And I'll find me a soapbox where I can shout it" suggests this couple will quit; however, the future-tense gives the line a sense of fatalism. It is likely this character is making optimistic propositions while high (a common theme in blues lyrics). The title could also refer to the STC Coles 4021 "Ball and Biscuit" microphone that was used at Toe Rag Studios during the Elephant recording sessions.
The Seventh Son is based on the American folk legend version of the belief that the seventh son of a seventh son would be granted supernatural powers, which the character of the song claims to possess in the form of superhuman strength. A recollection of similar folklore is frequently found in the Blues and derivatives; notably, Willie Dixon sang a blues song entitled "The Seventh Son". The use of the Seventh Son may have been inspired by Jack White's own family situation; he was the seventh and final son in a family of nine children.
"Ball and Biscuit" has generated a significant amount of commentary even though it was never released as a single. It was, however, voted in a Rolling Stone Reader's Poll to be the greatest Jack White song "by a landslide". In her review of Elephant, Kitty Empire described the song as "...astonishing, with Jack White playing on his knees, his sexual promises punctuated by liquid guitar emissions." In 2011, the Washington Post's David Malitz described the song as "perhaps the White Stripes' definitive statement."
It has also been used numerous times in popular culture. It was featured in as the background music for the Captain Morgan advertisement "Glass" and was heard at the beginning of the 2010 film The Social Network.
On October 10, 2020, Jack White performed a version of the song on Saturday Night Live after stepping in and replacing Morgan Wallen on short notice.
Ball and Biscuit
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
And right now you could care less about me
But soon enough you will care, by the time I'm done
Let's have a ball and a biscuit, sugar
And take our sweet little time about it
Let's have a ball, girl
And take our sweet little time about it
Tell everybody in the place to just get out
And we'll get clean together
And I'll find me a soap box where I can shout it
Yeah
Hey
Yeah, read it in the newspaper
Ask your girlfriends and see if they know
Read it in the newspaper
Ask your girlfriends and see if they know
That my strength is ten fold, girl
I'll let you see if you want to before you go
Let's have a ball and a biscuit, sugar
And take our sweet little time about it
Let's have a ball
And take our sweet little time about it
Tell everybody in the place to just get out
We'll get clean together
And I'll find me a soap box where I can shout it
Yeah, I can think of one or two things to say about it
Alright, listen
You get the point now?
Yeah, it's quite possible that I'm your third man
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
It was the other two which made me your third
But it's my mother who made me the seventh son
And right now you could care less about me
But soon enough you will care by the time I'm done
Yeah, you just wait
Yeah, stick around
You'll figure it out
The White Stripes' "Ball and Biscuit" revels in the band's trademarks of raw garage rock, edgy blues riffs, and cryptic lyrics. The song opens with the ambiguous declaration, "It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl/But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son." The singer is keenly aware of his own insignificance in the beginning of the relationship, but is also confident that he'll eventually win the girl over. The repetition of "It's quite possible" throughout the verse conveys a sense of uncertainty, while the phrase "seventh son" references a blues old wives' tale that claims male offspring born seventh become gifted with supernatural abilities. The singer uses this to suggest that he possesses the strength of ten men and will show it to the girl before she leaves.
The song's title comes from a line in the second verse, "Let's have a ball and a biscuit, sugar/And take our sweet little time about it." The phrase "ball and biscuit" is thought to be slang for sex, but the more subtle connotation is one of indulgence and pleasure, a theme that runs throughout the song. The chorus repeats the line "Tell everybody in the place to just get out/And we'll get clean together/And I'll find me a soapbox where I can shout it," with the singer emphasizing his desire to have the girl all to himself, and his desire to shout about it for all to hear once he has her.
Line by Line Meaning
It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl
I might not be your first choice, but I could still be the one for you
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
I come from a line of powerful men, giving me strength and good fortune
And right now you could care less about me
You might not think much of me at the moment
But soon enough you will care, by the time I'm done
But I have a plan to win you over and change your mind
Let's have a ball and a biscuit, sugar
Let's have some fun together, and take our time doing it
And take our sweet little time about it
We don't need to rush anything, let's enjoy the moment
Tell everybody in the place to just get out
Let's have some privacy, without anyone else around
And we'll get clean together
Let's wash away our problems and start fresh
And I'll find me a soap box where I can shout it
I want everyone to know how much I care for you
Read it in the newspaper
My achievements and reputation precede me
Ask your girlfriends and see if they know
People talk about me, and my status as the seventh son
That my strength is ten fold, girl
My strength and power are unimaginable
And take our sweet little time about it
We want to make this moment last and savor every second
I can think of one or two things to say about it
I could go on and on about how much I want to be with you
You'll figure it out
So stick around and see how things unfold
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jack White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Bettefigata
Lyrics 🤩🎸🎤🥁🪕🎧📢 :
It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
And right now you could care less about me
But soon enough you will care, by the time I'm done
Let's have a ball and a biscuit, sugar
And take our sweet little time about it
Let's have a ball, girl
And take our sweet little time about it
Tell everybody in the place to just get out
We'll get clean together
And I'll find me a soapbox where I can shout it
Yeah
You'll read it in the newspaper
Ask your girlfriends and see if they know
Read it in the newspaper
Ask your girlfriends and see if they know
That my strength is ten-fold, girl
I'll let you see it if you want to before you go
Let's have a ball and a biscuit, sugar
And take our sweet little time about it
Let's have a ball
And take our sweet little time about it
Tell everybody in the place to just get out
We'll get clean together
And I'll find me a soapbox where I can shout it
And I can think of one or two things to say about it
Now listen
Do you get the point now?
Yeah
It's quite possible that I'm your third man
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
It was the other two which made me your third
But it's my mother who made me the seventh son
And right now you could care less about me
But soon enough you will care by the time I'm done
Yeah, you just wait
You stick around
You'll figure it out
@tracyhiers6365
One of the sexiest songs ever. I cant explain why. It just is.
@bayareasportsfan04
Probably because there's some small innuendos hidden. Great song though
@hopefullyhigh
I could take or leave the ball, for me its the biscuit
@amasure
@@hopefullyhighdude that killed me 😂😂😂😂
@scott0111
😂😂😂😂
@scott0111
This fkn ai shit is too freaky ! I was done with acid years ago 😂🙈 great record though
@jayc2570
this song has been kicking ass for twenty years
@RebeccaKidman-wm3xv
PLLLLLUUUUUSSSSSS 20 YRS MATE X😅
@cryptoyardie3887
Facts 💯
@ZiggyTheCat777
I met my husband 20 years ago. He drove me home in the wee hours of the morning, and proceeded to take out my mailbox. This was playing in the car.
Then I made him a full English breakfast which we ate on my front lawn. Together ever since. ❤