The White Stripes was an alternative rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, … Read Full Bio ↴The White Stripes was an alternative rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan, United States. They disbanded in 2011. The group consisted of songwriter Jack White (vocals, piano/keyboards, guitar) and Meg White (drums, vocals).

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

Bo Weevil
The White Stripes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

you can talk about the latest
the latest of your own
these boll weevils
they will rob you of a home
they are looking for a home
they are looking for a home
the first time I seen a boll weevil
he was sitting on the square

the next time I seen a boll weevil
he had his whole family there
they are looking for a home
they were looking for a home
they are looking for a home
they are looking for a home
they are looking for a home
they was looking for a home
the farmer he took the boll weevil
put him on the sand
the boll weevil said to the farmer
you treat me just like a man
and I will have a home
I will have a home
the old lady said to the old man
I'm trying my level best
to keep these boll weevils
out of my brand new cotton dress
cause its full of holes
yeah, its full of holes
the old man said to the old lady
what do you think of that
these boll weevils got into my brand new stetson hat
and it's full of holes
yeah it's full of holes
alright, yeah it's full of holes
well it's full of holes
yeah it's full of holes
well it's full of holes
alright now this next verse is about myself
and when I'm done I hope you'll sing along with me on
"he's looking for a home" OK?
I said if anybody asks you people
who sang you this song
you tell 'em it's jackie white
he's done been here and gone
and he's looking for a home
he's looking for a home
he's looking for a home
he's looking for a home
he's looking for a home
he's looking for a home
he's looking for a home
he's looking for a home

he's looking for a home
he's looking for a home

Overall Meaning

The White Stripes's song Bo Weevil is a classic blues number with a powerful message infused in its lyrics. The song begins with the vocalist talking about how people usually like to talk about the latest happenings in their lives, but the boll weevils are the real menace that they should be worried about. These boll weevils, which are destructive insects, will eventually rob people of their homes if they do not take preventive measures. The lyrics suggest that the boll weevils are searching for a home, which ultimately leads to their destruction of the crops that they settle on.

The song goes on to describe an encounter with the boll weevils by the square. Initially, they were just a few of them, but soon their whole family joined them. They are relentless, always looking for a home to destroy. The farmer put the boll weevils on the sand, but they spoke to him, saying that he should treat them like a man, and they will have a home. The lyrics then explore the perspective of an old lady, who is trying to protect her brand new cotton dress from the boll weevils. Unfortunately, her dress is already full of holes. The old man adds that his brand new stetson hat is also full of holes due to the boll weevils.

Finally, the song takes a personal turn when the vocalist comes in, and he talks about himself. He says that he is looking for a home, just like the boll weevils. He asks his listeners to sing along with him as he repeats the line that he is searching for a home.

Overall, the song Bo Weevil talks about the impact of destructive insects, and how they can rob people of their homes and livelihoods. The lyrics are simple, but they are powerful enough to convey the message effectively.

Line by Line Meaning

you can talk about the latest
You may brag about your new possessions.

the latest of your own
Your recent acquisitions, personal achievements or personal traits.

these boll weevils
These pests, that are harmful to crops.

they will rob you of a home
They will ruin and destroy your crops.

they are looking for a home
They are searching for a place to live and breed.

the first time I seen a boll weevil
A recollection of a personal experience of seeing a boll weevil.

he was sitting on the square
The boll weevil was found sitting on a public square.

the next time I seen a boll weevil
A second personal experience of seeing a boll weevil.

he had his whole family there
The boll weevil was now accompanied by its entire family.

the farmer he took the boll weevil
A farmer caught a boll weevil.

put him on the sand
The farmer left the boll weevil on the ground.

the boll weevil said to the farmer
The artist assumes the thoughts of the boll weevil.

you treat me just like a man
The boll weevil feels treated unfairly or cruel by the farmer.

and I will have a home
The boll weevil desires to find a permanent dwelling.

the old lady said to the old man
A conversation between two elderly people.

I'm trying my level best
The woman claims to be making a great effort.

to keep these boll weevils
The woman is attempting to prevent the spread of boll weevils.

out of my brand new cotton dress
The woman fears that the boll weevils will damage her new cotton dress.

cause its full of holes
The dress is already damaged by the boll weevils.

the old man said to the old lady
A reply from the husband.

what do you think of that
The husband wants to know the woman's thoughts on the situation.

these boll weevils got into my brand new stetson hat
The man's new cowboy hat has been infested with boll weevils.

and it's full of holes
The hat is completely ruined by the boll weevils.

alright, yeah it's full of holes
The man confirms the condition of the hat.

well it's full of holes
Reiteration of the damaged condition of the hat.

alright now this next verse is about myself
The singer announces a change in topic to his personal story.

and when I'm done I hope you'll sing along with me on
The singer invites the audience to join in the song.

"he's looking for a home" OK?
The artist suggests they all sing together the repeated phrase.

I said if anybody asks you people
The artist provides instructions or advice.

who sang you this song
The audience could be asked who performed the song.

you tell 'em it's jackie white
The singer reveals his identity as Jackie White.

he's done been here and gone
The performer has already finished the show and left.

and he's looking for a home
The performer is searching for a place to belong or to settle down.

he's looking for a home
Repetition of the search for a home by the artist.

he's looking for a home
Repetition of the search for a home by the singer.

he's looking for a home
Repetition of the search for a home by the artist.

he's looking for a home
Repetition of the search for a home by the singer.

he's looking for a home
Repetition of the search for a home by the artist.

he's looking for a home
Repetition of the search for a home by the singer.

Contributed by Eli Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

marc ROGER

Sans doute un des meilleurs morceaux joué en fin de concert ! pour l’ambiance de dingue .. je l’ai vécu au zénith de Paris .. dans la fosse des photographes .. du grand Jack et Meg .. des photos que je garde précieusement tél un trésor !