Broken Bricks
The White Stripes Lyrics


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Have you been to the broken bricks girl
Snuck down through the cyclone fence
Past the caution tape
And the security gate
Back way to the break room bench
Well there's a little corner
Where you first got kissed
And felt your boyfriends fist
And made the company list
And there's a little spot
Where your dad ate lunch
And your brother landed his first punch yeah,yeah,yeah

Well have you been to the broken bricks girl
Seen the barrels that they left behind
Seen the machine
That cut aluminum clean
And got tape from the caution sign
And broke into the window panes
Just a rusty colored rain
That drives a man insane
You try to jump over water
But you land in oil
Climb the ladder up a broken crane
Yeah,yeah,yeah

Don't go to the broken bricks girl
It's not a place that you want to be
Think of the spot your father spent his life
Demolition calls it
Building see
Demolition calls it
Building see now





Demolition calls it
Building see now

Overall Meaning

The White Stripes' song "Broken Bricks" takes the listener on a journey through an abandoned industrial site. The opening verses describe sneaking past security and caution tape to reach a specific corner of the location. This place holds nostalgic memories of the singer's first kiss and a violent encounter with a boyfriend, as well as stories of lunch breaks and brotherly squabbles. The second verse paints a picture of the rusted machinery and debris left behind in this forgotten space, and the danger inherent in exploring it. The third accuses the demolition industry of glorifying destruction, calling it "building" as if it were construction rather than tearing down.


Overall, the lyrics of "Broken Bricks" seem to be a commentary on how society values productivity and progress, even if it means leaving behind wreckage and emotional scars. The singer remembers both the moments of connection and the moments of conflict that took place in this building, highlighting how complex and multifaceted even the most abandoned places can be. The warning at the end wants to remind the listener that sometimes a place should be left undisturbed, lest we lose sight of the people and experiences that once filled it.


Line by Line Meaning

Have you been to the broken bricks girl
Have you ever been to the abandoned brick factory, lady?


Snuck down through the cyclone fence
Did you find a way to slip through the barricades around the place?


Past the caution tape
Did you go past the tape that warned you not to enter?


And the security gate
Did you manage to bypass the gate where guards patrolled?


Back way to the break room bench
Did you take the path to the place where workers rested?


Well there's a little corner
There is a small portion of the place


Where you first got kissed
Where you shared your first kiss with your lover


And felt your boyfriends fist
But also where you were punched by your abusive partner


And made the company list
And also where you became a part of the factory's workforce


And there's a little spot
There is a small place


Where your dad ate lunch
Where your father used to rest and have his meal break


And your brother landed his first punch Yeah, yeah, yeah
But also where your sibling first threw a blow in a fight with others


Well have you been to the broken bricks girl
Have you ever been to the abandoned brick factory, lady?


Seen the barrels that they left behind
Have you seen the empty drums that were forgotten there?


Seen the machine
Have you laid your eyes on the device that


That cut aluminum clean
could cut through metal like butter?


And got tape from the caution sign
Did you steal warning tape as a souvenir?


And broke into the window panes
Have you shattered any glass window there during your visit?


Just a rusty colored rain
It's just a dirty and rust-colored dilapidated site


That drives a man insane
A place that could lead anyone to madness


You try to jump over water
You could try to avoid harm's way.


But you land in oil
Unfortunately, you'll end up in a perilous predicament.


Climb the ladder up a broken crane
Scale a ladder to get up to a damaged crane.


Don't go to the broken bricks girl
I advise you to not visit the abandoned brick factory, lady.


It's not a place that you want to be
It's not a desirable location to visit.


Think of the spot your father spent his life
Reflect on the place where your dad worked endlessly.


Demolition calls it
The company in charge refers to it as


Building see
a site currently in the process of being destroyed in order to put up another building.


Demolition calls it
The company in charge refers to it as


Building see now
a construction site that is undergoing demolition, you understand?


Demolition calls it
The company in charge refers to it as


Building see now
a construction site that's gradually turning into scraps and rubble.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACK WHITE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Robyn


on Candy Cane Children

The meaning of this song is basically saying the older you get, the less fun Christmas becomes usually do to adulthood. The lines "don't you know your name?...", probably refers to the adults telling kids to grow up as if they're saying "Do you know how old you are? You're getting too old for this stuff." Probably why he put the lines "nobody knows how to talk to children". Also, he puts the lines "think again" after a thought of one of the kids thinking of wishing to participate in Christmas activities. As if they're thinking "Yeah I probably AM too old for this.." "364 more tears girl" the sadness of getting older. Not participating feels like a missed opportunity and causes even more sadness..

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