Upon the song’s release, some critics felt that, while White was perhaps simply paying homage to these artists, he ended up inappropriately expressing some very outdated views on women.
In a 2012 piece in The Atlantic titled, “Jack White’s Women Problem,” Jessica Misener explores some of his problematic lyrics in early White Stripes songs:
"His White Stripes tracks mostly break down into three loose categories: gallant nursery rhymes (“We Are Gonna Be Friends,” “Hotel Yorba”), vague badassery (much of Elephant), and most commonly, passive-aggressive romantic retaliations (just look at the titles: “Why Can’t You Be Nicer To Me?”, “I’m Finding It Harder To Be A Gentleman,” “A Martyr For My Love For You”). Lyrically, White’s need for control often takes the traditional trajectory of wanting women to be quiet and submissive. We can see this pattern emerging in Stripes lyrics early on."
I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be a gentleman every day
All the manners that I've been taught
Have slowly died away
But if I held the door open for you
It would make your day
You think that I care
When every single girl needs help
Climbing up a tree
Well I know it don't take much
To satisfy me
Maybe it's whatever's in my head
That's distracting me
But if I could find emotion
To stimulate devotion
Well then you'd see
Well I'm finding it hard to say
That I need you twenty times a day
I feel comfortable so baby why
Don't you feel the same?
Have a doctor come and visit us
And tell us which one is sane
I never said I wouldn't
Throw my jacket in the mud for you
But my father gave it to me so
Maybe I should carry you
Then you said
"You almost dropped me"
So then I did
And I got mud on my shoes
The White Stripes’ song “I’m Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman” speaks to the difficulty of maintaining traditional gentlemanly behavior and values in an ever-changing society. The singer is struggling to uphold the manners he’s been taught, as they seem to be dying away with the times. His challenge is compounded by the fact that his efforts to act like a gentleman are often misinterpreted as self-serving or insincere. In many ways, these lyrics suggest that in a world that often prioritizes self-interest and individualism, it can be difficult to maintain the selflessness and generosity that underpins many traditional values.
The singer in the song voices his frustrations and attempts to navigate the complex social dynamics of modern life. He suggests that simple acts of kindness, like holding the door open for someone, can often go a long way in making someone’s day. However, he also acknowledges that many people may view these acts as insincere or selfish, as they may be done with the expectation of receiving something in return. The singer is also grappling with personal emotions, admitting that he is finding it hard to express his feelings and that he needs emotional stimulation to feel truly devoted to someone.
Overall, “I’m Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman” has an introspective and vulnerable quality to it, exploring themes of personal values, societal expectations, and emotional authenticity in a rapidly changing world.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm finding it harder
I am starting to feel more difficulty every day
To be a gentleman every day
To display polite behavior throughout each day is becoming increasingly difficult for me
All the manners that I've been taught
The etiquette and behavior methods I learned are no longer applicable
Have slowly died away
Gradually, through time, my manners have deteriorated
But if I held the door open for you
On the contrary, If I were to keep the entryway opened for you
It would make your day
You would be elated if I showed this small act of kindness
You think that I care
You have a belief that my thoughts revolve around myself
About me and only me
I'm obsessed with myself and furthermore may presume others to have the same attitude
When every single girl needs help
However, every girl may face challenges and would require assistance
Climbing up a tree
Similar to everybody else, climbing trees isn't the easiest task for them
Well I know it don't take much
Although, it wouldn't take much effort for me to assist them
To satisfy me
This would make me content
Maybe it's whatever's in my head
The potential reason behind my struggles might exist within my mind
That's distracting me
As a result, it is impeding my ability to act politely
But if I could find emotion
If only I could locate the feeling
To stimulate devotion
That could lead to forming strong feelings of love
Well then you'd see
As this happens, you would observe a positive change in me
Well I'm finding it hard to say
I'm also facing some difficulty expressing something
That I need you twenty times a day
Which is that I feel like I rely on you emotionally throughout the day
I feel comfortable so baby why
I feel safe and secure, so why
Don't you feel the same?
Do you not feel the same way?
Have a doctor come and visit us
Perhaps we should seek professional medical help
And tell us which one is sane
And let them determine who between us is mentally sound
I never said I wouldn't
I never stated I would not
Throw my jacket in the mud for you
Ruining my jacket would be alright for me to show my affection towards you
But my father gave it to me so
But it originated from my dad, so
Maybe I should carry you
Perhaps it could be better if I carried you
Then you said
However, your next comment was
"You almost dropped me"
"You nearly let me fall"
So then I did
Since you brought that up, I indeed dropped you
And I got mud on my shoes
And as a result, my shoes got dirty with mud
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: John Anthony White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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..