In the Cold
The White Stripes Lyrics


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I saw you standing in the corner
On the edge of a burning light
I saw you standing in the corner
Come to me again in the cold, cold night

You make me feel a little older
Like a full grown woman might
But when you're gone I grow colder
Come to me again in the cold, cold night

I see you walking by my front door
I hear the creaking of the kitchen floor
I don't care what other people say
I'm going to love you, anyway
Come to me again in the cold, cold night

I can't stand it any longer
I need the fuel to make my fire burn bright
So don't fight it any longer
Come to me again in the cold, cold night

And I know that you feel it too
When my skin turns into glue




You will know that it's warm inside
And you'll come run to me, in the cold, cold night

Overall Meaning

"In the Cold Cold Night" is a song by the American rock band, The White Stripes. The song is about a woman who is longing for her lover to come back to her in the cold, cold night. The singer is desperately waiting for her lover to return, so they can warm up together. The opening lines, "I saw you standing in the corner, On the edge of a burning light" sets the tone for the song. The woman is portrayed as being on the edge of something, possibly on the edge of a decision or on the edge of their relationship. The chorus line, "Come to me again in the cold, cold night" is repeated several times throughout the song and acts as a plea to her lover to come back to her.


The second verse, "You make me feel a little older, Like a full-grown woman might, But when you're gone, I grow colder" suggests that her lover is the one who makes her feel more mature and grown-up. The singer feels incomplete without her lover, and when they are gone, she feels the chill and the emptiness. The third verse, "I see you walking by my front door, I hear the creaking of the kitchen floor, I don't care what other people say, I'm going to love you, anyway" demonstrates that the singer is willing to endure public criticism for her love. She speaks of hearing the creaking floor, which suggests that she knows her lover's footsteps and can identify them.


Overall, "In the Cold Cold Night" is a poignant song that explores the depths of loneliness and the yearning for human connection. It is a simple song with heartfelt lyrics and a somber melody that perfectly captures the theme of the song. It is a song that strikes an emotional chord with its listeners and represents one of The White Stripes' finest compositions.


Line by Line Meaning

I saw you standing in the corner
The singer noticed the person they are addressing standing alone and somewhat isolated from others.


On the edge of a burning light
The singer saw that the person appeared to be on the cusp of something new and dangerous.


Come to me again in the cold, cold night
The singer is asking the person to return to them, perhaps suggesting that their comforting presence is needed during difficult times.


You make me feel a little older
The person has a maturity and confidence that makes the artist feel more mature as well.


Like a full grown woman might
The person's confidence makes the artist feel like they are more grown up and mature.


But when you're gone I grow colder
Without the person's presence, the singer feels more alone and exposed to the elements.


I see you walking by my front door
The singer has observed the subject of the song passing by their house.


I hear the creaking of the kitchen floor
The artist has noticed the person's presence even when they are inside the artist's home.


I don't care what other people say
The artist is not concerned with the opinions of others, and is determined to continue their relationship with the person even in the face of criticism.


I'm going to love you, anyway
The artist is committed to loving the person despite any obstacles that may arise.


I can't stand it any longer
The singer is reaching a breaking point and needs the person's comforting presence to continue functioning.


I need the fuel to make my fire burn bright
The artist needs the person's love and support to keep them going and to help them thrive.


So don't fight it any longer
The singer is encouraging the person to embrace their relationship with the singer, and not to resist their feelings.


And I know that you feel it too
The singer is confident that the person shares their feelings.


When my skin turns into glue
The singer feels a strong bond with the person, as if their very skin is sticking to them.


You will know that it's warm inside
The artist's love provides comfort and warmth to the person.


And you'll come run to me, in the cold, cold night
The artist is certain that the person will seek out their comforting presence when they need it most.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID WHITE, JOHN MADARA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

WAH

I saw you standing in the corner
On the edge of a burning light
I saw you standing in the corner
Come to me again in the cold, cold nightYou make me feel a little older
Like a full grown woman might
But when you're gone I grow colder
Come to me again in the cold, cold night
I see you walking by my front door
I hear the creaking of the kitchen floor
I don't care what other people say
I'm going to love you, anyway
Come to me again in the cold, cold night
I can't stand it any longer
I need the fuel to make my fire burn bright
So don't fight it any longer
Come to me again in the cold, cold night
And I know that you feel it too
When my skin turns into glue
You will know that it's warm inside
And you'll come run to me, in the cold, cold night



All comments from YouTube:

Tundra Mouse

my favourite song on the album hands down, may be a controversial opinion, but i think it just has this amazing feel to it and this space that i haven't found in a song since heartbreak hotel, and when you listen with headphones the bass feels like cotton wool in your ears at the right volume, the keyboard is very sixties. I FUCKING LOVE THIS SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LJ Rees

Try 'I know You' by The Incredible String Band, a similar style of song

wet dog

Tundra Mouse this songs so fucking deep

Laucha Gutiérrez

PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this would've been a perfect album closer

Thomas Revere

I concur.

iambored678

***** In an interview with Q Magazine in 2007, Jack White said, "If you study the picture carefully, Meg and I are elephant ears in a head-on elephant. But it's a side view of an elephant, too, with the tusks leading off either side." He went on to say, "I wanted people to be staring at this album cover and then maybe two years later, having stared at it for the 500th time, to say, 'Hey, it's an elephant!'"

iambored678

Notice how they're in the shape of an elephant? And the album is called Elephant?

Cynthia.

Agreed!

Neha Bindal

no.. i think so too :D

Taylor Cook

This album and especially this song on vinyl is everything.

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