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
Little Cream Soda
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, every highway that I go down
Seems to be longer than the last one I knew about, oh well
And every girl that I walk around
Seems to be more of an illusion than the last one that I found, oh well
And this old man in front of me
Wearin' canes and ruby rings is like containing an explosion when he sings
With every chance to set himself on fire
He just ends up doing the same thing
Well, each beautiful thing I come across
Tells me to stop moving and shake this riddle off, oh well
And there was a time when all I wanted
Was my ice cream colder and a little cream soda, oh well, oh well
And a wooden box in an alley full of rocks
Was all I had to care about, oh well, oh well, oh well
Now my mind is filled with rubber tires, and forest fires
And whether I'm a liar and lots of other situations where I don't know what to do
At which time God screams to me "There's nothing left for me to tell you"
Nothing left for me to tell you, nothing left
Oh well, oh well, oh well, oh well
Oh well, oh well, oh well, oh well
In this song, The White Stripes' lead singer and guitarist, Jack White, reflects on the passing of time and how life seems to be moving faster than he can keep up with. The opening lines of the song set the tone for this theme, as White sings about how every highway he goes down seems longer than the last. He then reflects on the women he's encountered and how they all seem to be more of an illusion than the last. The old man in front of him wears canes and ruby rings and is like containing an explosion when he sings - this could be interpreted as a metaphor for life, and how it's full of energy and passion.
White reflects on the beauty he's found throughout his life and how it's made him stop and think about his journey. He remembers a time when all he wanted was ice cream colder and a little cream soda - this is a metaphor for the simplicity of life when he was younger. He then talks about a wooden box in an alley full of rocks that was all he had to care about - this is another metaphor for the simplicity of life and how he misses those days.
As the song progresses, White talks about the various situations in his life where he doesn't know what to do. His mind is filled with rubber tires and forest fires, and he wonders whether he's a liar. In the end, God screams to him that there's nothing left for him to tell - this could be interpreted as a realization that there's nothing left for him to do but to live his life and enjoy the ride.
Overall, Little Cream Soda is a introspective song that forces the listener to reflect on their own journey and how life can seem to be moving too fast. The use of metaphors throughout the song adds depth to the lyrics and makes it a compelling listen.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, three, four
The beginning of the song.
Well, every highway that I go down
The roads I take in life seem to get longer and more difficult.
Seems to be longer than the last one I knew about, oh well
Despite the challenges, the singer accepts them and moves forward.
And every girl that I walk around
The people the artist meets along the way are not what they seem.
Seems to be more of an illusion than the last one that I found, oh well
The artist recognizes that people are complex and often present a false front.
And this old man in front of me
The singer encounters a wise old man who knows how to control his emotions.
Wearin' canes and ruby rings is like containing an explosion when he sings
The old man's wisdom is like a powerful force that he can barely control.
With every chance to set himself on fire
The old man could be consumed by his passion and intensity.
He just ends up doing the same thing
The old man has learned to channel his energy in a productive way.
Well, each beautiful thing I come across
The artist recognizes and appreciates the good things in life.
Tells me to stop moving and shake this riddle off, oh well
The beauty of life reminds the singer to appreciate the moment and not worry about the future.
And there was a time when all I wanted
The artist reflects on simpler times.
Was my ice cream colder and a little cream soda, oh well, oh well
The simple pleasures of childhood were once enough for the singer.
And a wooden box in an alley full of rocks
The singer had little in material possessions.
Was all I had to care about, oh well, oh well, oh well
Despite the lack of material wealth, the singer was content with what they had.
Now my mind is filled with rubber tires, and forest fires
The artist's mind is cluttered with worries and difficult situations.
And whether I'm a liar and lots of other situations where I don't know what to do
The artist feels lost and unsure of themselves.
At which time God screams to me "There's nothing left for me to tell you"
The singer is at a crossroads and does not know which direction to take.
Nothing left for me to tell you, nothing left
The message is clear: the singer must find their own way in life.
Oh well, oh well, oh well, oh well
The artist resigns themselves to the uncertainty of life, but accepts the challenge.
Oh well, oh well, oh well, oh well
The song comes to a close.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jack White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@muratcelik5928
Well, every highway that I go down
Seems to be longer than the last one I knew about, oh well
And every girl that I walk around
Seems to be more of an illusion than the last one I found, oh well
And this old man in front of me
Wearin' canes and ruby rings is like a tanging explosion when he sings
With every chance to set himself on fire
He just ends up doing the same thing
Well, each beautiful thing I come across
Tells me to stop moving and shake this riddle off, oh well
And there was a time when all I wanted
Was my ice cream colder and a little cream soda, oh well, oh well
And a wooden box in an alley full of rocks
Was all I had to care about, oh well, oh well, oh well
Now my mind is filled with rubber tires, and forest fires
And whether I'm a liar, and lots of other situations where I don't know what to do
At which time God screams to me "There's nothing left for me to tell you."
Nothing left for me to tell you
Nothing left
Oh well, oh well, oh well
Oh well
Oh well, oh well, oh well
Oh well
@bonnieholland6801
Jack is an original power house. No one can catch him. When his talent came on the scene everyone took notice.
@ReclusiveDuck
This sends shivers down my spine. Why can't all bands be as good as this?
@juanmanuelcastaneda8147
They are even better than this trash
@TheIvoryrocker
every lyric i listen to is more powerful than the last. wish i could witness them live o well o well o well
@PappyHab
Completely fucking bad ass song. I remember driving the kids to school when they were like 5 and 8 Years old back in the day with this blaring. Now at 15 and 18 , I am pretty sure it is one of their favorite songs.
@JoaoPauloSoares61
Hahaha the crazy thing is that you wrote this 5 years ago! 🤣 hope you guys still enjoy this song
@Raerofficial
This is criminally underrated
@gayplasma
Icky Thump is such an amazing album to this day and beyond
@PoorManD.I.Y.
im still enjoying this song oh well, oh well.
@petesandoval8437
NICE dude