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
Prickly Thorn But Sweetly Worn
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Li de li de li oh oh
Well, a li de li de li oh
Li de li de li oh oh
Well, a li de li de li oh
Well, the hills are pretty and rollin'
But the thorn is sharp and swollen
But he wears a prickly thistle
Singing
Li de li de li oh oh
Well, a li de li de li oh
Li de li de li oh oh
Well, a li de li de li oh
The silver birches pierce through an icy fog
Which covers the ground most daily
And the angels which carry St. Andrew high
Are singing a tune most gaily
Singing
Li de li de li oh oh
Well, a li de li de li oh
Li de li de li oh oh
Well, a li de li de li oh
One sound can hold back a thousand hands
When the pipe plays a tune forlorn
And the thistle is a prickly flower
Aye, but how it is sweetly worn
Singing
Li de li de li oh oh
Well, a li de li de li oh
Li de li de li oh oh
Well, a li de li de li oh
Li de li de li oh oh
Well, a li de li de li oh
The White Stripes's song Prickly Thorn But Sweetly Worn is a beautiful ode to Scotland, its picturesque landscapes, and the thorny challenges that come with life. The opening lines, "Well, the hills are pretty and rollin' / But the thorn is sharp and swollen," sets the tone for the rest of the song, implying that beauty and pain often go hand in hand. The man playing a beautiful whistle but wearing a prickly thistle can be interpreted as a symbol of the strength and resilience required to succeed in life.
The following stanzas create vivid images of the Scottish landscape, from the silver birches piercing through the icy fog to the angels carrying St. Andrew high and singing a tune most gaily. The final stanza delivers a powerful message, suggesting that even one sound, like the sound of a pipe playing a forlorn tune, can hold back a thousand hands. The thistle, despite its prickly exterior, is worn sweetly, implying that overcoming obstacles brings a sense of accomplishment and sweetness to life.
Line by Line Meaning
Singing
Beginning of the song
Li de li de li oh oh
Sounds to indicate singing or humming
Well, a li de li de li oh
Repetition of the above line
Well, the hills are pretty and rollin'
The hills are beautiful and have a rolling landscape
But the thorn is sharp and swollen
But there are thorns that are sharp and painful to deal with
And the man plays a beautiful whistle
A man plays a sweet and harmonious tune
But he wears a prickly thistle
But he also has to deal with the difficulties and struggles of life
The silver birches pierce through an icy fog
Trees are visible through a thick layer of fog
Which covers the ground most daily
The fog is a common occurrence that covers the ground regularly
And the angels which carry St. Andrew high
Angels that are carrying St. Andrew up high
Are singing a tune most gaily
The angels are singing a joyful melody
One sound can hold back a thousand hands
A powerful sound can silence a large group of people
When the pipe plays a tune forlorn
When someone plays a sad melody on a pipe
And the thistle is a prickly flower
The thistle is a flower that has sharp and painful thorns
Aye, but how it is sweetly worn
Despite being difficult to handle, there is still beauty and goodness in it
Singing
End of the song
Li de li de li oh oh
Sounds to indicate singing or humming
Well, a li de li de li oh
Repetition of the above line
Li de li de li oh oh
Sounds to indicate singing or humming
Well, a li de li de li oh
Repetition of the above line
Li de li de li oh oh
Sounds to indicate singing or humming
Well, a li de li de li oh
Repetition of the above line
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JACK WHITE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roiybenkel682
Singing
Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Well A Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Well A Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Well the hills are pretty and rollin'
But the thorn is sharp and swollen
And the man plays a beautiful whistle
But he wears a prickly thistle
Singing
Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Well A Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Well A Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
The silver birches pierce through an icy fog
Which covers the ground most daily
And the angels which carry St. Andrew high
Are singing a tune most gaily
One sound can hold back a thousand hands
When the pipe plays a tune forlorn
And the thistle is a prickly flower
Aye, But how it is sweetly worn
Singing
Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Well A Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
Well A Li De Li De Li Oh Oh
@effeffiagonalick5078
Took me a little while to get into The White Stripes because of sheer over saturation (my mom was a big fan when I was young, so she listened to their albums over and over again to the point where my sister and I couldn't stand them for a time), but I always enjoyed this song a lot. It's the kind that just makes you wanna dance through the hills with friends.
@jakelamotta2387
I just wish more people listened to the bagpipes. That fact I'm from Scotland and hear it regularly I can say 110% that it's my favourite instrument besides a good Lead Guiter. It can be soo tuneful, relaxing but upbeat at the same time. I dno why we get soo much hate with the bagpipes it's amazing invention!
@13RGaun
it sounds very authentic irish..at first i thought it was a cover of a folk song..he hit the nail on the head with this one ...thumbs up
@bytesahoy
This song is so adventurous sounding. Makes me want to explore the world even more.
@Burgerfan123
the whole album is great!!! i when i hear the white stripes, i feel home
@HeartaVilleGram
I only heard 30 seconds of this song on iTunes and I already loved it. Thanx for posting it up so I can hear the whole thing.
@yesesteban5993
amo ese album!
@conan3d
This is one of the greatest songs i have ever heard.
@bignorway69
Jack White is an amazing musical talent! I kinda like to compare him to Beck in the fact that either one can play just about any instrument you put in front of them. The biggest difference, and the one that makes me like Jack White alot better, is that most of Jack's lyrics seem to make sense whereas Beck's lyrics are out of left field. This particular song is of my favorite White Stripes songs out of all their music. Absolutely outstanding!
@lpage2112
this is one of my all time favourite stripes songs