Screwdriver
The White Stripes Lyrics


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Tuesday mornin' now
I gotta have somewhere to go
I call up Tommy now
I call him on the telephone
Oh won't you wake up and come with me now
I'm going to the pawn and loan
Walkin' down thirty three
Walkin' down thirty oh

What am I supposed to think

I love people like a brother now
But I'm not gonna be their mother now
What if someone walked up to me
And
Like and apple cut right through me
I'm no just gonna stand their grinnin'
Cause I'm not the one who's sinnin'
Screwdriver

Ooh ooh ooh ooh

Now that you have heard my story now
I got a little endin' to it now
Whenever you go out alone
Take a little dog a bone
And think about your little sister
And then you gotta drive it home
Screwdriver





I got a little feeling goin' now x11
Now now

Overall Meaning

In The White Stripes' song "Screwdriver," the lyrics describe the singer's need for companionship or perhaps just someone to pass the time with. He calls up his friend Tommy and invites him to go to the pawn shop. As they walk down the street, the singer contemplates his own state of mind. He loves people like brothers but doesn't want to be in a caretaker role. He imagines a scenario where someone hurts him emotionally, but he won't let it slide because he's not the one causing the sin. The chorus of "Screwdriver" comes in here, repeating the name of the song.


The singer adds a little moral to his story when he suggests that anyone going out alone should take a dog bone as a precaution - perhaps to appear friendlier to any potential strangers he might meet. The singer presents himself as a complex individual who desires companionship but also struggles with his own mind and the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. The song, in many ways, focuses on the idea of defense and protection, which is epitomized by carrying a screwdriver, a tool often used for repairs.


Line by Line Meaning

Tuesday mornin' now
The song's narrator starts by describing a specific point in time


I gotta have somewhere to go
The singer needs a destination


I call up Tommy now
The singer contacts a friend


I call him on the telephone
The artist gets in touch with Tommy via phone


Oh won't you wake up and come with me now
The artist asks Tommy to join him on his errand


I'm going to the pawn and loan
The singer informs Tommy of their destination


Walkin' down thirty three
The two friends start walking down a specific street


Walkin' down thirty oh
Continuation of the previous line, reiterating their movement


What am I supposed to think
The artist wonders about the purpose of his actions


I love people like a brother now
The artist expresses his fondness and care for others


But I'm not gonna be their mother now
The singer sets a limit to the extent of his love and care for others


What if someone walked up to me
The artist presents a hypothetical situation


And like an apple cut right through me
Continuation of the hypothetical situation, where the singer gets hurt


I'm not just gonna stand there grinnin'
The singer asserts that he won't tolerate harm, and will respond to it


Cause I'm not the one who's sinnin'
The singer suggests that any aggressor is at fault, not him


Screwdriver
Title phrase, probably referring to a tool or a type of drink


Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Musical interlude


Now that you have heard my story now
The singer addresses the listener


I got a little endin' to it now
The singer anticipates his story's conclusion


Whenever you go out alone
The artist gives a piece of advice


Take a little dog a bone
The advice is metaphorical and unclear, perhaps meaning to bring a companion or a peace offering


And think about your little sister
The artist suggests reflecting on one's familial relationships


And then you gotta drive it home
The singer asserts the importance of cementing the lesson learned


Screwdriver
Title phrase, repeated for emphasis


I got a little feeling goin' now x11
Ending musical outro


Now now
Final word in the song, likely serving for rhythm's sake




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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