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
Wasting My Time
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then nothing could be better
Than hangin' on the line
And waiting for a honest word forever
And if you're saying goodbye
Please don't you think me better
For recalling every rhyme
From the book the page
The line the word the letter
Well the windows turning blue
And the waters ever flowing
And I hope I'm not a fool
For laughing at myself
As you were going
The White Stripes's song "Wasting My Time" is a moody and introspective song that delves into themes of uncertainty, longing, and self-doubt. The song's opening lines, "And if I'm wasting my time / Then nothing could be better / Than hangin' on the line / And waiting for a honest word forever," suggest that the singer is grappling with feelings of futility and aimlessness, but also finds a certain comfort in holding onto hope despite the odds. The line "And waiting for an honest word forever" implies that the singer is seeking some form of reassurance or connection from someone, even if that someone may not be forthcoming.
The second verse is similarly somber, with the singer acknowledging the possibility of a looming goodbye and trying to hold onto memories of a past connection in spite of the pain it may bring. The lines "For recalling every rhyme / From the book the page / The line the word the letter" suggest an intense desire to preserve every detail and nuance of a relationship, even if it may be over.
The final verse brings a tinge of bittersweetness to the song, with the imagery of the turning blue window and flowing water perhaps symbolizing the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The singer overtly questions their own judgment, wondering if laughing at oneself and letting go is a foolish move. Overall, "Wasting My Time" is a haunting and contemplative track that captures the emotional peaks and valleys of a complicated relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
And if I'm wasting my time
If what I am doing is futile or has no value
Then nothing could be better
It's still better than doing nothing
Than hangin' on the line
Than waiting for something to happen
And waiting for a honest word forever
And hoping to finally hear the truth, no matter how long it takes
And if you're saying goodbye
If you're leaving me
Please don't you think me better
Don't assume I'm more important or special than I am
For recalling every rhyme
For remembering every little detail
From the book the page
From any source of information
The line the word the letter
Every single thing that was said or written
Well the windows turning blue
The sky is getting dark
And the waters ever flowing
And the river keeps running
And I hope I'm not a fool
And I hope I'm not making a mistake
For laughing at myself
For finding humor in my own situation
As you were going
As you were leaving
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACK 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..