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
Who's a Big Baby?
The White Stripes Lyrics
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Who's a big baby?
Who's a big baby?
Waaahhhh
Who's a big baby?
Who's a big baby?
Who's a big baby?
Wah wah wah
Who's a big baby?
Who's a big baby?
Wahhhhhhhh
Wahhhhhhhh
Wah wah wah
Wah wah wah (shhh)
Who's a big baby?
Who's it?
Who's it?
Who's it?
Who's a big baby?
I want my mommy
Mommy
I want my mommy
Wahhhh
Who's a big baby?
Let's go shopping
(Ladda ladda) Wahhhh (Ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda ladda)
Who's a big baby?
Wahhhhhh wahhhhh wahhhhhhh wahhhhhhhh
Wahhhh wahhh wahhhhhhhh wahhhhhhh
The White Stripes's song "Who's a Big Baby?" is a playful and catchy tune, with repetitive lyrics that are easy to remember and sing along to. At first listen, it may seem like a simple and silly song about a crying baby, but a closer look at the lyrics reveals a more nuanced interpretation.
Many interpret the lyrics as a commentary on adulthood and the societal pressures that come with it. The repetition of the phrase "who's a big baby?" suggests that we are all, in some ways, still prone to acting like children when faced with difficult situations. The line "let's go shopping" could be interpreted as a reference to the consumerist culture of the modern world, where people often turn to material possessions to find comfort and escape from their problems.
The repeated use of the wah-wah crying sounds could also be seen as a commentary on the infantilization of emotions, where expressing vulnerability and sadness is often seen as weakness in society.
Overall, the song could be seen as a lighthearted critique of the pressures and expectations of modern adulthood, and a reminder that sometimes, it's okay to let go and be a big baby.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's a big baby?
Asking who is acting like a crying, needy baby
Waaahhhh
Imitating the sound of a crying baby
Wah wah wah
Continuing to imitate the crying sound of a baby
Who's it?
Asking who the big baby is
I want my mommy
Expressing a desire for comfort and security, often associated with a young child
Let's go shopping (Ladda ladda) Wahhhh
Mocking the stereotype of someone who is spoiled and throws tantrums to get their way
Wahhhhhh wahhhhh wahhhhhhh wahhhhhhhh
Wahhhh wahhh wahhhhhhhh wahhhhhhh
Repeating the crying sound, emphasizing the theme of immaturity and neediness
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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..