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 to Say
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sittin', hopin', dreamin', waitin' for my ship to sail
Who's to say this time I've wasted someday won't get used?
Maybe if you come around I'll start to get enthused
Who's to say?
Who's to say?
Just because it seems my schedule seems to shadow you?
Who's to say that tired cliché, "There's more fish in the sea"?
I don't mind treading water 'cause you're the one for me
You say that by now I should know you'll never love me
But who's to say that what has never been will never be?
What has been will never be
Who's to say in time I wouldn't learn how to relax?
You'd forget about my clammy hands and my nervous laugh
Who's to say the way you look at him is truly love?
Maybe they should realize I fit you like a glove
You say that by now I should know you'll never love me
But who's to say that what has never been will never be?
What has been will never be
The lyrics to The White Stripes's song Who's to Say seem to speak about being in love with someone who doesn't reciprocate those feelings. The opening line "Who's to say that I'm unhappy 'cause I rarely smile?" presents the idea that not all emotional states are visible on the surface. The singer then talks about waiting for a ship to sail, which could be interpreted as waiting for an opportunity or moment to make their feelings known.
The next verse speaks directly to the object of the singer's affection. They may seem to be obsessed with everything the other person does, but they still believe that they are the one for them. The line "You say that by now I should know you'll never love me, but who's to say that what has never been will never be?" holds onto the hope that maybe one day the other person will change their mind.
The final verse suggests a desire to change for the other person. The singer imagines a scenario where they have learned to relax and be confident around the other person, and that they fit together perfectly. Overall, the song seems to be exploring the uncertainty and hope that comes with unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Who's to say that I'm unhappy 'cause I rarely smile?
There is no one who can definitively say that I am unhappy simply because I do not often smile.
Sittin', hopin', dreamin', waitin' for my ship to sail
I am sitting, hoping, dreaming and waiting for my opportunity to arrive.
Who's to say this time I've wasted someday won't get used?
No one can know for certain that the time I've spent waiting will not eventually be fruitful.
Maybe if you come around I'll start to get enthused
Perhaps if you were to show interest, I would become more enthusiastic.
Who's to say?
Who can really know for sure?
Who's to say that I'm obsessed with everything you do
There is no one who can say that I am fixated on all of your actions.
Just because it seems my schedule seems to shadow you?
Even though it appears that my schedule parallels yours.
Who's to say that tired cliché, "There's more fish in the sea"?
There is no guarantee that there are other viable options out there.
I don't mind treading water 'cause you're the one for me
Even though I am not making progress, I am content staying put because I feel that you are meant for me.
You say that by now I should know you'll never love me
You suggest that I should recognize that you will never feel love for me.
But who's to say that what has never been will never be?
Who can really say that a love that has never been felt before will never materialize?
What has been will never be
What has already passed cannot be changed.
Who's to say in time I wouldn't learn how to relax?
Perhaps I would eventually be able to calm down and not be so nervous.
You'd forget about my clammy hands and my nervous laugh
If you were to forget about my awkward tendencies, things might be different.
Who's to say the way you look at him is truly love?
There is no way to know for certain if the way you feel about him is genuine love.
Maybe they should realize I fit you like a glove
Perhaps they should recognize that I am the perfect fit for you.
Contributed by Logan L. 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..