Lyrics to "Seven Nation Army"

I'm gonna fight 'em all
A nation army couldn't hold me back
They're gonna rip it off
Taking their time right behind my back
And I'm talking to myself at night
Because I can't forget
Back and forth through my mind
Behind a cigarette
And the message coming from my eyes
Says leave it alone
Don't want to hear about it
Every single one's got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it
From the Queen of England to the hounds of hell
And if I catch it coming back my way
I'm gonna serve it to you
And that aint what you want to hear
But thats what I'll do
And the feeling coming from my bones
Says find a homeI'm going to Wichita
Far from this opera for evermore
I'm gonna work the straw
Make the sweat drip out of every pore
And I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding
Right before the lord
All the words are gonna bleed from me
And I will sing no more
And the stains coming from my blood
Tell me go back home

It's been named one of the "Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" by the magazine, Rolling Stone. The Wite Stripes, "Seven Nation Army," combines rhythm and lyrics to create one of the catchiest songs of 2003. This hit record off their album, Elephant, was composed by lead singer, Jack White and his former wife, Meg White.
The title itself carries its roots in the lead singer's history. Its the name her gave to the Salvation Army as a child. It has nothing to do with the Christian organization though. Instead, the lyrics speak of a frustration between the singer and those around him, concerning a decision made that has everyone talking.
"I'm gonna fight 'em off/A seven nation army couldn't hold me back." The first lines of this song introduce a battle that he is determined to face and combat. The rhythm in the background helps support this, with an underlying riff throughout the song. The beat of what can be compared to an army marching helps highlight the determination the lead singer holds in confronting this problem. "They're gonna rip it off/taking their time right behind my back." The folowing third and fourth lines is where he refers to his problem as "it" to help reel in listeners who are faced with a similar dilemma. Parallel structure is also present between the first and third lines which helps strengthen the meaning of this song.
The constant reminders and vivid image he holds in his mind is made clear when he says, "And I'm talking to myself at night because I can't forget." He continues by trying to communicate how many people know about "it". "Everyone knows about it/from the Queen of England to the hounds of hell." White uses a method of exaggeration to give readers a sense of, what seems to be, an immense number of people that know about his problems. Although he tried to forget about what lingers in his mind, he still has a constant reminder through the people around him. "And if i catch you comin' back my way/ I'm gonna sell it to you." White is willing to take revenge upon those who have made his life a living hell.
He quickly resorts to running away though. "And the feeling coming from my bones says find a home." He employs body parts to help emphasize just how much this whole debacle is affecting him, both emotionally and physically. The next four lines demonstrate his finding a home and what he is willing to do in order to be in peace with his past. "I'm going to Wichita/ Far from this opera forever more/ I'm gonna work the straw/ Make the sweat drip out of every pore." His plans of going to Witchita, Kansas, out in the middle of no where will help him confront his past decisions. He infers he will work till until he rids himself of the frustration when he says, "I'm gonna work the straw." Here, is where he will "bleed" till no more "words" will allow him to sing. The hard work he plans on doing to move on to the future is all compared to a farmer working his field. Once this happens, "the stains coming from my blood tell me go back home."
This whole idea of struggle between decisions of the past is a constant theme and tying bond that brings humanity together. The inner-battle is something all people try to either flee or confront. So much so, that as White put it, an army made up of all the continents in the world couldn't hold him back. It's just a matter of accepting past decisions and dealing with them in a healthy way. By using parallel structure, exaggeration, and the rhythm, White helps successfully communicate his stamina to fight his frustrations without fear and with dedication.