The White Stripes: Seven Nation Army Meaning

Song Released: 2003

Seven Nation Army Lyrics

White Stripes,
Seven Nation Army

I'm gonna fight 'em off
A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
They're gonna rip em off
Taking their time right behind my back

And I'm talking to myself at night
Because I can't forget
Back and...

1. anonymous

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   Oct 14th 2011 !⃝

   It's about being sick of the entertainment industry aka the shadows who control it. Messages, mind control, check it mk ultra in which artists are programed like machines. See also true meaning of Eminems I'm not afraid. Educate yourself to the truth though you may then see the world through a new light.
2. anonymous

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   Mar 23rd 2011 !⃝

   I think... It's actually based on three stages of a specific person's life.
   
   First stage- Fighting willingly, while plots are drawn up against him. He regrets what he's done, and it gets to him. "And a message coming from my eyes says 'leave it alone.'" He's telling a new assailant, challenger, what-have-you, to back off and leave. Then, amazing Guitar bit- Fight.
   
   Second stage- The guilt is getting to him. It's a problem. He hears it everywhere, he sees the results and consequences of his actions, his fighting, and becomes paranoid. He wants out. They know he's leaving, and try to stop him. "And if I catch it coming back my way, I'm gonna serve it to you." Don't mess with me, or I'll mess you up. Just let me leave. "And a feeling coming my bones says 'find a home'" Music- He fights again before he finally gets a chance to get out.
   
   Third Stage- He's gonna go to a simpler life, a farmer in farm land. He's gonna try his hardest, and work his hardest. He does, but he can't seem to be satisfied. It's not working out right. And his very soul yearns for his old life, as a fighter. So, at long last, he returns. He goes back to his old life. "And the stains coming from my blood
   Tell me go back home." Returns to his old life, and fights again.
3. anonymous

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   Mar 2nd 2011 !⃝

   drugs and paranoia.
   
   message coming from my eyes says leave it alone.
   
   i'm gonna work the straw.
   
   i'm bleeding right before the lord.
   
   i'm thinking it's a song about cocaine and his conscience telling him to stop before it's too late.
4. anonymous

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   Jan 28th 2011 !⃝

   When the UN recognized Israel as a nation in 1948, it was invaded within hours by a "seven nation army" of seven Arab countries -- Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon,Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Any connection with this song?
5. anonymous

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   Jan 6th 2011 !⃝

   In the video, Jack points to home (Detroit, MI) on the hand map while saying the line, "far from this opera for evermore" indicating he wants to literally get away from the physical place.
6. rallyedtm

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   Sep 24th 2010 !⃝

   My note is just on the reference to the seven nations, it could just be a simple reference to the Indian seven nations which was known as a military powerhouse, and his reference that a seven nation army could not hold him back is just a note to one of the most powerful indian alliances in history and the fact that he is from the northern United States this would be a common term.
7. anonymous

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   May 18th 2009 !⃝

   It's about the battle of Waterloo.
   
   Seven nation army/....The Seventh Coalition... The army responsible for beating Napoleon to a pulp!

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. anonymous

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   Feb 24th 2008 !⃝

   The seven nation army are the armies of the seven arab nations that went to war against israel in the six days war in 1967. Just saying that like israel he won't be held back, by who ever or what ever. What the whole song is about I think only he will ever know that.
9. anonymous

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   Apr 21st 2007 !⃝

   7 Nation Army
   
   To me it means
   the 7 nations of the world
   all the media propaganda
   building people up to be who they want them to be
   Its kinda like "they" (people with influence)
   this song reminds me of
   A perfect circle's Counting bodies like sheep......
   All the media (sports, tv, Movies, Music,)
   pretty much keeps us asleep
   good for jack to let them know even though they are
   "takeing their time right behind my back"
   it dosnt bother him because all he really needs is a place where he feels home and can remeber where he is from
   This song says fuck you ill be myself forver
   peace
   S to the G
10. anonymous

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    Oct 16th 2006 !⃝

    That's how jack white used to say salvation army.
    
    
    
    Macayla
11. mgs

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    Oct 11th 2006 !⃝

    I think this song is about a guy who is sick of people who make up rumors and if he catches them coming back his way he is gonna serve it to someone.
12. anonymous

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    Sep 21st 2006 !⃝

    I think it's about being cheated on "theyre gonna rip it off, taking thier time right behind my back" and trying to deal with somone you love cheating on you with someone else.
13. anonymous

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    Jul 5th 2006 !⃝

    I thought it was about an army.
14. anonymous

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    Jul 3rd 2006 !⃝

    I think this song is about being paranoid and nervous.
15. anonymous

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    Jun 29th 2006 !⃝

    If we looked at this song like an essay, where the structure is revealed by the lyrics sync with the instruments in the background and the pauses I think its saying something like this:
    T)Hes talking about his strategy, the sort of thing child often think about when trying to define their selves.
    He's going to fight, on the fronts he so vigorously reminds himself of.
    1)Hes not going to get caught up in the circulation of information, or propaganda,
    Queen of England (the whole king and country, or political, rhetoric) Hounds of Hell (reference to the religious cries of fearing an anguishing after life).
    2)Finding a Home, is living in an environment where he can be free from sort of usurpers of the individual thought.
    The whole working the straw thing is about excruciating labour which dulls the faculties of thought.
    
    Its an interesting note he entitled a childhood song "Salvation Army". Seven Nation Army could be taken to represent an orcastration which rops individuality and truth, and the song could be about how he thinks he can salvage himself from it.
    Just a thought.
    ~XXX_Vader

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