Instinct Blues by The White Stripes Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Animalistic Impulses Within
Lyrics
And the ants get it
I bet you the pigs get it
Yeah, even the plants get it
Come on now, and get with it
Yeah, I want you to get with it
Oh!
Yeah, I just want you to get with it
Cause everyone that´s under your shoe
And every bird and bug in the jungle, too
And everything in the ocean blue
They just happen to know exactly what to do
So why don´t you?
Yeah, why don´t you?
The flies get it
And the frogs get it
And all them big jungle cats get it
And I bet your little dog gets it
Yeah, I want you to get with it
Yeah, come on, and get with it
Whoo!
Yeah, I want you to get with it
Cause everyone that´s under your shoe
And every bird and bee in the jungle, too
And everything in the ocean blue
They just happen to know exactly what to do
So why don´t you? why don´t you?
And all the chickens get it
And them singing canaries get it
Whoo!
Even strawberries get it
I want you to get with it
Yeah, I want you to get with it
Yeah!
I want you to get with it
Cause everyone that´s under your shoe
And every bird and bee in the jungle, too
And everything in the ocean blue
They just happen to know exactly what to do
So why don´t you?
With the raw roar of a garage rock backdrop, The White Stripes’ ‘Instinct Blues,’ from their 2005 album ‘Get Behind Me Satan,’ delivers a message wrapped in the simplicity of the animal kingdom. This track takes us on a journey that is at once primal and profoundly human, beckoning listeners to tap into an innate sense of knowing – that mysterious guide known as instinct.
The intense call to ‘get with it’ reverberates as an urgent plea, juxtaposed with a roll call of nature’s creatures who seemingly understand what Jack White implies humans have forgotten. This auditory canvas stirs up questions about our place in the natural order and our connection – or disconnection – with our deep-rooted instincts.
The Primal Pulse: Rekindling Our Lost Connection
The throbbing bass and fiery guitar riff mark the visceral yearning for reconnection to primal urges. Instinct, the song suggests, is not merely the domain of the lower creatures. Instead, it’s a universal language, a binding force that we, as humans, have somehow stifled or overlooked in our evolution.
‘Instinct Blues’ becomes a bluesy critique of our modern disassociation with natural impulses. Through its repetitive and emphatic lyrics, it drives the point home that animals – from the micro to the macro – all ‘get it,’ a poignant reminder of what humanity might be missing out on.
Every Critter Knows What to Do: The Litany of Instinct
The song’s catalogue of creatures, each ‘getting it,’ serves as both a literal and metaphorical checklist. It conveys an enviable simplicity in the natural world where each being knows its purpose and acts on it without overthinking – a pointed comparison to human beings who often struggle to grasp their path or purpose.
This minimalist enumeration underscores an innate wisdom present in life’s diverse forms. The instincts of an ant, a plant, or an ocean dweller are presented not as basic or rudimentary but rather as emblematic of a profound intelligence that guides without question.
The Unspoken Question: Why Don’t You Get It?
Throughout the track, White repeats the question ‘So why don’t you?’ This rhetorical inquiry isn’t a condemnation as much as it is a challenge – a provocation for introspection on what it means to ‘get with it’ and behave in accordance with one’s inherent impulses.
This recurring question acts as a thematic conduit throughout the verses, guiding listeners to an introspective crossroad. It’s a call to confront the dissonance between our societal structures and our primal selves, suggesting a sense of loss within the human experience.
Hidden In Plain View: The Song’s Deeper Call to Action
Below the surface of its foot-stomping rhythm, ‘Instinct Blues’ is a nuanced anthem for authenticity. The subtext woven into the song’s repeated cries for comprehension is not just about observing the animal kingdom but about embodying the unquestioned confidence with which fauna live.
The ‘blues’ aspect of the title lends a hand in interpreting the track. It suggests a yearning, a soulful recognition that there’s something potent and vital that we’ve allowed to be obscured by the complex web of human-made constructs.
Remembering the Memorable: Lines that Grip the Soul
Lyrics like ‘And everything in the ocean blue / They just happen to know exactly what to do’ is not just picturesque but a beautifully distilled representation of a universal truth. It conveys a certain envy for the unburdened existence of creatures following their innate compass without question or hesitation.
Furthermore, the line ‘And every bird and bug in the jungle, too’ expands this idea to a global scale, emphasizing the ubiquity of instinctual living and, in turn, shedding light on the potential isolation of the human experience from this natural phenomenon.
