Well I hold the rope
And I hold the sail
And I kept my papers
To keep from land in jail
And I fought piranhas
And I fought the cold
There was no one with me
I was all alone, yeah

Well it's Easter morning now
And there's no one around
So I unroll the sermon
And walk into the town
There was no one with me
I was all alone
And I fought piranhas
And I fought the cold, yeah

Well you know what it's like
I don't got to tell you
Who puts up a fight
Walking out of hell now
When you fought piranhas
And you fought the cold
There's nobody with you
Yes, you're all alone, yeah


Lyrics submitted by stroke

I Fought Piranhas Lyrics as written by Jack White

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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I Fought Piranhas song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Not to mention Christ burns in Hell for our sins, against his own will?

    No, I don't think it's about Christs ressurection. Firstly Jesus wouldn't (at the time) call it Easter, would he? Also cement's too innaccurate a word for a boulder (I thought it was "sermon" anyway). It could be about someone who's become a hated outcast from society and possibleybeen accused wrongly as a result: It's Easter morning and everyone else is in church, but he won't go because he's not wanted, so he takes advantage of this to go into town without prosecution.

    Smackhead Pedoon May 23, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    yall are idiots this guy is yelling about how hes seen and done it all nothing can hurt him but he is pretty lonely which is hurting him more than the 'piranhas'

    ezkamoon June 06, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "And I kept my papers, To keep from land in jail"

    How awesome is that? "To keep from land in jail."

    ROBRAM89on December 28, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    well i think hes just talking about time in jail...i dont think jack personally has ever done time in jail but i think thats wut the song is based on...

    well you know what it's like i don't got to tell you who puts up a fight walking out of hell now when you fought piranhas and you fought the cold there's nobody with you and you're all alone

    and i do also absolutely love the lines... "And I kept my papers, To keep from land in jail"

    yanx84on January 30, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I don't think it's about time in jail cause in the second verse it says "so i unroll the cement and walk into the town" If he's in prison he can't walk into town I think it's about depression does anyone think the same?

    Zerovermarson March 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    He holds the rope & sail, which makes me think he commanded a ship on a river in Venezuela and fought piranhas. There's no one around on Easter because they are all in church & is not attending (cool). & I'm not as sure about this one but "unrolling the cement" sounds like someone unrolling a red carpet so he is possibly walking around this ghost-town feeling like royalty. At the end his nerves are so hardened by everything he's been through he has no desire to fight anyone.

    I get a loner-captain bluesy vibe from this song. My favorite White Stripes song. & Jack's guitar is amazing!

    apocarteresison October 01, 2010   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I think a worthy interpretation of the song I've heard is that it's based on Moby Dick by Herman Melville, the Piranhas being an allusion to the whale.

    Ishmael was the lone survivor, who would have had to hold the rope and sail and the same time, etc. I would argue that the word in the middle verse is 'sermon' and not 'cement', there is definitely no trace of a 't' sound on the end. In the novel there are numerous sermons, and it could be physically unrolled if it were on a scroll or something.

    Food for thought

    ijordingoon May 15, 2017   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I dont' think it's of a very religious nature. Firstly, there are too many very modern references to be about the Resurrection. EG: "Papers", "Jail", "Cement". Secondly, while I'm fairly certain Jack is religious, with nearly becoming a priest and all, I've noticed in many of his blues covers of artists like Son House, he'll cut out parts that directly mention god. Lice "cannon" which is a partial cover of "John the Revelator" Son House openly talks about god in his version, Jack white only take snippets, which, while of a religious nature, don't directly state anything about god. He's also probably the most neutral guy in the world. He doesn't vote, he doesn't take a stance on drugs, nor take drugs, nor has he ever openly stated his religion, after becoming an artist, other than that he almost became a priest. He's never compromised him by writing an original song that referenced a specific religion, to the best of my knowledge.

    kaishankson July 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    my fav song by this band

    glassjaw88on July 24, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i dont really understand, but i heard somebody say this song had a spiritual meaning. i dont see it...can anyone help me out here?

    caerieon April 18, 2003   Link

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