Lyric discussion by no 

I think that this song is about something lingering in his mind, something that he did and regrets, something that people won't stop talking about, and he just wants to forget it, but people won't let him.

"i'm gonna fight 'em off a seven nation army couldn't hold me back they're gonna rip it off taking their time right behind my back"

This line refers to people who keep talking about "it", something that he did or something that happened. He wants to try and fight them off, he wants them to leave him alone, but they don't.

"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"

He's trying to relax, and make himself forget about it. He keeps telling himself to leave it alone and forget about it, but he can't because it's just so vivid in his mind.

"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"

This is basically talking about his frustration. Everyone knows about it and they keep reminding him, when all he wants to do is forget about it. It could be a rumor or some kind of gossip going around, that people have exaggerated and made into a big thing, when it shouldn't be.

"and if i catch you comin' back my way i'm gonna sell it to you and that ain't what you want to hear but that's what i'll do "

This line is pretty much talking about how he is angry and wants to take revenge on the person who is most to blame for this, whoever is trying to make his life hell.

"and the feeling coming from my bones says mind your own "

Mind your own? Hmm well I looked up the lyrics on a different sight and it said FIND A HOME not MIND YOUR OWN. Well...if it says "find a home", then I think that's referring to running away...running away from his problems, physically or mentally, just trying to get away from it all. If it says "mind your own", well I guess that could make sense too. It could just be again talking about trying to forget about it and not worry about it.

"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 "

This is again talking about trying to run away from the problem. "Opera" meaning the drama, the problem, the hell. He wants to get away from it. When it talks about "working the straw", it could mean that he wants to work and just keep working to try and help him forget about his past, just sort of start a new life.

"and i'm bleedin' and i'm bleedin' and i'm bleedin' right before the lord all the words are gonna bleed from me and i will sing no more "

Well I'm not EXACTLY sure what this means...I guess it just means that he is going to keep working until he rids himself of his past, and won't think anymore. (I thought it said THINK instead of SING...I still choose to believe that, because I like it better)

"and the stains coming from my blood tell me go back home"

No matter what he does...he can try to forget about his problems, he can run away from his problems...but eventually, he will always have to go back home, and go back and just deal with them.

This is just how I choose to interpet the song. I actually read in an interview with The White Stripes, and they had an explanation similar to that. Mine might not make too much sense though, because sometimes I have trouble explaining myself. For some reason, it annoys me when people "love" the song, and have NO IDEA what it's about. They don't even TRY to decipher the lyrics, and make some sense of them. Come on people, show some effort.

I think the "I'm gonna work the straw" line means that hes gonna do drugs to calm himself, like snorting cocaine.

I like your interpretation of the song. I could be completely wrong. But to add to what you have said maybe "it" or in your words the "something he did" is making the decision to have an abortion at some point in his life.

"all the words are gonna bleed from me and i will THINK no more" Is actually the right lyrics, as of the actual album brochure, not "Sing" so you are very correct :)

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