Ball and Biscuit

Track 20 on The White Stripes Greatest Hits

Producer

Built on a traditional 12-Bar Blues chord progression, “Ball and Biscuit” is the longest song the duo has ever laid to tape, at 7 minutes and 20 seconds. With its… Read More

Mar. 19, 20031 viewer98.6K views

Ball and Biscuit Lyrics

[Verse 1]
It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
And right now, you could care less about me
But soon enough, you will care by the time I'm done

[Verse 2]
Let's have a ball and a biscuit, sugar
And take our sweet little time about it
Let's have a ball, girl
And take our sweet little time about it
Tell everybody in the place to just get out
We'll get clean together
And I'll find me a soapbox where I can shout it

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
Now read it in the newspaper
Ask your girlfriends and see if they know
Read it in the newspaper
Ask your girlfriends and see if they know
That my strength is ten fold girl
I'll let you see it if you want to before you go

[Verse 2]
Let's have a ball and a biscuit, sugar
And take our sweet little time about it
Let's have a ball
And take our sweet little time about it
Tell everybody in the place to just get out
We'll get clean together
And I'll find me a soapbox where I can shout it
And I can think of one or two things to say about it
Alright, listen

[Guitar Solo]
Alright, you get the point now?

[Verse 4]
It's quite possible that I'm your third man, girl
But it's a fact that I'm the seventh son
It was the other two which made me your third
But it's my mother who made me the seventh son
And right now, you could care less about me
But soon enough, you will care by the time I'm done

[Outro]
Yeah, you just wait
You stick around
You'll figure it out

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About

Genius Annotation

Built on a traditional 12-Bar Blues chord progression, “Ball and Biscuit” is the longest song the duo has ever laid to tape, at 7 minutes and 20 seconds. With its screeching guitars, simple, thudding drums and Jack’s spoken-word delivery, the song laments about a drug-riddled night with his female companion.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did The White Stripes say about "Ball and Biscuit"?

Genius Answer

According to Jack White, the “Ball And Biscuit” is a kind of vintage microphone. White is a big fan of American Blues, and he crafted the song in the style of Willie Dixon’s “The Seventh Son,” coming up with somewhat random lyrics shortly before recording the song.

Who produced “Ball and Biscuit” by The White Stripes?

When did The White Stripes release “Ball and Biscuit”?

Who wrote “Ball and Biscuit” by The White Stripes?