The Hardest Button To Button

Album: Elephant (2003)
Charted: 23
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is about a young boy who is rejected or ignored by his family because he did something bad to his baby brother. The lyrics can be seen as a statement on the inequality of attention in families that have more than one child, or about how a child is psychologically abused by his parents. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jake - Colmar, France
  • On the White Stripes FAQ, Jack White is quoted as saying this about the song: "There's a button at the top of my navy peacoat, and it's the hardest button to button. I thought that was a great metaphor for the off man out in the family. It also comes from sayings of my father, like 'My uncle Harold had a 10 button vest but he could only fasten 8.'" >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bert - Pueblo, NM
  • In the Michel Gondry-directed video, Jack White's amp and Meg White's drum kit trail behind on every beat as they travel through a town. They had 32 amps and 32 drum kits for the shoot. Gondry also directed the clips for The White Stripes' "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground," "The Denial Twist," and "Fell In Love With A Girl."
  • Beck makes a cameo in the video for this song. When Jack sings, "And a box with somethin' in it," Beck presents him with a box. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Weslee - Hartsburg, IL
  • According to the July 2007 issue of GQ magazine, Jack White once wanted to record a music video for this song based on a film of Thomas Edison killing an elephant using a Tesla coil. Jim Jarmusch was going to direct, Philip Seymour Hoffman was to star. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • Third Man photographer David Swanson recalled his contribution to this song in an Uncut interview:

    "I was there with Jack and Meg, filming and photography in the making of the album. There was too much feedback in between the verse riffs, so Jack tried to turn on a compressor pedal to kill it. But it became a nuisance, so I was enlisted to play the compressor pedal on the song, turning it off and on between every riff."
  • The song plays in The Simpsons episode "Jazzy And The Pussycats," which aired September 17, 2006. Jack and Meg make appearances; when Bart plays the song on a drum kit, he's transported into a world much like the music video where he travels along to the beat. It gets ugly when he and Meg collide. He apologizes ("Sorry White Stripes. No hard feelings?") but they don't accept. "Let's kick his ass!" Meg says before giving pursuit.

Comments: 7

  • Lamented Toad from Sesame StThe way I interpreted it was: a couple get together and have a baby boy, buy him a toy, etc. They have everything they could want, but they still argue. She is the hardest button to button.
  • Darren Fogel from Manchester When I first heard it i thought it was about a mentally deficient child who killed his baby sibling to shut him up and keeps the body in a box in the backyard...
  • James from Murray, IaAwsome vid
  • Dan from Poulsbo, Wai had opinions that didnt matter.


    thats the story of my life
  • /alix\ from Pinkerton, MiPsshh, this should be my theme-song.
  • Mirna from Portoviejo, Ecuadortheres a parody of the video in an episode of the simpsons...
  • Nick from Edmonton, Canadathis music video is creative and great
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Elton John

Elton JohnFact or Fiction

Does he have beef with Gaga? Is he Sean Lennon's godfather? See if you can tell fact from fiction in the Elton John edition.

Wolfgang Van Halen

Wolfgang Van HalenSongwriter Interviews

Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the songs on his debut album, Mammoth WVH, and names the definitive Van Halen songs from the Sammy and Dave eras.

Bible Lyrics

Bible LyricsMusic Quiz

Rockers, rappers and pop stars have been known to quote the Bible in their songs. See if you match the artist to the biblical lyric.

U2 Lyrics

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.