The Union Forever

Album: White Blood Cells (2001)
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  • It can't be love
    For there is no true love
    It can't be love
    For there is no true love

    Sure I'm C.F.K.
    But you gotta love me
    The cost no man can say
    But you gotta love me

    Well I'm sorry but I'm not
    Interested in gold mines,
    Oil wells, shipping or real estate
    What would I liked to have been?
    Everything you hate

    'Cause it can't be love
    For there is no true love
    It can't be love
    For there is no true love

    There is a man
    A certain man
    And for the poor you may be sure
    That he'll do all he can
    Who is this one?
    Whose favorite son?
    Just by his action has the traction
    Magnets on the run
    Who likes to smoke?
    Enjoys a joke?
    And wouldn't get a bit
    Upset if he were really broke?
    With wealth and fame
    He's still the same
    I'll bet you five you're not alive
    If you don't know his name

    You said the union forever
    You said the union forever
    You cried the union forever
    But that was untrue girl

    'Cause it can't be love
    For there is no true love
    It can't be love
    For there is no true love Writer/s: JACK WHITE, PEPE GUIZAR
    Publisher: Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • Harry M from Raleigh, NcI honestly thought it was about divorce, or conflict with a rock start musician type marrying or trying to marry into a family that's really conservative and old money, until i read it was about the movie (which i haven't seen). So maybe he purposely assembled the lyrics to be in a way to be interpreted with a relevant message and not just as a tribute. Jack's lyrics are much more complex than I think people give him credit for. This is easily my favorite white stripes song. Little Room maybe ties it.
  • Ice from Your Mom, CtAnyone else notice that the spoken part bears a very heavy resemblance to The Hardest Button to Button?
  • Adrian from Brookings, SdI love all the different countries being represented by our commenters for this song. Awesome song by the way, hehe. Awesome band!!
  • Dragonkillernz from Christchurch, New ZealandMan, the White Stripes can sound so raw, it's a great contrast to the polished sound of much of the music being made these days. It's fantastic and I'm a big fan of the White Stripes.
  • Caroline from Jingletown, United StatesThis song strings together lots of different parts from Citizen Kane:

    "It can't be love, for there is no true love"
    (The jazz singer at the picnic/barbecue sings this)

    "Sure, I'm C.F.K, but you gotta love me"
    (C.F.K.'s (Charles Foster Kane's) wife Susan says this to him in an argument)

    "The price, no man can say"
    (Described in the newsreel as the cost of Xanadu, his mansion)

    "There is a man, a certain man, who for the poor you may be sure that he'll do all he can...I bet you five you're not alive if you don't know his name"
    (A song sung to him in celebration of Kane's newspaper.)

    "The union forever!"
    (Kane says this as a little kid.)


    Oh, the things you learn in Film Study! Anyway, I love this song, and I think it's awesome that they made such a great song dedicated to such a great movie.
  • Ashley from Moncton, CanadaThis is a cool song and it's my favourite White Stripes song.
  • Dingleberry Bob from Detroit, Mithis is cool
  • Andy from Halifax, EnglandPresumably (although I have no basis for this apart from the lyrics) a reaction to divorce in a family close to Jack's, possibly even his own.
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