#-----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE------------------------------#
# This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation #
# of the song. The owner of this website has not reviewed the contents of #
# this file. If you feel that the content of this file may be violating #
# copyright law, you may not use the information displayed here in any way. #
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#
Intro
G|----------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------|
A|-3---3---3---3--------------------|
E|---3---3---3---3--5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-| X4
Verse part 1
G|----------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------|
A|---------------- 3---3---3---3----|
E|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---3---3---3----3-| X2
Verse part 2
G|----------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-3-3-3-3-5-5-5-5-8-8-8-8--|
Fill Bit
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-----------------|
E|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-| X2
Repeat all verse (parts 1,2 and fill bit)
Mid but part 1
G|---------------------------|
D|---------------------------|
A|-------------------------5-|
E|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---|X8
Mid bit part 2
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-|
Then do:
Intro X4
Fill bit X2
Intro X2
Fill Bit X1
Verse Part 1 X2
Verse Part 2 X2
Outro
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|---------------5-|
E|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5---|X4
End Note
G|-----|
D|-----|
A|-----|
E|-5---|
Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
|
No Picture
james Average |
#1 by james at Dec 22, 1974 at 2:51 PM EST |
| this song IS about freemasonry Im not saying that ALL freemasons today are occultists or practice black math, however the organization and others such as Knights Templar have had foundations in learning complex mathematics and applying it to stonemasonry as well as their understanding of the universe. | |
|
No Picture
kyle Average |
#2 by kyle anderson at Nov 20, 1975 at 6:06 AM EST |
| I like conspiracy theory as well, but I prefer the meaning about doing math problems in black pen. Math is fun, maybe the Freemasons should hire me. No wait, I am a freethinker who acts too damn weird...which means I draw attention to myself. Well, the world has other willing candidates. Besides I prefer to be Staind song, on the outside looking in. | |
|
No Picture
Nick Average |
#3 by Nick L at Nov 19, 1977 at 2:07 PM EST |
| This song, to me, is about him learning to play guitar but not understanding the methods that the teacher is telling him, so he's just like, FUCK THAT! I'll teach my damn self... | |
|
No Picture
That One Guy Musical Genius |
#4 by That One Guy at Mar 29, 1980 at 9:53 AM EST |
| Correction: While there was some occult imagery used it was more an* | |
|
No Picture
esuvee ® Lead Player |
#5 by esuvee ® at Dec 4, 1982 at 5:54 AM EST |
| For instance, the middle part is like he is singing on behalf of Freemasons, "mathematically turning the page...etc" is talking about how the freemasons are mathematically and systematically working towards their goal. "unequivocally showing my age." If you try to find a definite timeline as to when freemasonry started, you might conclude that they began anywhere from the crusades to pre Egypt, like babylon and atlantis. anyway, the freemasons definately unequivocally show their age. "Now im practically center stage" The freemasons, in a short matter of time from now, will be in a position where they will no longer need to hide their presence to the masses. Most people just dont know about them. "Undeniably earning your wage" The Freemasons are profiting from YOUR life. they have a massive presence in the Federal Government in all branches, they MAKE THE MONEY, they control the military...Who seems to have control of all the money in America? isnt it the government. and who seems to have control of the government in america? isnt it the freemasons.... but thats just my opinion, what the hell do i know. | |
|
No Picture
Mike Average |
#6 by Mike Fraguglia at Jun 13, 1985 at 8:32 PM EST |
| The song itself has math rock-style riffs, which is why I think it's called "Black Math". | |
|
No Picture
Jason Rhythm Player |
#7 by Jason at Sep 20, 1991 at 7:19 AM EST |
| I never thought about the learning guitar idea before, but looking at the lyrics, I suppose it could relate to the guitar learning method. The "longer words" that "are really breaking my back now", could perhaps be more complex chords, etc. that he's finding hard to grasp. Similarly, "Drawing a square with a pencil in hand" could relate to the term 'throwing shapes' guitarist use to describe their solos, with the "pencil in hand" his plectrum, even though Jack plays with his thumb, fore, and middle finger. I never thought about the Freemason's referencing either, mainly because I know practically nothing about the Freemason's, but the arguements here seem to reveal the references. I always just thought this song was about school and learning - one the school kids could identify with. | |
|
No Picture
Chris Average |
#8 by Chris Essery at Jun 14, 1999 at 2:21 PM EST |
| what i am saying that they use SYMBOLISM, and this song is FULL of symbolism. I am not saying that i am absolutely right either, I havent read Kane or Rolo but i will look them up. but I think jack white pretty intelligent and is able to see whats really going on in the world, I think this song is about putting aside your earthly cares, (put my love on ice) and teach yourself about something that is RELEVANT, and the freemasons are very relevant. | |
|
No Picture
nathan Average |
#9 by nathan rhodes at Nov 13, 2004 at 8:59 PM EST |
| The entire song is about teaching yourself something that is generally unknown, and understanding something that isnt easily understood. i could continue my argument further, but I dont want to seem like i am ranting. Just know that the song is about The Knights Templars. | |
|
No Picture
[ash] Wanna Be |
#10 by [ash] at May 20, 2006 at 8:58 AM EST |
| Though it could be just him talking about trouble with school, I agree with Ganja, as someone learning to play guitar on my own, I can totaly relate. | |
|
No Picture
Jonathan Average |
#11 by Jonathan Mehlman at Aug 1, 2006 at 3:46 PM EST |
| Isn't literalism just a short-sighted version of transcendentalism? | |
|
No Picture
Cody Rhythm Player |
#12 by Cody Mosca at Aug 11, 2006 at 4:26 PM EST |
| I like that idea Ganjaboy. Cool song | |
|
No Picture
Anthony Average |
#13 by Anthony Chattha at Oct 25, 2006 at 1:55 AM EST |
| i love this song, seeing it live was amazing. i love it when just starts saying "ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ahhhhh" | |
|
No Picture
Kevin Average |
#14 by Kevin Fournier at Jan 15, 2007 at 5:04 AM EST |
| ok well here's my anaylisis of this song. i lvoe this one. ok well being a math ahting student myself, of corse i AM going to think it's about the hatred of math. so i think it's about himself, and how he doesn't understand math, and doesn't get the point of bothering with it but he does it to humour his teacher. when he says "maybe i'll put my love on ice teach myself that'll be nice yeah" i think what he's trying to say is that he's might put his love of playing guitar on hold until he does some of his math work. then when he talks about mathematically turning the page that means because of the teacher he's realized that everything has to do with math, but even if it doesn, he's still making more money than his math teacher. | |
|
No Picture
FUCK Rhythm Player |
#15 by FUCK OFF at Jan 22, 2007 at 7:09 PM EST |
| I will never understand why people hate math. I love it and I think everybody should know how to do it. EVERYBODY on the face of the Earth can do it unless they don't have a brain. That's just me. To me, black math is doing a math problem in black pen or black marker. | |
|
No Picture
Mr.Butterworth Average |
#16 by Mr.Butterworth at Sep 6, 2007 at 3:13 PM EST |
| I love the last part of this song. I cannot count the many times I learned the process of solving some math problem or whatever, and really didn't understand the answer at all. | |
Top 7 The White Stripes Bass Tabs
Popular Bass Tabs