Song by Song: "Seven Nation Army" Quiz

Answer: The Salvation Army

According to Rolling Stone magazine, which ranked this song number 36 on its 2021 list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, Jack White once said, "I didn't have lyrics for it until later on, and I was just calling it 'Seven Nation Army' - that's what I called the Salvation Army when I was a kid. So that was just a way for me to remember which [riff] I was talking about."

The Salvation Army, which grew out of the Holiness Movement, is known for its widespread charity work, including disaster relief efforts and service to the homeless. Its members consist of over 1.7 million "soldiers," "officers," and "adherents" known as "Salvationists." They have churches called "Salvation Army corps" (or sometimes temples or citadels) and maintain thrift stores and adult rehabilitation centers.

Answer: Meg White

White Stripes was an American rock duo in the alternative rock / garage rock / punk blues genres that was active from 1997 t0 2011. It consisted of Jack White on guitar and vocals and his one-time wife Meg White on drums and vocals. The couple divorced in 2000. Liam Watson contributed to mixing for "Seven Nation Army."

Answer: Elephant

"Elephant" was the fourth studio album by White Stripes. It was recorded at Toe Rag Studios in Hackney and Maida Vale Studios in west London. The single "Seven Nation Army" was released on February 17, 2003 in the United States with "Good to Me" on the B-side. The song was written and produced by Jack White.

Answer: Best Rock Song

The song was also nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and the album it was on won for Best Alternative Music Album. The Best New Artist award that year went to Evanescence. Best Male Rock Vocal Performance went to Dave Matthews for "Gravedigger" and Song of the Year was "Dance with my Father" by Richard Marx and Luther Vandross.

Answer: hold me back

"I'm gonna fight 'em all
A seven nation army couldn't hold me back
They're gonna rip it off
Taking their time right behind my back."

"Seven Nation Army" peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Modern Rock chart and at number 76 on the Hot 100. Meanwhile, it peaked at number seven on the UK Singles chart.

Answer: cigarette

On the NPR "All Things Considered" program, Rick Karr said "Seven Nation Army" was possibly "the world's most popular sports anthem." The song has been played since 2008 at the UEFA European Football Championships and was also used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

It's also been used as walkout music or an official song by various sports teams, including the Detroit Lions and the Baltimore Ravens.

Answer: eyes, bones, blood

"And the message coming from my eyes
Says, 'Leave it alone'
And the feeling coming from my bones
Says, 'Find a home'
And I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding
Right before the Lord
All the words are gonna bleed from me
And I will sing no more
And the stains coming from my blood
Tell me, 'Go back home.'"

According to Dan Martin in a 2013 article in NME, Jack White said this song was about "the pressures of fame. Feeling frustrated with the level of scrutiny they were getting, White came up with a storyline about a guy who rides into town and finds all his friends are gossiping about him." The article quotes Jack White: "He feels so bad he has to leave town, but you get so lonely you come back. The song's about gossip. It's about me, Meg and the people we're dating."

Answer: The Queen of England

"Don't wanna 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."

"Seven Nation Army" enjoyed international popularity. It peaked at number six on Scotland's (OCC) Singles chart, at number four in Germany (Official German Charts), at number three in Switzerland (on the Swiss Hitparade), and at number one on the US Alternative Airplay Billboard chart. In 2021, the Glitch Mob remix made it to 85 on the US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Billboard chart.

Answer: Wichita

Wichita is the largest city in Kansas. In a 2016 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Jack White said he put himself "into the character when I sang it in a traditional blues sense, especially in the idea of travelling to Wichita, a place I've still never been, and out of respect for using the city as a metaphor, and due to the song's longevity now, I will never go to."

Answer: the straw

"I'm gonna work the straw
Make the sweat drip out of every pore."

"Seven Nation Army" was certified 2X platinum in the UK by BPI and platinum in Belgium, Denmark, and Italy by the BEA, IFPI, and FIMI, respectively. It has been covered by musicians ranging from C.W. Stoneking and The Oak Ridge Boys to Living Coulour, Audioslave, and The Flaming Lips. French soul singer Ben l'Oncle Soul covered the song on his self-titled 2010 album as well. This version in turn led to a cover by Marcus Collins on "The X Factor", which peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart.