If you go looking for hot water
Don't act shocked when you get burned a little bit

If you really want some hot water
I can help you find it

Oh
Oh
Oh yeah

Well, if they catch me around, you're playing rock the boat
I'm gonna catch hell
And if you're throwing your voice in bed singing a note
I'm gonna catch hell
I know it

That's right
Try and catch me

Oh yeah

Tricky, tricky
Yeah

Oh
Oh

If you're getting tricky, lying to yourself
You're gonna catch hell
And if you're testing God, lying to his face
You're gonna catch hell
C'mon

Hey
That's it
They're gonna catch you
Hell, they're gonna catch you


Lyrics submitted by shrodes

Catch Hell Blues Lyrics as written by Jack White

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Catch Hell Blues song meanings
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29 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    To The PersianRose-

    "Hot water" is a colloquialism for a bad situation, kind of like in the phrase "now don't go gettin yourself in hot water!" its a colloquialism in the South.

    "If you go looking for hot water Don't act shocked when you get Burned a little bit"

    The meaning of this stanza is basically, if you go seeking out a bad situation or if you're looking for trouble, don't be surprised when you find it.

    THe_Atomic_Punkon November 25, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is half death Letter Blues and half In My Time of Dying but 100% Jack.

    I love Jack when he plays slide. A couple years ago a saw him play Death Letter and it was the most amazing experience of my concert-going life. We need more of it.

    it sounds like a jam so i'm not sure if the lyrics have any deep meaning but it sounds like his warning someone that thier actions have consequences

    pmo1983on January 01, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    love it

    troxellon June 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, this is amazing, kinda sinsiter sounding too. I love the 'testing god' line.

    What's the significance of hot water?

    ThePersianRoseon June 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    kinda sounds like death letter and ball and biscuit at the beginning

    schromeon June 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the significance of hot water is in the whole verse. if you look for trouble, you must deal with the consequences. if you screw with god for instance, you might "catch hell".

    tbboy13on June 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Bar far best song off Icky Thump, musically and lyrically!

    What about the 'if you really want some hot water, i can help you find it?'. Cool twist.

    ThePersianRoseon June 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Definately the best song on Icky Thump, and I agree with schrome, it reminds me of the live versions of Death Letter

    white_stripedon June 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The slide guitar is sick

    Mikemat5150on June 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "If you're getting chick (?)"

    Might this be instead: If you're getting chic

    as in ... Conforming to the current fashion; stylish

    that'd make more sense with the next line where he says you're lying to yourself.

    jryageron June 28, 2007   Link

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