Get Behind Me Satan
2005 studio album by the White Stripes
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Get Behind Me Satan is the fifth studio album by the American rock duo the White Stripes. It was released in June 2005, with V2 and Third Man handling distribution in the United States, and XL and Third Man handling international distribution. It was recorded in Jack White's home between February and March 2005, and Jack produced the whole album.
| Get Behind Me Satan | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 7, 2005 | |||
| Recorded | February–March 2005 | |||
| Studios | Third Man[a] (Detroit, Michigan) | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 44:07 | |||
| Labels | ||||
| Producer | Jack White | |||
| The White Stripes chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Get Behind Me Satan | ||||
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Described as the "most misunderstood entry in the White Stripes discography" by Jack White's own Third Man Records, Get Behind Me Satan musically diverts from the band's previous works with experimental production and lyrics that reference truth and actress Rita Hayworth. The album was promoted with early previews to journalists and releasing "Blue Orchid", "My Doorbell" and "The Denial Twist" as singles. It was not released in a vinyl format until 2015, as the band wanted to record a separate live version which never came to fruition. In the years following its release, Get Behind Me Satan has continued to be reissued.
Get Behind Me Satan charted within the top ten of nine countries, reaching number three on both the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart. The album received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its experimentation but some felt its production was too constricted. It received two nominations at the 2006 Grammy Awards, winning Best Alternative Album.
Background and recording
"Satan is the end of any unhappiness I have. Get behind me–that's it. Any troubles I have are well-represented: betrayal, loss, pain, whatever's going on in my head and life. I got the last things out on that record."
Get Behind Me Satan was conceived at a time when the White Stripes had felt "betrayed" and "burned" by close friends within the Detroit music scene such as Jason Stollsteimer, a member of the Von Bondies, which Jack White had got into a physical altercation with in December 2003,[5] and Jim Diamond, who had filed a lawsuit against the band in October 2004, wanting royalties of their first two albums.[6][7][8] In the hindsight of 2006, Jack acknowledged that his own constitution had more to do with why he could no longer live in Detroit and that moving sooner likely would not have made a difference, as Get Behind Me Satan was "a farewell to a lot of the parts of my personality that I didn't want to see anymore," more so than it was a farewell to Detroit.[9] Meg also left Detroit at the same time, leaving behind "so much baggage."[10] In a 2018 Rolling Stone interview that began with a retrospective on what occurred with Stollsteimer, Jack expressed no remorse for the physical altercation, saying the likes of Johnny Cash, Sid Vicious, and Jerry Lee Lewis (or even comedian Jerry Lewis) have had similar infractions and that his anger was a justified, human reaction in that moment.[11]
Jack had begun writing and recording demos for Get Behind Me Satan on a microcassette recorder throughout 2004 and early 2005, and had quit smoking due to its effect on his singing voice.[12] He had written around 35 songs during this period, with many of the songs that would be recorded for the album either having been completely written or partially written during the sessions, as Jack had not actively been songwriting after Elephant. Elephant's engineer Liam Watson considered recording their subsequent album in Africa, though the plans never materialized.[13] Although reports as early as October 2003 stated The White Stripes planned to record their fifth album by the end of that year,[14] they did not know they would be making this album until less than a month before its February 2005 production, as Jack felt motivation to record these songs "immediately; as soon as possible," but no idea what the album was going to sound like.[4][15][16] They had no desire of making it "Elephant 2".[17] He described the songwriting of the album as cathartic and a "purging" of intense emotions, ultimately leaving him happy and rejuvenated after the mixing.[3][16] The reported cost of recording the album was under $10,000.[3][b]
Get Behind Me Satan was recorded in around two weeks throughout late February and mid-March 2005 at Jack's home in Indian Village,[19][20] which was referred to as Third Man Studios in the press release and liner notes for the album.[c][21][22] The band considered the sessions to be "cursed" as the tape machine and microphones would malfunction and water would drip from the ceiling, however things improved by the recording of "Blue Orchid" toward the end.[7][3] When asked why they recorded this album at home rather than a studio, Jack explained that by that time they'd become stagnant in that environment and he was tired of debating with engineers over production and the use of computers.[1] At the time, Jack felt editing with razor blades was "the way it's supposed to be done,"[1] though he no longer practices this.[23] The decision to record at home was not predetermined, but the house had a large staircase that Jack believed was suitable for recording and The White Stripes had experience with recording at home with their second album, De Stijl.[15]
Matthew Kettle, who had been mixing the band's live shows, recorded Get Behind Me Satan on a Studer 8 track tape machine.[1] Six Coles 4038 microphones were exclusively used for the recording of the album.[24][25] A Steinway grand piano was rented in order to achieve a fuller sound.[1] The foyer served as the main recording space with the piano in the foyer and the drums situated on the second floor stair landing.[1][26] Some songs were recorded in a back room.[3] Jack had purchased a marimba not long before the recording and had it in the dining room, although he had no particular intention of using it on the album.[15][27] "If there had been a sitar in the room and a zither," Jack said those instruments hypothetically would have been on the album too.[27]
The album cover and photos featured in the album liner notes were taken by Ewen Spencer during a five-day shoot at Jack's home.[21][28] On the twentieth anniversary of the album's release, Jack revealed that the object he held on the cover is a drugstore glass container that contains an unknown white powder and is meant to represent temptation.[29] The cover was notably used in the 2006 Gilmore Girls episode "I Get a Sidekick Out of You", with Lane and Zach in Meg and Jack's positions, respectively.[30] Mixing was completed at Ardent Studios by John Hampton and Jack in late-March, with mastering completed by Howie Weinberg at Masterdisk, two weeks prior to the release of the first single.[22][31]
Music and lyrics
Deemed the "most misunderstood entry in the White Stripes discography" by Jack White's own Third Man Records,[32] Get Behind Me Satan is basic in production but marks a distinct change from its 2003 guitar-heavy predecessor, Elephant. With its reliance on piano-driven melodies and experimentation with marimba,[33] the album plays down the punk and garage rock[34][35][36] influences that dominated earlier White Stripes albums and has been described as an alternative rock, blues rock, blues,[37][38] pop,[39][40] and country[38] album. Jack plays with different technique than in the past, replacing electric guitar with piano, mandolin, and acoustic guitar on all but three tracks, as his usual riff-conscious lead guitar style is overtaken by a predominantly rhythmic approach. Meg White expands her instrumentation with percussion bells, maracas and tambourines alongside her drumming.[41]
Jack stated in an interview on the NPR radio show Fresh Air that "truth is the number one theme throughout the album Get Behind Me Satan."[1]
The album's title refers to a well-known line from the story of the Temptation of Jesus which is later repeated against the disciple Simon Peter, in Matthew 16:23 of the New Testament. In the King James Version, the quotation is slightly different: "Get thee behind me, Satan".[42] Jack stated in an interview with Mojo the possible interpretations of the album title, "It can mean, you're either for me or against me. And if you're not going to help me, get out of my way. Or maybe it relates to the Devil's music, and having the Devil back you up while you're playing it. Or, perhaps it relates to aiming for the truth, for doing the right thing, and telling the Devil to take his temptations away."[7]
Songs
"Rita Hayworth became an all-encompassing metaphor for everything I was thinking about while making the album. There was an autograph of hers—she had kissed a piece of paper, left a lip print on it, and underneath it said, 'My heart is in my mouth.' I loved that statement and wondered why she wrote that. There was also the fact that she was Latino and had changed her name. She had become something different, morphed herself and was trying to put something behind her. And there was the shallowness of celebrity when it's thrown upon you. All of that was going around in these songs; what had been thrown on me, things I'd never asked for. Every song on that album is about truth."
Tracks 1–7
Recorded near the end of the album sessions, Jack has stated in multiple interviews that "Blue Orchid" saved the album.[7][16][1] When Jack had conceived the song, he said that the song made him want to play festivals. Basic tracking was done on March 10, 2005, with vocal overdubs completed on a later date.[43] The song was released as the first single for the album six weeks after it was written on April 18, 2005.[44][45] An Electro-Harmonix polyphonic octave generator guitar pedal was used on the track in order to achieve a heavier guitar sound, although they were limited by the amount of tracks on the tape they could use and Jack liked the octaves rather than the effects.[46][47]
"The Nurse" is an experimental song, which features Jack playing a Musser M500 Concert Grand Soloist marimba.[48] The song was first tracked with marimba and drums, with electric guitar and additional drums later overdubbed in order to mask a poor tape edit.[1] Jack was initially hesitant about the song due to the overdubs. When Jack let Brendan Benson hear an early mix of the song, Benson said it sounded like "some Brian Wilson shit".[45][49] Jack has said that the song is about someone he had been in love with for over a decade.[50] The song was built upon a White Stripes song (which Meg didn't perform on) that had not been released, written in 2000, called "Let You Down".[51] It was recorded in the living room.[52]
"My Doorbell" was released as the second single for the album on July 11, 2005.[53] The song has been described as being reminiscent of Motown music.[7][54] The song was recorded in two takes. Jack considers it to be the only "positive" part of the album, thematically.[36] "My Doorbell" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 2006.
"Forever for Her (Is Over for Me)" was written spontaneously after a phone call Jack had, after which he said the first lyric, "I blew it," and continued to find words that rhymed as well as "play with the Vs."[4][17] It was one of two songs on the album containing marimba instrumentation.
"Little Ghost" is a bluegrass song which features Jack playing a Gibson F-4 mandolin which he had purchased around the time of his acting role in Cold Mountain (2003).[1][47] Jack had written the song in ten minutes at a friend's house.[1] The song was under consideration for being the third single.[55] The song was often performed live as a duet (whereas the album version is Jack performing different vocal tracks).
"The Denial Twist" was the third and final single off the album, released on October 31, 2005.[56] The song took the most time to record, with three takes having been recorded throughout the sessions.[49][57] The song features electric bass and Jack's brother, Eddie Gillis, playing tambourine and shakers.[41][58][59] The song's surrealist music video was directed by Michel Gondry on the set of Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
"White Moon" is a ballad and is one of two songs that mention Rita Hayworth.[33] On the first take of "White Moon", near the end of the song, a rack of bells can be heard crashing which was unintended. The song was originally titled "White Moon and the Red Headed Guest".[60]
Tracks 8–13
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"Instinct Blues" is a blues rock song that is about sexual frustration.[61] A demo version of the track states that it was written in mid-September 2004.[32] The song was also featured in Michel Gondry's film The Science of Sleep (2006).[62]
"Passive Manipulation" is the shortest song recorded by the band and features Meg on vocals. The song is written from a female perspective.[1] Like the album's final track, critics perceived the song to have themes of "incest."[63]
"As Ugly As I Seem" is an acoustic folk song that features Jack singing and playing an acoustic guitar and Meg playing hand drums.[64][35] Similar to the studio version of debut album's track "Sugar Never Tasted So Good", the song features Jack knocking his acoustic guitar's body for percussive effect.[65] In a 2005 appearance on Morning Becomes Eclectic, both songs were performed and for "As Ugly As I Seem", Meg used her floor tom and snare as bongos; Jack did the knocking effect on this song and omitted it in "Sugar Never Tasted So Good" respectively.[16] "As Ugly As I Seem" was also performed on the talk show Charlie Rose that year, yet the knocking effect was omitted in that particular performance.[66]
"Take, Take, Take" is about a fan who meets Rita Hayworth at a bar and keeps asking things from her.[3] The song has been interpreted as the band's feelings towards celebrity life or even Jack's own personal obsession with Hayworth,[3] although Jack told Mojo that the song is about "parents not teaching their kids manners."[7] Jack had written as many as 9 or 10 verses, but had to cut some of them as the song would have been too long, comparing himself to a director cutting scenes from a film.[46]
"Red Rain" began as a demo of Jack working out the song structure and key on guitar, piano, and bells.[32] There was a televised performance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in December 2005.[67] A music video for it was released in 2025 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Get Behind Me Satan.[68]
The closing track, "I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet)", was written shortly before the sessions, after Jack called Loretta Lynn, in which Jack made a joking comment about Meg saying, "yeah, I get lonely" to which Lynn replied, "yeah, but I ain’t that lonely yet." Jack asked Lynn if he could use the line for a song.[1] The first take of "I'm Lonely" was recorded with mandolin, piano, Jack on vocals, and Meg on drums. A second take with only Jack singing and playing piano was chosen for the album. Some reviewers perceived the song as having themes of "incest."[69][70]
Outtakes
"Ain't No Sweeter Than Rita Blues", an instrumental track, was released on a 7-inch single alongside Under Amazonian Lights through a Third Man Records Vault subscription in 2015.[71]
"City Lights" is a folk song that was written for the album,[72][73] with two takes having been recorded.[49] The track was forgotten about until the master tapes for the album were revisited for the 2015 vinyl reissue of the album. The track was completed with Dominic Davis playing upright bass for the track and released on Jack's acoustic compilation, Acoustic Recordings 1998–2016 on September 9, 2016.[74][75] In 2025, an alternate studio take and home demo was released on Get Behind Me Satan XX.[32]
"Over and Over and Over" was initially demoed using a fuzz pedal on an electric bass. Two takes of the song were recorded for the album, but it ultimately went unreleased.[57][32] Jack later attempted the song on Icky Thump and with his other side projects. The song was eventually re-recorded in 2017 and released as the third single for Jack's third solo album, Boarding House Reach on March 1, 2018.[76] A home demo and a studio outtake of the song was released on Get Behind Me Satan XX.[32]
Promotion and release
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The tracklist and release date of the album was announced on April 12, 2005.[77][78] On the following day, a listening event was held exclusively for music journalists at Splashlight Studios in New York City.[79][80] Get Behind Me Satan was then released worldwide on June 6, 2005, by XL and Third Man and on June 7, 2005, in the United States by V2 and Third Man.[55]
Get Behind Me Satan was supported by three singles. "Blue Orchid", the album's lead single, became their second US Billboard Hot 100 single, their second top ten entry on the UK singles chart, and their first number one single on the Canadian Hot 100.[81][82] The album's second and third singles, "My Doorbell" and "The Denial Twist", also reached the top ten in the United Kingdom and charted on the Modern Rock Charts.[83][84]
Exclusive vinyl copies of Get Behind Me Satan were made exclusively for music journalists to review, and 600 records were released collectively by XL Recordings and V2 Records simultaneously; these have become rare and coveted collector's items.[85] The White Stripes intended to re-record the album in January 2006 at Joe Gubay's Studio in New Zealand for a commercial vinyl release, but the studio no longer had the recording equipment to make it possible.[86] As a result, Get Behind Me Satan was the only album by the White Stripes not to be commercially released on vinyl for ten years.
For Record Store Day 2015, Third Man Records released a limited vinyl edition with a lenticular gatefold sleeve, pressed on red and white vinyl; a commercially released version with standard artwork pressed on standard black vinyl was released later that year.[87] Ahead of the album's 20th anniversary, the White Stripes announced a deluxe reissue of Get Behind Me Satan with alternative takes, demos, and live recordings of its tracks.[88] On June 27, 2025, a limited edition vinyl reissue of Get Behind Me Satan and a music video for "Red Rain" were released, to celebrate the album's twentieth anniversary.[89]
Get Behind Me Satan Tour
From May to July 2005, The White Stripes toured Latin American[d] and Eastern European[e] countries before touring the United States for the Get Behind Me Satan Tour, which Jack understood was a "bad business" decision but an enjoyable experience to play in different markets for brand new fans, comparing it to the beginning of their career.[16] Although he would regret how the tour transpired in the United States, citing the choice of venues and a general apathy from American audiences to the level of which The White Stripes felt they were only performing for each other.[90][91] The White Stripes returned to Europe that autumn to tour the United Kingdom among other countries.
Under Amazonian Lights
On June 1, 2005, The White Stripes performed at the Amazon Theatre which is an opera house in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Earlier that day, Jack eloped with British model Karen Elson, with Meg as the maid of honor. When the band attempted to perform "We're Going to Be Friends" (on a Gibson L-1 guitar and a set of bongos respectively) for the thousands of fans who were watching outside the venue, something of a riot ensued and they were rushed back in to perform "Seven Nation Army".[7][92] The concert was broadcast on MTV2 c. 2005, and released as a live album by Third Man Records in 2015.[93] During the performance, an audio engineer was there to monitor the decibels in order to protect the acoustics of the opera house.[16]
Reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 81/100[94] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [95] |
| Entertainment Weekly | C+[96] |
| The Guardian | [97] |
| Los Angeles Times | [98] |
| NME | 8/10[41] |
| Pitchfork | 7.3/10[35] |
| Q | [99] |
| Rolling Stone |  [100] |
| Spin | B[101] |
| The Village Voice | A−[102] |
| Blender | [103] |
Get Behind Me Satan received positive reviews from music critics; review aggregating website Metacritic reports a normalized score of 81 out of 100 based on 38 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[104] AllMusic's Heather Phares gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, praising the experimentation but noting that "As eclectic as Get Behind Me Satan is, it isn't perfect: the energy dips a little in the middle, [...] "it takes awhile to unravel and appreciate."[105] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone was similarly positive in his review and wrote, "Get Behind Me Satan could be a rock & roll remake, starring Jack and Meg as the doomed lovers. Satan, you got served."[106] NME's Alex Needham deemed it a "very brave record" and called the White Stripes "the real, strange, artistic deal. It'll be a long time before Jack and Meg sell their souls."[41] Contrastingly, David Browne of Entertainment Weekly gave Get Behind Me Satan a C+ and opining that "Too many of the tunes — and Jack's lyrics — are undercut by lurching, half-finished arrangements." He believed Jack was "trying too hard to be eccentric" and "nearly incomprehensible".[107] Spin's Chuck Klosterman praised "Blue Orchid" but criticized the experimentation and themes, likening the album to "an art film that ignores narrative".[70]
At the 48th Annual Grammy Awards in 2006, Get Behind Me Satan won for Best Alternative Album and was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("My Doorbell").[108] Also in 2006, the album was included in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, edited by Robert Dimery;[109] it was removed the next year. It was voted the sixth best album of the year in the 2006 Village Voice Pazz & Jop critic poll, with "My Doorbell" being voted as the year's ninth best single.[110][111] Rolling Stone also ranked it the third best album of the year in 2006.[112]
Commercially, Get Behind Me Satan entered the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart at number three, and entered the top ten of seven other territories. It sold over 920,000 copies in the United States, receiving a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[113][114] It was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and Music Canada (MC) for its respective sales in Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada.[115][116][117]
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Jack White; all music is composed by Jack White and Meg White.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blue Orchid" | 2:37 |
| 2. | "The Nurse" | 3:47 |
| 3. | "My Doorbell" | 4:01 |
| 4. | "Forever for Her (Is Over for Me)" | 3:15 |
| 5. | "Little Ghost" | 2:18 |
| 6. | "The Denial Twist" | 2:35 |
| 7. | "White Moon" | 4:01 |
| 8. | "Instinct Blues" | 4:16 |
| 9. | "Passive Manipulation" | 0:35 |
| 10. | "Take, Take, Take" | 4:22 |
| 11. | "As Ugly as I Seem" | 4:10 |
| 12. | "Red Rain" | 3:52 |
| 13. | "I'm Lonely (But I Ain't That Lonely Yet)" | 4:19 |
| Total length: | 44:07 | |
Notes
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes and single releases.[21][58][75]
The White Stripes
- Jack White – guitar, vocals, piano, bass, mandolin, marimba, tambourine, production, mixing
- Meg White – drums, vocals, percussion, bells, triangle, bongos
Additional personnel
- Eddie Gillis – tambourine and shakers (track 6)
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Roger Lian – sequencing
- John Hampton – mixing
- Adam Hill – assistant mixing
- Matthew Kettle – engineering
Artwork
- Arthole – layout
- "The Third Man" – design
- Ewen Spencer – photography
- Nick Pavey – photo assistant
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[145] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
| Belgium (BRMA)[146] | Gold | 25,000* |
| Canada (Music Canada)[147] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[148] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
| Poland | — | 20,000[149] |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[150] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[151] | Gold | 920,000[152] |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Notes
- It was ostensibly under $5,000 as Jack described 2001's White Blood Cells, whose budget was that amount, as their most expensive production until that of 2007's Icky Thump.[18]
- When Jack White records at home, the liner notes refer to it as Third Man Studios.
- Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil
- Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovenia, Poland, and Greece
- "Though I Hear You Calling, I Will Not Answer" contains a brief snippet of Meg's voice from "The Singing of Silent Night", but it is one of two officially released White Stripes songs that does not feature Meg at all.[24]