The Union Forever

The lyrics are based on the classic 1941 movie Citizen Kane, one of Jack White's favorites. The film is about a business tycoon named Charles Foster Kane, based in part on the publisher William Randolph Hearst. Through the lens, we see how all the riches in the world can amount to nothing when it's all said and done. The song encapsulates these themes, particularly in this section, where C.F.K. is Kane's initials: Sure I'm C.F.K. But you gotta love me The cost no man can say But you gotta love me

The title comes from a line of dialogue in the film where Charles Foster Kane, as a child is playing in the snow, pretending to be a Union soldier. He says: The terms are unconditional surrender! Up and at 'em! The Union forever!

The song is part of the third White Stripes album, White Blood Cells. This was a transitional time for the duo, which was building a following in the UK and also in Jack's hometown of Detroit. The two members, Jack and Meg White, had recently been exposed as a divorced couple, not siblings like they told the press (Jack was born Jack Gillis; he took her name when they got married in 1996). Their sound was very organic and raw, a stark contrast to the pop music of 2001, so they didn't have to worry about getting too much media attention. That changed in 2003 when they released "Seven Nation Army," a rare White Stripes song with a booming bassline.