Where is the Hotel Yorba from The White Stripes song?
The White Stripes achieved global fame in the early 2000s, propelled by a sound characterised by raw and unpolished minimalism, marked by Jack White’s guitar riffs and Meg White’s straightforward yet captivating beats. Their albums White Blood Cells from 2001 and its 2003 successor, Elephant, stand out as the band’s most renowned, boasting significant hits like ‘Fell in Love with a Girl’ and ‘Seven Nation Army’.
The White Stripes’ musical style heavily borrowed from blues and folk influences, as showcased in tracks like ‘Ball and Biscuit’ and ‘Icky Thump’. The band’s distinctive talent lay in seamlessly blending traditional genres with modern rock sensibilities, setting them apart in the music scene. The instantly recognisable bassline of ‘Seven Nation Army’, for example, emerged as a global anthem, propelling the band into superstardom and securing a Grammy Award for ‘Best Rock Song’.
Making their notable rise to prominence in 2001, White Blood Cells introduced a more unpolished, fundamental, and primal rock and roll sound. The lyrical themes of the album, crafted by White over a span of four years, delve into subjects encompassing love, hope, betrayal, and paranoia.
The album’s lead single, ‘Hotel Yorba’, marked The White Stripes’ inaugural UK hit. Inspired by Woodie Guthrie, the song has a particularly intriguing origin, initially sparked by a set of rumours White came across about the place during his childhood.
What album is ‘Hotel Yorba’ on?
‘Hotel Yorba’ was released as the lead single on The White Stripes’ seminal album, White Blood Cells. In an effort to break away from any speculation about a potential blues record, White Blood Cells arrived with its unique take on pure rock and roll. Detroit, Michigan, served as a primary wellspring of inspiration for the album, with White drawing on his upbringing and infusing those experiences throughout the record.
‘Hotel Yorba’ was a distinctive example of this. Hotel Yorba was a real hotel situated in a neglected part of Detroit along Lafayette Boulevard near a bus station. Growing up, White encountered various rumours about the hotel during his childhood, like the false claim that The Beatles once stayed there. The single version of the song was recorded in room 206 of the hotel, which has since been repurposed as government-subsidised housing.
What are the lyrics to ‘Hotel Yorba’?
White once explained how the song was inspired by the idea that music exists to make people feel happy. He said: “[Woody Guthrie] wanted his songs to make people happy and make them feel good about themselves. He didn’t like songs that make you feel down about yourself, which is an interesting statement. So I think ‘Hotel Yorba’ is definitely in that category.”
The lyrics to the song are as follows:
“I was watching
With one eye on the other side
I had fifteen people tellin’ me to move
I got movin’ on my mind
I found shelter
In some thoughts turning wheels around
I said thirty-nine times that I love you
To the beauty I had found
Well, it’s one, two, three, four
Take the elevator at the Hotel Yorba
I’ll be glad to see you later
All they got inside is vacancy
I’ve been thinking
Of a little place down by the lake
They got a dirty old road leading up to the house
I wonder how long it will take
Till we’re alone
Sittin’ on the front porch of that home
Stompin’ our feet on the wooden boards
Never gotta worry ’bout locking the door
Well, it’s one, two, three, four
Take the elevator at the Hotel Yorba
I’ll be glad to see you later
All they got inside is vacancy
It might sound silly
For me to think childish thoughts like these
But I’m so tired of acting tough
And I’m gonna do what I please
Let’s get married
In a big cathedral by a priest
‘Cause if I’m the man that you love the most
You could say, ‘I do’ at least
Well, it’s one, two, three, four
Take the elevator at the Hotel Yorba
I’ll be glad to see you later
All they got inside is vacancy
And it’s four, five, six, seven
Grab your umbrella and grab hold of me
‘Cause I’m your favourite fella
All they got inside is vacancy”
