Hotel Yorba

The White Stripes

About Hotel Yorba

"Hotel Yorba" is the lead single from White Blood Cells, by Detroit, Michigan garage rock band The White Stripes, and their first single to be released commercially. It was released in November 2001. Built in 1926, the Hotel Yorba is a former hotel in southwest Detroit that can be seen along I-75 near the Ambassador Bridge to Canada. The single version of the song was recorded in room 206 of the building which is now used as government subsidized housing. Jack says that, as a child, he heard a rumor that the Beatles had stayed there—a rumor that, although false, he loved. The White Stripes shot much of the song's music video outside the hotel, but were denied permission to film inside; it's rumored the duo is banned for life from the hotel. The song was used for a deleted scene in the 2002 movie 28 Days Later. The scene does not appear on the DVD, while the song itself is featured on the soundtrack CD released by XL Records. The single was reissued on opaque red vinyl for Black Friday Record Store Day in 2012 by Third Man Records and later released on standard black vinyl. 


Year:
2003
41 

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I was watching
With one eye on the other side
I had fifteen people telling me to move
I got moving 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 its 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 little road leading up to the house
I wonder how long it will take till we're alone
Sitting on the front porch of that home
Stomping our feet on the wooden boards
Never gonna worry about locking the door

Well its 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 can say I do at least 

Well its 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 its four, five, six, seven
Grab your umbrella
Grab hold of me
'Cause I'm your favorite fella
All they got inside is vacancy

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The White Stripes

The White Stripes was an American rock duo, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of drummer Meg White (drums and occasional vocals) and songwriter Jack White (vocals, guitar, and keyboards). Meg and Jack White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced. After releasing several singles and three albums within the Detroit music scene, the White Stripes rose to prominence in 2002, as part of the garage rock revival scene. Their successful and critically acclaimed albums White Blood Cells and Elephant drew them attention from a large variety of media outlets in the United States and the United Kingdom, with the single "Seven Nation Army" and its now-iconic guitar riff becoming a huge hit. The band recorded a further two albums… more »

4 fans

Written by: JACK WHITE

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release Date
"Hotel Yorba" was released as the lead single from The White Stripes' third studio album ‘White Blood Cells' on November 6, 2001.
Chart Performance
The song became the band's first charting single, reaching number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.
Songwriting
Like all other songs by The White Stripes, "Hotel Yorba" was written by Jack White, the band's lead vocalist, guitarist, and pianist.
Music Video
The music video was directed by Michel Gondry, a French director who has worked with many famous artists like Daft Punk, Radiohead, and Bjork.
Recording Place
The track was reportedly recorded in a single take at Toe Rag Studios in London.
Literal Reference
The song is named after the actual Hotel Yorba, a former hotel turned into an apartment building in Southwest Detroit, Michigan.
Rejection of Music Video
The staff of the actual Hotel Yorba building refused the band's request to film the music video inside the building.
Live Performance
"Hotel Yorba" is one of the most frequently performed songs in The White Stripes' discography, often with variations in the arrangement.
B-Sides
The single release of "Hotel Yorba" included the B-sides "Rated X" and "Hotel Yorba (Live at the Hotel Yorba)".
Inspirations
Jack White has stated that country music was a major influence while writing the song. The track features elements of both country and folk music.

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