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The Big Three Killed My Baby

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Wikipedia article




"'The Big Three Killed My Baby'" was released in March 1999 as a 7" single and is the third track on re-releases of 'The White Stripes', the eponymous debut of the Detroit-based American garage rock band The White Stripes. A live recording of the song is featured on 'Under Blackpool Lights'; the band's first official DVD release. The single is backed with "Red Bowling Ball Ruth".

"The Big Three" refers to the three major automakers in the 1950s and 1960s: Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, all of which have their headquarters in Detroit. The song is an attack on these companies, relating to the engineering technique of planned obsolescence, and a short-sighted lack of innovation. Jack White has stated in interviews that he does not believe music to be a viable medium for political messages and didn't write another political song until the 2007 release of "Icky Thump" (which criticizes American immigration policy). The song mentions "Tucker's blood", a reference to Preston Tucker's ill-fated Tucker 48. More recently, The White Stripes have performed the song live with alternate lyrics referring to the Iraq War: '"Bush's hands are turning red... and I found out your baby is dead."'

The photo that the band is standing in front of on the single's cover has a note on it, which reads "Insert your money here", a reference to the costs of maintaining automobiles which are intentionally engineered to become prematurely obsolete.

Track listing



References



Category:1999 singles

Category:The White Stripes songs

Category:XL Recordings singles

Category:Third Man Records singles

Category:1999 songs

Category:Songs written by Jack White

Category:Protest songs

Category:Songs about Detroit

Category:Wikipedia requested audio of songs

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