John Vanderslice (born May 22, 1967 in Gainesville, Florida) is an American… Read Full Bio ↴John Vanderslice (born May 22, 1967 in Gainesville, Florida) is an American musician, formerly of mk Ultra but now performing with his own band.

After mk Ultra broke up in 1999, Vanderslice wasted little time building a solo reputation. In 2000, he gained national media attention over his single Bill Gates Must Die after concocting an elaborate hoax in which Microsoft supposedly threatened legal action over supposed trademark violations (the disc had a similar etching to a Windows installation disc).

Subsequent albums, Time Travel is Lonely, Life and Death of an American Fourtracker, Cellar Door, Pixel Revolt and Emerald City have gained critical acclaim for their melodic quality and sophisticated narrative lyrical content. Vanderslice has spent much of the last few years on tour across North America, Europe, and Japan.

Vanderslice also founded a recording studio in 1997 called Tiny Telephone. Located in the Mission District of San Francisco, Tiny Telephone has carved out a niche as the last all-analog recording studio in the Bay Area, and has a policy of setting recording rates under market prices. Bands who have used Vanderslice's studio include Beulah, Death Cab for Cutie, Okkervil River and Spoon.

Vanderslice is a proponent of using analog instruments and recording equipment to produce a richer, more raw sound which he has sometimes called "dirty hi-fi". He has collaborated closely with Scott Solter in the production of his recent albums, with Pixel Revolt being notably shaped by Solter.

Vanderslice was a contributing producer on the Spoon album, Gimme Fiction, and has collaborated and toured with The Mountain Goats. He is strongly influenced by film and is a fan of David Lynch, whose work is referenced in his song "Promising Actress". His declared musical influences are diverse, ranging from Neutral Milk Hotel to Public Enemy. He is an avid photography hobbyist. He has incorporated the poetry of William Blake and Robert Lowell into his music.

Several songs on the album Pixel Revolt referenced the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent global political situation. This is also true of Vanderslice's most recent album, Emerald City.

White Dove
John Vanderslice Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I met my new neighbor
Had a drink on her veranda
We watched the ocean
Batter Bonita Point

“Do you have any children?”
The air around us changed
As grief washed across her face

White dove
What are you thinking of?

“We had a daughter
Disappeared at eight
We gave them money
All we could do was wait
She’s found garroted and bound”

White dove
What are you thinking of?
Don’t come around here no more
It’s not about mercy
Not about tears anymore
White dove
What are you thinking of?

Sword of vengeance
Occupies my mind
Who could do such a horrible crime?

Across the qadaas
They’re killing off our side

Walking bombs they don’t
Wear camouflage

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Vanderslice’s song White Dove tell the story of a conversation between the singer and his new neighbor who has just revealed to him that she had a daughter who disappeared at the age of eight, only to be found dead and bound. The horrific news sends the singer into a state of shock and disbelief, wondering who could have committed such a heinous crime. As the conversation progresses, the topic turns to the violence and terror that is happening around the world, with walking bombs committing senseless acts of violence.

The song is a powerful commentary on the nature of violence and how it affects people on both a personal and global level. The title of the song, “White Dove,” is particularly poignant, as the dove is often used as a symbol of peace and hope. However, in this context, the dove is a reminder of the violence and tragedy that exists in the world. The lyrics also touch on themes of grief, loss, and the feeling of helplessness in the face of such senseless violence.

Overall, John Vanderslice’s White Dove is a haunting and thought-provoking song that forces listeners to confront some of the darker aspects of human nature.

Line by Line Meaning

I met my new neighbor
I had a chance to meet my new neighbor

Had a drink on her veranda
We had a drink while sitting outdoors on her porch

We watched the ocean
We watched the waves hitting the shore of the ocean

Batter Bonita Point
We watched the strong waves crashing against Bonita Point

Do you have any children?
I asked if she had any kids

The air around us changed
The atmosphere around us shifted

As grief washed across her face
As sadness and sorrow overtook her face

White dove
A symbol of peace

What are you thinking of?
What are your thoughts?

We had a daughter
She had a daughter

Disappeared at eight
Her daughter went missing at eight years old