Born into a family of artists, White spent her early years moving from town to town. Her mother was a folksinger, her father a sculptor, grandma was a burlesque performer and auntie was a pop song writer. Grandfather was a poet who favored the sonnet. Drawn to the arts, Simone acted in plays and films, made photographs and wrote. Needing an instrument for the songs she wrote a cappella, Simone taught herself to play guitar.
Moving to NYC from London in 2000, White began to play music onstage. She recorded her first album with producer David Domanich and musician and friend Frank Bango. White released the album, The Sincere Recording Company Presents, in 2003 on Bango's label The Sincere Recording Company.
I Am The Man, her second album, was recorded with producer Mark Nevers, (Lambchop/Calexico/Will Oldham/Silver Jews), in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2006 she was signed to the UK label Honest Jons. I Am The Man was released by Honest Jons/EMI in the UK, Japan, Italy and Holland in 2007 and released in France, Germany and the United States in 2008 through distributors Indigo and Forced Exposure. The album was a favourite with critics from MOJO and Q Magazine to the Daily Mail.
The Beep Beep Song, one of the songs from White's second album I Am The Man was used in an Audi R8 advert in the UK, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, South Africa, Sweden and was shown in the half time ad break of the Rugby World Cup Final of 2007.
In 2007 and 2008 White toured in the United Kingdom and Europe headlining and supporting various bands: Nouvelle Vague, Alela Diane, Teitur, Stephen Fretwell and Little Dragon. In 2008 she played at the festivals Greenman and WOMAD in the UK.
White was a part of Damon Albarn's critically acclaimed "Honest Jons Revue" which toured in July 2008 to the Barbican Center in London, Les Nuits Fourviere Festival in Lyon, and the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City. The Honest Jons Revue included the artists Tony Allen, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Damon Albarn, Kokanko Sata Doumbia, Lobi Traore, Afel Bocoum, Candi Staton, Simone White and Victoria Williams.
On 12 June 2009, White's third album, Yakiimo was released digitally, with a physical release following on 22 June 2009. This album was again released through Honest Jons in the UK.
White's albums frequently include covers of songs originally recorded by her friend and collaborator Frank Bango. Such recordings include Roses Are Not Red, Wrong About You, Worm Was Wood and Bunny In A Bunnysuit.
White currently lives in Venice, California.
White's album, Silver Silver, was released in 2012.
She released "Genuine Fake", a collection of acoustic recordings, on 8 September 2017.
American War
Simone White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It wasn't that long ago it was fought on every shore
Are you trying to tell me that you didn't know?
I saw you reading the paper at the corner store
(Yes, I know, that's a joke)
Did you ever think you lived inside the belly of the beast?
Are you giving it something nice to eat
We like to live on easy street
Do you remember all the people we bombed
All the homes that were there that are now gone
Well whoever told you that life was fair
People have to die
Over there
Did you ever think this was the greatest country in the world?
With freedom and democracy and SUV's called Liberty
for every boy and girl?
The oyster chokes on it's own pearl
We know you can't help where you're born
It's not that you're foreign
It's what you stand for
We know it's hard to strat reform
The revolution's born
But no one claims it
(Winning Ticket)
Do you remember the American War
We thought it was fun but it was a bore
Do you remember the American War
We forgot what we were fighting for
We forgot what we were fighting for
The lyrics to Simone White's song "American War" is a commentary on the United States' interventionist policies and the war on terror, which has been ongoing since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The opening lines of the song, "Do you remember the American War? It wasn't that long ago it was fought on every shore," introduces the theme of the song, which is the American military's involvement in various wars all around the world. The lyrics highlight the fact that the war has been going on for so long that it has become a mundane aspect of everyday life.
The song then transitions to the idea that the US is the "belly of the beast." In essence, the government, institutions, and citizens of the US are supporting the military-industrial complex and the government's interventionist policies. The lyrics pose a question to the listener, "Are you giving it something nice to eat, or waiting for your very own special treat?" hinting that the US is doing more harm than good in its role as a global superpower. The song also notes the US's nationalistic fervor by referencing the "greatest country in the world," but in reality, the country's foreign policy is flawed and oppressive.
Overall, the song's message is poignant and relevant, even today. The US's involvement in overseas wars and its policies of interventionism are still affecting countless people worldwide. "American War" gives a voice to the voiceless and condemns America's use of its military might to dictate policy decisions in various parts of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember the American War
Asking if one remembers the war America has fought in the past
It wasn't that long ago it was fought on every shore
Reminding that the war wasn't too far back in the past and was fought in several places worldwide
Are you trying to tell me that you didn't know?
Questioning if one was unaware of the war
I saw you reading the paper at the corner store (Yes, I know, that's a joke)
Making a joke about witnessing someone reading the paper at a store, implying that it is not a good enough excuse for not knowing about the war
Did you ever think you lived inside the belly of the beast?
Asking if one realizes they are living within an oppressive system
Are you giving it something nice to eat
Asking if one is complying with the oppressive system or resisting it
Or are you waiting for your very own special treat?
Asking if one is hoping for personal benefits from the oppressive system
We like to live on easy street
Commenting that people prefer convenience even if it means sacrificing their freedom
Do you remember all the people we bombed
Asking if one remembers the innocent people killed in the war
All the homes that were there that are now gone
Reminding that entire homes and communities were destroyed during the war
Well whoever told you that life was fair
Implying that life is not fair
People have to die, Over there
Pointing out the loss of human lives in the other side of the world
Did you ever think this was the greatest country in the world?
Asking if one believed America is really the most superior nation in the world
With freedom and democracy and SUV's called Liberty for every boy and girl?
Commenting on the cliche American propaganda of being the land of the free and having SUVs named after liberty
The oyster chokes on it's own pearl
Commenting on America's obsession and pride, which is beginning to choke them
We know you can't help where you're born
Acknowledging the fact that one cannot choose where they are born
It's not that you're foreign, It's what you stand for
Stating that it is not about where one comes from but the values they hold
We know it's hard to start reform
Recognizing that reform is difficult to achieve
The revolution's born, But no one claims it (Winning Ticket)
Stating that a revolution is needed, but no one is willing to step forward and lead it
Do you remember the American War
Repeating the initial question, asking if one remembers the war
We thought it was fun but it was a bore
Realizing that the war was not exciting as it might seem to be
We forgot what we were fighting for
Acknowledging that people have forgotten the purpose of fighting the war
Contributed by Taylor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.