After releasing several singles and three albums within the Detroit independent music underground, The White Stripes rose to prominence in 2002, as part of the garage rock revival scene. Their successful albums White Blood Cells and Elephant drew them attention from a large variety of media outlets in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The White Stripes used a low-fidelity, do-it-yourself approach to writing and recording. Their music features a melding of punk and blues influences and a raw simplicity of composition, arrangement, and performance. The duo is also noted for their fashion and design aesthetic which features a simple color scheme of red, white, and black.
The White Stripes' discography consists of six studio albums, two extended plays (EP), one video album, 26 singles and fourteen music videos. The band has sold approximately 12 million albums worldwide, 2 million in the US alone, and their latest three albums have each won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album.
On February 2, 2011, the band announced on their website that they had disbanded.
Official band website: www.whitestripes.com
Dirty Leaves and the Dirty Grass
The White Stripes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I know you're not around
Shiny tops and soda pops
When I hear your lips make a sound
When I hear your lips make a sound
Thirty notes in the mailbox
Will tell that I'm coming home
For a while so you're not alone
For a while so you're not alone
If you can hear a piano fall
You can hear me coming down the hall
If I could just hear your pretty voice
I don't think I need to see at all
I don't think I need to see at all
Soft hair and a velvet tongue
I want to give you what you give to me
And every breath that is in your lungs
Is a tiny little gift to me
Is a tiny little gift to me
I didn't feel so bad 'til the sun went down
Then I come home
No one to wrap my arms around
Wrap my arms around
Well, any man with a microphone
Can tell you what he loves the most
And you know why you love at all
If you're thinking of the holy ghost
If you're thinking of the holy ghost
The opening lines of The White Stripes' Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground paint a picture of a desolate, abandoned world. Dead leaves litter the ground, and not even the soda pops and shiny tops can make up for the fact that the person the singer longs for is gone. The repetition of "when I hear your lips make a sound" emphasizes the yearning for that person's presence. The chorus introduces the idea of returning home; the thirty notes in the mailbox serve as a signal that the singer is on their way. The repetition of "for a while so you're not alone" highlights the singer's desire to ease their loved one's loneliness, perhaps suggesting that they have been away for some time.
The verse that follows is where the singer's desperation becomes clear. They would do anything to hear their loved one's voice, even if they never saw them again. The imagery of a piano falling and the singer coming down the hall creates a sense of urgency, further emphasizing the depth of their longing. The third verse introduces the idea of reciprocity, with the singer wanting to give back to their loved one what they have given them. The final lines of the verse reveal that the singer sees every breath their loved one takes as a gift to them.
The final chorus brings the song full circle with a shift in focus to a more universal theme. The idea of a man with a microphone speaking about what he loves most suggests that the song is not just about one particular relationship but speaks to a greater human experience. The line "if you're thinking of the holy ghost" can be interpreted as asking the listener to consider whether they believe in something greater than themselves, something that inspires love and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Dead leaves and the dirty ground
Everything around me is lifeless and dirty without you.
When I know you're not around
I feel lost and alone without you by my side.
Shiny tops and soda pops
Even the brightest and sweetest things in life lose their luster without you.
When I hear your lips make a sound
Your voice is the only thing that fills my world with color and meaning.
Thirty notes in the mailbox
I'm on my way home to you and I want you to know it.
Will tell that I'm coming home
The notes are a signal, a promise of my return to your side.
And I think I'm gonna stick around
I don't want to leave you again, not even for a moment.
For a while so you're not alone
I want to be here with you, to share my love and my life with you.
If you can hear a piano fall
I can't hide from you, you know me too well, you're a part of me.
You can hear me coming down the hall
You know me by the sound of my footsteps, by the beat of my heart.
If I could just hear your pretty voice
Your voice is like a melody that makes my heart sing.
I don't think I need to see at all
With you in my life, I don't need sight to know what beauty is.
Soft hair and a velvet tongue
Every part of you is precious to me, from your gentle touch to your sweet words.
I want to give you what you give to me
I want to show you all the love and joy that you bring to my life.
And every breath that is in your lungs
Each breath you take is a testament to the life and love we share.
Is a tiny little gift to me
Your very existence is a gift to me, and I cherish every moment we spend together.
I didn't feel so bad 'til the sun went down
I thought I could make it through the day without you, but when night fell, I felt your absence more than ever.
Then I come home
Home is where you are, and that's where I want to be.
No one to wrap my arms around
Without you, I'm lost and alone, with no one to hold and love.
Well, any man with a microphone
Anyone can talk about love, but only those who truly know it can understand its power.
Can tell you what he loves the most
Love is the most powerful force in the world, and it's what truly matters.
And you know why you love at all
Love is what gives life meaning, and it's what makes us human.
If you're thinking of the holy ghost
If you're looking for truth and purpose, look within yourself and your faith.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jack White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mcblahflooper94
Well since you're curious!! This is probably what it is right now; in no particular order. A lot of these songs albums are prob my faves too.
1. Age of Consent - New Order
2. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
3. Disorder - Joy Division
4. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground - White Stripes
5. Neighboorhod #1 - Arcade Fire
6. Grace - Jeff Buckley
7. Momma - Kendrick Lamar
8. What We Do is Secret - Germs
9. Nude - Radiohead
10. Pale Blue Eyes - Velvet Underground
11. Her She Comes Now - Nirvana (cover)
12. Nothing that Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control - Tame Impala
13. Where Did Our Love Go - The Supremes
14. Chemicals - Tigers Jaw
15. Across The Sea - Weezer
16. Symmetry - Title Fight
17. Defriended - Beck
18. Sons and Daughters - Decemberists
19. Rumble - Link Wray
20. Flashlight - The Front Bottoms
@plemgrubern
every note that is in this song is a tiny little gift to me
@IndieAuriemma
+Charles Crumb LOL, you like shitty gifts :D
No surprise....most bitches are cheap enough to please anyways
@joshytypebeat
Dog Blues 👌
@vj6499
Dog Blues Way to have appreciation 😁❤
@jimbo0o0o
Don't be mean to Shane, he's just a drunk.
@samanthasimmers6279
Dog Blues lol true doh
@cyndygough4107
My oldest son LOVED this & all their other songs. Tomorrow will be 2 years since he left this mean ole world. RIP My Son BB Norman. 😭💔😭
@dmam20
😂
@mariovelez7621
@dmam20 what’s so funny, jackoff?
@GoldenboY-DE
@@dmam20🤨 what the Hell ist wrong with you?