The Big Three Killed My Baby

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"The Big Three Killed My Baby"
Single by The White Stripes
from the album The White Stripes'
Released March 1999
Format 7"
Recorded January 1999
Genre Garage rock
Length 2:29
Label XL Recordings
Producer Jack White
The White Stripes singles chronology
"Lafayette Blues"
(1998)
"The Big Three Killed My Baby"
(1999)
"Hand Springs"
(1999)

"The Big Three Killed My Baby" is the third track on The White Stripes, the eponymous debut of the Detroit-based American garage rock band The White Stripes. It was released in March 1999 as a 7" single, the first from the album. A live recording of the song is featured on Under Blackpool Lights; the band's only 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. The song is an attack on these companies, relating to the fall of labor unions in the 1960s.[citation needed] Jack White has stated in interviews that he does not believe music to be a viable medium for political messages and until the 2007 release of "Icky Thump" (which criticizes American immigration policy) it was the White Stripes' only political song of note.[citation needed] The song mentions "Tucker's blood", a reference to Preston Tucker's ill-fated Tucker Torpedo. 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."[citation needed]

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".

[edit] Track listing

# Title Length
1. "The Big Three Killed My Baby"   2:29
2. "Red Bowling Ball Ruth"   2:05

[edit] References