The Big Three Killed My Baby

rdf:langString The Big Three Killed My Baby

rdf:langString The Big Three Killed My Baby

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rdf:langString The Big Three Killed My Baby.jpg

rdf:langString January 1999

rdf:langString March 1999

rdf:langString The Big Three Killed My Baby

rdf:langString Red Bowling Ball Ruth

rdf:langString single

rdf:langString "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.