the white stripes | Jesus' Children Of America

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Jack's Messages

2002
- Jack's Messages

2003

- Jack's Messages

2004

- Jack's Messages

2005

- Jack's Messages

2006

- Jack's Messages

Jack's Messages 2002

02.18.2002

Hello Candy Cane Children,
Hopefully from now on Meg and I can post a message straight from us to you every now and then, and let you know what has been happening, or what is going to happen, or what happened a very long time ago. We are leaving for europe to perform on top of the pops the british top 40 television show. I am kind of upset because we had planned to have Billy Childish on stage with us for the performance. He was going to be painting on an easel with his back to the camera, but the top of the pops' people got a little confused and said we couldn't do that. Kind of funny that kylie minoque can have 7 dancers on stage, and we can't have Billy Childish painting with us. Oh well, you can't always get what you want, you have to choose your battles. We already have 15 or so other battles to fight right now, so off we go like little rats. Meg and I would like to thank everyone for all of their support on that new guest book thing, and on the White Stripes club on yahoo, which also comes to our attention at times. It's interesting to see all the places in the world that now have our records of songs that we wrote in my living room. We are planning big tours of america over and over again this year, trying to get everywhere at all times. As well as tours of europe and hopefully south america, if we have a minute or two. We've been told that mtv is making the video for fell in love with a girl a breakthrough video. That's pretty interesting, and someone told us that radio stations in america are starting to play the white stripes, now that's funny too. I'm surprised, How about you? One thing that concerns me however is the dying art of making a chocolate malt. I have to admit it is one of my favourite vices. But it seems that the days of the soda jerk being able to make a proper one in his sleep are long gone. So I will now list all of the known techniques to making a proper malt for anyone who is in a postion to make it for others. The proper chocolate malt is as follows: VANILLA ice cream that's right VANILLA , you do not use chocolate ice cream for a chocolate malt. now if you can get past that very important step you are fifty percent there my friend. Next you add chocolate syrup, fresh milk, and finally malt powder, lots of it. Because if you don't add lots of it, it tastes like a shake, and that is not what I ordered! You have to have enough to give the malt it's malt personality if you will. And most importantly you do not mix it up until it's as watery as milk ( something they don't seem to understand in australia where I purchased three different malts at three different places only to be served something along the lines of chocolate milk, and it seemed they never heard of malt powder) you only mix the malt enough to get it through a straw, there should be a thick muddy feel to the malt, and a second helping should be served in a tin mixing cup along with the original malt in the glass. Whip cream doesn't bother me, I can take it or leave it, but it is the dying artform of the malt maker/soda jerk that does bother me, I think we should all be aware of this and help to continue this dying, beutiful, comforting aspect of life, for our children if not for us ourselves.

Interest in the death of things
And the ideas in mind it brings
Perform tricks in hand, and finger
Left alone can only hone
The love of the art left to linger
True aim, and posterity
With the history of a family involved,
Make one think of his
Future, his work, and his
Loved one to hold
Tempting as it may be to forget
And destroy
All of the crafts, trades, and arts
That have brought us this far
It is just as tempting to uphold
and adore, and create with
History at our side
Tools in hand, on wood, under car
Attention to detail
Love of the past
And positive outlooks
For tommorrow
Are what should be embraced,
And shown,
In our words
In our hands
Forward in love
In life,
In death,
And in sorrow

Jack White
III

Hello Candy Cane Children,
Life is hectic. Meals have been good. Meg is in new york, I am in detroit. I want to tell everyone about my new favorite album. It's by a detroit songwriter named Brendan Benson, and the album is called lapalco . It's out now, and it is the best thing I've heard in years. I went with me mates to see him play in toledo last night, and there were only twenty people there, I couldn't believe how good it was, this man is a master song craftsman. again my sister and I are sorry that we can't be everywhere at once, but we are going to be playing in every part of america before the year is out, so please hang on to your ego, and let the cat out for the night, we are on our way. we will even be going to alaska in a couple of months for some shows. We leave in a few days for the east coast there is going to be a lot of good music coming along with us:

Brendan Benson
The Soledad Brothers
The Datsuns
Whirlwind Heat
Kid Congo Powers

Every night will be good, you have our guarantee, we are going to accomplish something, which I hope will exhaust everyone in the room. Meg says when do we get to see the Candy Cane Children? I told her just wait a minute Meg, I have to catch my breath, and put that cat down! You have to keep your eye on her. Next month we are going to work on our next album which will be called Elephant , I'm tired of waiting around, I want to record. We have about twenty new songs ready to go, including a beautiful song sung by miss Meg White. I'll let you know if we've accomplished anything of interest as far as that goes soon. Our mother said that she saw us on David Letterman's show, and she was pleased. Our father said he fell asleep and missed it, and was not pleased. In the end we all had desert together and we laughed.

Thirty little children
Ten are in my house
Ten are in my garage
Ten are in my yard
I'm looking for the time
To take each one in my arms
To go to the zoo
To eat their vegetables too
They run around like dogs
They have no concern
For breakable items
For pulled hair and bubble gum
These are the days
I am laughing all of the time
So are they
They say let's play some more
And i let them
What else can I do
The only thing is
I didn't know these children
A year ago
And i wonder if they will let me
Know them
One year from now.

Jack White
III

09.08.2002

Good Morning Little Children,
When I was a boy, things were different an old man would say. We didn't have to worry about things so much, we weren't so dependent on machines to be alive. If you think about it we never had to worry about hurting your ears because it's only since the dawn of machines that it's possible to ruin your hearing, that is unless you were struck by lightening. Meg and I have been rehearsing with Jack Lawrence, the bass player from the Greenhornes, because we are playing to sets of Yardbirds songs behind Jeff Beck in London next week. I0t's an honor for us. The Yardbirds, along with other English bands of the time, reinvigorated american blues from the south, turned it into rock n' roll, and then it became a huge influence to american garage rock bands of the sixties. The Yardbirds are definitely one of the most important english bands in the history of rock n' roll, and this privilege is not going unfelt by Meg and myself. It seems that we are all done playing shows for the rest of this year, in the last year and a half we have been to europe several times, Australia, New zealand, Japan, and several American tours. So to help keep ourselves from burning out, we are waiting until the new album Elephant is released early next year.
We will be doing the final mixdown of Elephant this month in London, and Meg and I have to say that this is our favorite record since our first album, and we hope that you get something out of it as well. Meg and I are also extremely proud of the fact that our favorite magazine MOJO has put us on the cover. we are the first current american band to be on the cover of MOJO, and we couldn't be more happy, MOJO is an institution in our homes, you never throw an issue away, they're like encyclopedia's that you get once a month. God bless them for continuing to promote and discuss the finest artists that music has to offer, (not that we're one of them! ) I've been staring at the wall a lot lately, and I'm finding myself sitting in weird places in the city nowadays. There are a lot of thoughts in my head these days, I can't even put pen to paper to express them all, some thoughts are getting locked away, and some are depressing. We have learned in the last couple of years what it's like to move from the small room to the big room, there are things we don't like about it sure, but there are many things we love about it. We aren't afraid of attention, we need it like any artist does, we have just always been concerned that it's for the right reasons, and we think for the most part, that that is true, and we thank all of you for that.

Three molecules
While walking around this tattered old house today
I came upon three molecules looking my way,
I stared at them for ages,
And checking all my gauges
I proceeded to examine them with instruments of great dexterity.
But as i was looking for answers,
Through bacterias, amoeba's, and cancers
I came across something that simply couldn't be.
One molecule was red
One molecule was blue
Put the third molecule my friend, was me.

Jack White
III

09.13.2002

We have finished the making, mixing, and mastering of Elephant, but won't let it out of it's cage just yet, it needs to graze on the plains for a minute. Perhaps it's not what Meg and i think it is, perhaps it's the worst album we've ever made, or perhaps we'll all be surprised. We'll see I suppose, but at the time it was a good feeling, and it may come back and roost forever. We just got offered to warm up for the Rolling Stones! Meg and i are excited, we can't wait to meet brian jones. We have just come from england, we took a left turn at greenland and ended up back where we started. We played Yardbirds songs with a Yardbird and were honored to do so. a lot of people don't realize that in England you can still go into buckingham palace and have tea with the queen for one pound fifty. And big ben, a cab driver told me, is not really called big ben, that's just the name of the bell inside, the tower that everyone calls big ben is really called St. Steven's tower, that's what I think he told us, and I was pleasantly surprised, I love when the whole world is wrong, it makes me laugh.

A tiny hearted bubble,
In the arms of a true loving woman in trouble
Breaks easily
And quickly
Turning hard men's granite hearts instantly to rubble
But if carefully grasped
And cradled in arms, with delicate fingers caressing
And sour tears and burdens masked
The sphere can live on in love
And replace confusion
Without wearing a glove
Or saying a word
It can last.

Jack White
III

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10.22.2002

We just completed a week of amazing, mutilating, political, and musical maneuvers. We opened for the Rolling Stones. Twice. For a stupid two piece band from detroit that is pretty much one of the most amazing things that has happened to us. We were allowed to perform on Saturday Night Live. For anyone who saw this or didn't Meg and I want you to know that we are extremely proud of our performance. That is exactly how we want the White Stripes to be heard and seen, it was perfect.
And I wasn't nervous. I don't get nervous. Whenever we are on TV we come home and someone always says you looked nervous well I must look nervous all day long, because I am at my most ease in my life on stage, no matter how hard of work it can sometimes be. Perhaps people are nervous FOR us.I've completed work producing a new album by the band whirlwind heat. It sounds amazing and will be coming out on third man records soon. They are extremely talented boys, and I think they are the new devo. I have a skunk, and a kudu.

I rode a bike around the neighborhood today.
I saw beck and the flaming lips last night.
I'm very tired.
I'm very happy.
I get confused and pathetic.
I'm a big fan of os mutantes.
I have a rubber ashtray now.
I've never owned a megaphone.
I belong to the ambivalent generation.
I want to belong to the beat generation.
I eat when necessary.
I love children and the thoughts they have.
I miss my love.
I'm a possessor of airplane tickets.
I'm a loser of check books.
I own a 1960 thunderbird sometimes.
I haven't upholstered furniture in a couple of years now.
I want some action.
I want a good friend like you do.
I want more.

Jack White
III

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A week before the battle of Bull Run, Sullivan Ballou - a Major in the 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers - wrote home to his wife in Smithfield:

July the 14th, 1861
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sarah,

The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow, and lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more.

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged. And my courage does not halt or falter. I know how American civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of The Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government, and to pay that debt.

Sarah, my love for you is deathless. It seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break, and yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God - and you - that I have enjoyed them for so long. And how hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us.

I do not return - my dear Sarah - never forget how much I loved you, nor that when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been.
But oh, Sarah... if the dead can come back to this earth, and flit unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you in the brightest day and the darkest night. Always, always. And when the soft breeze spans your cheek; it shall be my breath, or the cool air your throbbing temple; it shall be my spirit passing by.

Sarah, do not mourn me dead. Think I am gone, and wait for me. For we shall meet again.
Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later, at The First Battle of Bull Run.

10.30.2002

I have burned bridges across oceans
And let fire become truth
Air around baskets of eggs
Thick that it is
Thick that it is
Good friends we were
And grudges far too long
When ignorance Reigns over this
So hard to let Brightness in
Forward time swells
And anger into ambilvilence
Yet this hunger for Love never dies

But we can't go back
Truth is only in my mind like it is in yours
Truth isn't on paper for everyone
Their opinions are their reality
I can't prove a thing
I can't help you i can only forget
And find new things to bring smiles
Grass at our feet young one
New baby opens eyes
Cart is turned over
Eyes blink
Hands are untied
My mind is as positive as ever
But my faith in truth universal
Is slowly dying.

Jack White
III

Jack's Messages 2003

02.18.2003

Faye dunaway, your cheekbones
I can't help myself or runaway
In my meek bones, my flickering stare
Catches them unaware
As bonnie sucking down coke bottles
Or having a sasafras flip
I'm visibly connected to it
Coming out of this ragamuffin trip
She's my daughter she's my sister
We rob banks
Don't mess with me anymore
Don't confuse me
I'm upset with your cheekbones
My hands on the horn
My feet on the pedal
I don't want to bother you
I'm totally on the level
What can i say? you've always been this way
You are stuck in my fingers
Cut glass
Shake down these losers
Break my neck
What do you have in your pocket?
I'll pick up the check faye,
For you tomorrow
Anyday

Jack White
III

02.19.2003

Good Morning Children,
And goodnight Meg and i are violently pushing forward for absolutely no reason, we see elephant rising soon and it's uncomplicated presence forces us to wake up in the morning. I want to tell you about it some, but I don't know where to start. I designed the artwork myself and with the help of headcoats drummer bruce brand was able to bring it to printing block. I've seperated the earth into three parts vertically ( lattitude or longitude?) there will be six covers, one for vinyl, and one for compact disc in each of the three sections of the globe, that way Meg and I know where you got it from, such as the vinyl in australia will be the same as the vinyl in japan, but different from the cd in south america, which will be the same as the cd in north america. Don't you understand? Lots of lightbulbs going off, getting our feet on solid ground, attempting to destroy and rebuild at a moments notice. i'm very sad at some of you for peeking at you christmas presents before christmas morning, can't you wait? i can, well I do, we want you to have it when we want you to have it, it's unfair that some get a taste and confuse others before they have the chance to have it for themselves, but the devil is at work here and you will pay for your impatience. This world of have it now, millisecond attention span and gross neglect for quality is getting old. I'm getting old too, watch me slowly die. Meg coughed today. I looked at a puddle too. I told beck to get out of my bathtub, and I collected do not disturb signs with terry. mostly Ii had three minutes to myself today, and tomorrow too. some of the minutes are on loan. eating well though, and smiling politely to strangers, Meg says to hug you mothers tightly and I say to let you lamplight shine and burn. See you soon kids on a stage near you, boomdagle rumblefuss charpenhurper fortusblend and cateldragon.

Jack White
III

07.15.2003

Hello Candy Cane Children,
I broke my finger, three breaks, car wreck, horrible left turn in front of me, no chance of escape, air bag, the air near my fingers, devil in my left hand, doctors say no way, lot's of pain, typing with one finger, made it through year of rock n' roll death, got off with just a warning. Apologies to those wishing to see my hand live, soon enough I'm sure, now me and Meg can share war stories, I love when we share, like once there was a monkey, and we shared the experience as children do.

Jack White
III

08.01.2003

The White Stripes would like to apologize most sincerely to the admirers of the band who have faithfully purchased tickets to see us perform in the midst of this, a most unfortunate accident. A bone in the index finger of my fretting hand was shattered in an automobile accident, making it absolutely impossible to play guitar, especially since I've been instructed by doctor's that there is no way I can move my wrist until it is completely healed. The break did not heal properly, and surgery had to be performed. Three screws were placed in my finger to set the bones and insure complete recovery, three screws that will remain in my hand for life. I have provided a link on the White Stripes website www.whitestripes.com to a film of the surgery on my finger for those admirers of the band with tickets to cancelled shows to better understand the complexity of the situation.

Our shows from the ninth of July 2003 until the middle of September must all unfortunately be cancelled. This includes the festivals in the British isles, T in the park, witness, reading, and leeds. The real shame is that it is virtually impossible to make it up to those admirers who purchased tickets to those festivals with the sole intention of experiencing the white stripes live performance. We apologize to those people and hope that the other fine performers in the line ups will fulfill a lost space for you. As for the club touring dates we are currently doing our best to reschedule certain venues, but again misfortune prevails and we will simply have no time to make them all up. But we will do our best in the situation that we have been given. So, To those who care, or were wondering, meg and myself sincerely apologize to you and hope to get through this set back with the blessings of God.

Jack White
III

08.27.2003

Hello little children,
There was a possibility, and it was retriever who discovered this, his wits got keen earlier and now he knows this and tells me to tell you. When two or three are gathered in my name I am there with them, when two or three are gathered socially there becomes a new air in the room. The fortunate ones aren’t given the chance to speak up, the losers are the ones who took the risk. Words are thrown out and interpreted, jelly beans take on a whole different meaning to some, others attack back with awkward silence, but the perpetrator is definitely put in place by this. So we now discover that socially retriever is at risk BUT KNOWS THIS, so how does he reply? Now defensively acting (as he has been taught by his group to do) he “waters down” his words, and tries not to “ruffle the feathers” of the city fathers. Encounter ended, socially responsibility accomplished, egos stroked, he proceeds home. Retriever you animal! how do you do it man? Does being good add anything to existing? Do children cry for lack of more mature revenge? Does retriever bear a striking resemblance to a dog? All this and more discussed verbatim add nauseam con frijoles, let’s look at it this way: three people are sitting on a bench, one of them, let’s call her “amazing” says to one of the others, let’s call him “mr. Cotton”, “don’t you think that the sun burns beautifully?” and mr. Cotton replies (truthfully this time) “well amazing, is it not my right to deny the beauty of the sun, even when it shines in my face?, must I always agree with you for you are my mother?” amazing replies, “it is impossible for mother and son to always have the same opinions, but until you are of an age when your experience proves you worthy, when I doth say the sun shines sweetly, thou must reply ‘as you see it mother, as you see it, it does!’” now there are no problems here so far, children will want their freedom, and will challenge the authority at times as their minds grow closer to maturity, this is not disputed. But the third person had something interesting to say. Her name was exemplify, and she was not happy at the state of the union. She quietly spoke” don’t you both know that there are three truths?” amazing and mr. Cotton said “no we have not heard of this.” exemplify then states and I quote “one truth is what your own perception is, the other truth is what the collective perception is, and the third truth is THE truth, the only one that cannot bend and is constant for as long as the object, feeling, emotion, or instance lasts, this is the truth that only god knows, and that we only pretend to comprehend.”
A silence fell on the other two, they had stopped twitching their legs on the bench, and the air was humid now, but pleasantly. The bench was now a truth in three different ways. Were they in line with the one true truth, or were their own perceptions being clouded by outside influence. “Is it wrong to state anything at this point?” said mr. Cotton. Bewildered. Mother knows best and calmed him with a stroke of her arm on his shoulder. They were in this together. Exemplify laughed and slowly rose, the bench turned blood red and the beast within exemplify showed itself only for a second, the eyes turned white and the others looked as if they didn’t know what they saw what they saw what they saw, exemplify excused herself and walked off. Mother and child did not mention to each other what they thought they saw. Each one debating alone, afraid to bring to light what they may not have known to be true.

Jack White
III

09.18.2003

Move over children,
Let’s get comfortable now.
We can talk to the animals.
We can breathe with our brothers.
We can hope for the best.
We can challenge the mind.
We can open up and rush forward blood vessels upon the ground.
We can deliver fresh food to someone who cannot get it themselves.
So why do I worry so violet? Why do I need more from you and more from life? Why is it that I don’t become satisfied?
Cannot we break that rule? Cannot we break the tradition of mind?
Satisfaction is death. Satisfaction is death. Satisfaction is death.
It is the pursuit of happiness that brings us happiness, and not the happiness achieved.
I thought about this yesterday too.
So violet, will you then ever be satisfied with me?
You need to constantly pursue me.
You need to chase after something in me,
Always.
You can never be satisfied with me,
I hope you cannot.
I hope you cannot.
Let’s pursue this further.

Jack White
III

09.25.2003

Males are such despicable creatures.

Jack White
III

10.11.2003

Hello candy caners with beautiful brainers,
Well the days are just spin, spin, spinnin’
Meg was in the hotel lobby today waitin’ on a friend
I was on a cement stoop wishing I had my banjo.
We played in new zealand, beautiful towns and country
Now we are in australia and blowin through the dessert
With a fist full of whistles and beats
Meg white wakes up in the morning and composes beats.
Pretty soon it’ll be june and I’ll be chewing on plankton and dreaming up a new
Threat to the neighbors.
The press keep telling me what it is that “I’m doing”
I’m so thankful, without them I wouldn’t know
What I was up to.
Had a cracker today too,
Boy oh boy,
St. gregory and st. cecilia
Are looming large at the present
Hung out with heddy lamar
And joe meek today.
Passed on a chance to save the world,
But took these people up on a cup of coffee
And a toast to the children.
The future seems to be paved with video games,
The gone fishin’ sign has been replaced with “keep out”
Things are lookin up though,
California’s got a new governor,
And the rest of us are on a road to
Restfull retirements in winnebago’s
Traveling the countryside
Looking for nothing in particular.
That’s a beautiful thought.

Jack White
III

Jack's Messages 2004

03.22.2004

Disregard for the claims of justice under whatever pretext, has always been a manifestation, to say the very least, of shallow thinking, or rather a betrayal of real thinking. Only lovers of justice and truth can possess the kingdom of heaven, and to be children of God we must be lovers of justice, truth and peace.

Father Solanus Casey,
Capuchin Monk - Detroit, Michigan

Saint Michael the archangel,
dDfend us in battle.
Be our protection against
The wickedness and
Snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him,
We humbly pray;
And do thou, o prince
Of the heavenly host,
By the power of God,
Thrust into hell Satan
And all the evil spirits
Who wander through
The world for the
Ruin of souls.
Amen.

11.18.2004

Hello little candies,
I was supposed to tell you some things that I forgot, so I thought I would tell you about them now instead of never. The wicked witch said "what a world....what a world!" and I think she was right. Lil' Meg and I have this new film coming out and what not, I was supposed to tell you about that. Its called the blackpool show and you can watch it in the theater or at home too. I worked on it a long time, and this man Rob Jones drew some beautiful pictures of mastadons and meg. And this man dick caruthers did a lot of work editing the film. It took us a long time. There are so many secret things in it! I cant wait for you all to find the secrets. Sometimes you have to pay attention you know? Like listen really closely, or maybe somethings are upside down? Always look at things from more than one angle you know? But after you've done that listen to your gut and shoot from the hip. If you follow your heart you won't be sad with yourself. Always consider others advice (especially your parents) but in the end go with your heart. What a trip huh? Oh, and something else I forgot to tell you so long ago. We released different versions of Elephant on cd's and vinyl remember? Well, the vinyl version that you buy in europe is really special. And you don't know why? I was looking at differen't kinds of paper to use for that one. This girl, I forgot her name but she worked so hard.... I'll remember it soon I suppose, well she said look at this paper jack. I said "ooh this feels right" it was very cardboardy and smooth, I don't like gloss you know? The photo for that vinyl was velvety. I wanted paper that helped It be more velvety. Well guess what this paper was made of? You don't know? It was made of elephant dung. It was made by a company that makes paper out of elephant dung to help save the trees for the birds right? What a coincidence right? So if you buy the vinyl version of elephant in europe the cover of the record is made from elephant dung. Eeeew a little girl in france just said! and someone in norway just threw it in the trash!! maybe that;s where it belongs anyways right!!!????? What a world....what a world! Meg didn't go to sleep the other day until nine in the morning, she was up thinking about stuff she said. There's a little puppy by her I remember now. She was laughing about something too, she said "Jack you remember that song we use to do about the rise of passion amongst lonely hearts?" I told her I remembered that one. She said "that was a pretty funny one wasn't it?" I told her "no, meg it wasn't funny at all." then she laughed and said 'I knew you were going to say that!". We had some good laughs but the toast was cold. That little puppy wanted a piece of the toast I think. I should have given it some. Wait I did! that was funny! so I showed Meg the picture of her on the blackpool show she said it must of been cold. I told her that it wasn't real. She said yes it was and that she knew I would say that too! we had some more laughs. Today I got some new plans too. I thought about having a failure, but not a fake one a real one. Sometimes others try to throw failure upon you because of their own fears of failure. That's funny! but what about having a real one? I don't know. If the art of the failure on purpose could be taken for what it is, or if you could respect the unfortunate who don't understand that it is failure on pupose for the sake of itself to be viewed as such, then maybe you'll be alright. Sort of enjoying the success of not succeeding on purpose? That's funny! what a world. So meg made me smile again. See It was her Idea all along. She knows you too well! did you guys think you could slip past her? That's funny! were having so much fun, and we haven't even woke up yet! meg and I are just running and laughing the whole time. Were happy that we know you folks too you know? Oh, I just remembered also we released jolene on 45 for you if you want one. I was giving them out for halloween. One kid said it was a good treat but asked if he could have a seven nation army 45 instead. I told him it was sold out. Then he kind of sneered and walked away, but not before spitting on my lawn. What a world.....what a world.

Jack White
III

Jack's Messages 2005

June - 2005

Hello children,

Meg and I wanted to drop a note and extend gratitudes, and offer advice for attitudes, as we take a break from crossing latitudes On the way to your town. First, thank all of you senior citizens out there for buying our record this week. I'm sure there'll be a tango in the common room This Wednesday after bingo to "passive manipulation". All the children in latin america were so nice to meg. We had the best tour we've ever had, hard to top it really. How could we? Well let's try anyway. What do you say? When do we play america and england? This month it looks like, down in atlanta, That's georgia, home of blind willie mctell. Atlanta has always been nice to us. We'll be there Friday. Man what a day? Sort of hot. Meg and I also forgot to give you advice about books about our band. Here it is ... don't buy them. They are all horrendous, but Especially stay away from "fell in love with a band" by chris handyside. What a load of excrement he got published! Absolute Shit in our opinion, despite a luke warm review from the new york times. Chris is Another one of our "friends", more so a detroit opportunist, who saw to it to ask all The wrong people, the wrong questions, and have it printed. Of course you realize you can write a book, put someone's picture on the cover, and their names, and not have to get permission or give them a dime for it ... or have any ethics about it at all really. Well chris knew that! Having read it after tea on Sundays (which meg and I do with all the books about Ourselves) we really got tired of hearing lies about some things that never happened. Another shit horrible book about the band is everett trues book. Both of these Are more about cashing a check from publishers who could really care less, than informing a fan about the band. Note to anyone else interested in writing books about us: Why don't you wait thirty years first ... and then write about a band that you actually like. In other news, we played at a beautiful opera house in brazil, gorgeous really. There is a film about the place called "fitzcarraldo" its pretty good. What a place. Some jerk took pictures of the band and the crew catching sloths and Cayman alligators in the amazon and tried to use the internet to sell them as photos from my wedding, which of Course people believe because people will believe anything, just ask chris handyside. I'm sorry to say they aren't Wedding pictures. Just a bunch of loons catching spiders. Meg smiled. We have been having the grandest time. We made so many new friends in south america, mexico, and central america. Super people. Differen't attitudes down there. Lot of smiling. That was nice to see. I would love for you all to check out meg's new song "who's a big baby?" the flip of our blue orchid single in england. It's a complicated little tale of intrigue and romance ... i think. When do we come to town? Soon rabbit, soon. Neither bugs, nor boiling water can stop it really

Jack White
III

08.29.2005

Hello children,
Where are you?
I'm right here! c'mon, liars where are we? To tell you the truth I am right here. Meg and I are touring the united states. We haven't had a show yet from this album that we haven't liked. That's a new one for us. What happened to the old days? all the horrible promoters, jerk soundmen with attitudes, bar owners who would only give us two beers a piece? What happened to all those good times? It's the same stuff no matter where you go, you know? Don't matter if you're playing the ritz or the kit kat klub, the biggest theatre or the tiniest juke joint, it's all the same stuff. But for some reason we've been having better shows then ever. Almost fun, if we'd let it be! Sure, there is an occasional para-sailer landing on my amps, or a lack of running hot water on stage, but we'll make it through. Mostly because of the children and senior citizens at the shows. Meg and I take turns playing to either of them. Cool when they smile, good when they laugh, fun when they get mad, but always pleasurable. When a child or a senior citizen is having fun then it's good for everyone! no sarcasm intended either, I don't kid around about that stuff. But also I want to make sure people understood my recent comments about Paris hilton's dog. I was in no way threatening tinkerbell when I suggested one of our crowds sounded like a thousand tinkerbells being run over by a thousand cars. I was only trying to compliment the audience's enthusiasm, and I am truly sorry if I insulted the young pup. I can only imagine the little scamp drinking evian from it's pink rhinestone encrusted doggie dish, the little scamp! it don't know no better! good stuff. Paris, you kill me! I hope one day your talents are truly exposed, hopefully in some sort of reality based vehicle for the little girls to look up to easier. Let paris be paris people! She's just trying to live! As I write this letter to you all from my white rhinestone ncrusted computer, I am paused for thought on the state of the union as it were. That is the white stripes continuing struggle to out hip the hipsters. At times meg wanted to give up saying "jack, we just can't win with those jaded hipsters" I told her to not fear, just as they have abandoned us, came back to us, abandoned us, liked us, sort of liked us, called us sell outs, hated us, LOVED us, only bought our old records, hated us, then loved us....then ignored us, they would soon Love us again. As a matter of fact our new album was their idea, but at the last second, they denied it. But then meg said that a wise man once told her that if he had a nickel for every jaded cynical gen x hipster that had changed their mind solely based on the opinions of others around them rather than real internal gut feelings about something, well, he'd be broke because he......i forgot what she told me, but the point is we all love each other in this world and sometimes you don't even speak to your own parents for years, or some times you don't even know where to turn next, or sometimes you don't even know what's up and down anymore. I know I wouldn't be able to decide whether to spend my money on tickets to the white stripes show In town, or tickets to the dukes of hazzard movie starring jessica simpson, so I surely don't know how you kids do. Now meg and I can't promise you all the laughs and tears you might get at the movie cineplex, but we can promise you we'll give it the ol' college try. Although we are both college dropouts, who probably spent more money at the movies than anything else......who am I kidding anyway? I have absolutely no right to sit here and say ANYTHING really. Maybe I should have stopped after hello. Boy, you can get in trouble having an opinion nowadays can't you? Sometimes I don't know if the average kid would support me if I took on a whole Corporation or if they would think I was being too sensitive you know? Maybe I should wear a t shirt that says "I'm in a band that sells records at wall mart, and I receive money for those records sold, and I hate myself, and though I spent the money on kittens suffering from forest fires, I pity myself and the corporations that I myself am president of." maybe I should let modern society win? Maybe I should react solely based on other people's opinions of what I should do? Maybe I should start my own corporation for disenchanted unemployed ex-hipsters? Soon hipsters will be the new star trek fans. And star trek fans will be the directors and producers of your favorite movies. And where will that leave the white stripes and their fans? I suggest jumping off this sinking ship before the movie based on this true story comes out starring ashlee simpson as Meg White.

The preceding message was not necessarily the views of the white stripes or of jack and meg themselves. Nor is it an indication of the nature of modern pop culture in any ways shape or form. Jack and meg's words are neither gospel, nor the final opinion on anything cultural, artistic, or literary and the views expressed in the preceding message are purely coincidental to actual happenings in society today.

Thank You.

Jack White
III

12.28.2005

Childrens and People,

How are you? Well, then me too. I hope to have everything figured out for you one of these days. Sorry it's taking me so long. I'll get there. I was thinking of a story last night before I went to bed. It went something like this. An interviewer asked an actor if he liked apples, The actor knew if he said he hated apples, he would offend half of his fans, since half of his fans like apples. But the actor didn't want to lie and say he liked apples If he really didn't. Then the actor thought to himself, "what if I say 'I don't like apples, but I don't mind If others do'?" But all he could think of was the headline the next day:

"CELEBRITY HATES APPLES, COMMANDS ALL OTHERS TO FEEL THE SAME!"

That would surely be the way it was presented. Then the actor thought maybe he should explain why he didn't like apples very much, and that maybe with a little insight, people would Understand the reasoning behind him not liking apples. "No", he thought. "With all that explaining, They'll just think I'm trying to cover something up." So then, with truth somewhere in the mist, the actor slowly lifted his head, And turned to the interviewer and said... "I love apples!"

Funny story I think. God I'd hate to be that guy! you know?
What's wrong with apples?
Jeez. Some people out there just can't catch a break, like meter maids. They must get yelled at all day long. You know? See there's caring what people think, not caring what people think, pretending that you care what people think, And the wort of them all.... pretending that you don't care what people think. Most of them are lose-lose situations, If you're a politician. If you're a meter maid, oh well...... time to take up acting.

Jack white
III

11.14.2005

Hello Chillun,
Penny farthing and I took a walk today, around the island, and breathed fresh air. Were running out of things to do in the world, running out of places to play, And running out of air for our lungs. Feeling good as ever though, Last night we felt cozy in an old theatre. Weve been thinking too, Weve been handing out cds to download the denial twist, Every night we do it different see, for kicks and newtons.
We have done seven different versions of denial twist so far this trip:

Night one...electric guitar and drums
Night two...piano and bass rhodes and drums
Night three...acoustic guitar and drums
Night four...organ, rhodes electric piano, and drums
Night five...marima, drums, and special guest jack lawrence of the do whaters on bass
Night six...acoustic guitar, tambourine, and cardboard box on small stage
Night seven...mandolin, electric guitar, and drums

If you weren't fortunate enought to get one handed to you, You can get it this week I think. No one tells me anything though, So consult your local congressman.

How many cuold come out of ten fingers though? How much time do you have? Who are we to say no?
Then I took a break, took a long look at a cigarette, Took some pillows from the hotel, then returned them, Then took my time telling my mother about it. Penny and I miss america, did you know? Maybe penny. Should be Miss america? We miss the grand canyon, the grand tetons,and hundred grand candy bars. Penny killed an ant once too, and I didnt know whether to stop her or not. She says and does what she wants I spose. We played suzy lee tonight. I ate ginger in three forms today. One was a cookie. I couldnt see the crowd tonight because of the spot light. I guess you could always say that right? But I could feel them for sure. The blind might know love better than us, They might feel it better huh? They arent distracted by image Like you and me.

I grew up in detroit which is french for the strait
And the citys motto is we hope to rise from the ashes
Hope is a powerful, strong word.
The detroit is not actually a river,
Its a strait.
But no one seems to care.
The french arent there anymore.
They missed out on the self called hip hop mayor.
His dreams are beautiful and humble,
His vision of a new detroit is untainted
By corruption, or use of the towns credit card
Or big macs.
A visionary who knows the value
Of tax payers dollars,
And uses the citys money
Only for the right reasons
Like reconstructive surgery for strippers,
And cadillac escalades for.....well, hey
Who needs a reason for an escalade right?
The white stripes congratulate the reelected mayor
On another term of hip hope

Its dangerous to hope, and dangerous to care right?
Its never been cool to care,
And always been easier to say whatever.
It takes strong bones to be positive
And to do that it takes knowledge of whats wrong To know whats right.

Penny and I are sad that we have to Take a break soon. It takes so long to play the whole world Doesnt it? Why havent we played in india?
Why havent we played more in indiana? What is indie? What is mainstream? Is it sane to play mainly on the plains
Or only to the lonely?

What is my point? I dont know. Whats theirs? Whats yours? Am I allowed one? Are they? Its cool to be allowed one. I never got to have one as a child. Sometimes I dont get to have one as an adult. Penny laughs a lot. So do i. The best way to be positive about the world is To find ways to laugh at it. The best way to stay in a relationship is to find ways to laugh at each other. People who laugh more Live longer.
And by that fact get to laugh more, And in the end get to laugh On the graves of those who Laughed at them.
We are happier now than ever penny and I, These trips have lit up our faces, All around the world. From kansas, to canada.
From mexico to manchester.
Were even stopping in iceland to play on the Way home. How about that? Never thought that would happen.

Then again,
I never thought Id hear seven nation army played
On the bagpipes.
Though, I still havent.
Plenty to look forward to,
And Im well chuffed.

III Quid

Jack's Messages 2006

01.13.2006

02.27.2006

Hello Children,
The morning are quiet, and the evenings are loud and full of passions and spontaneity. I've regained the dignity that professional life at times tries to steal from your civilian life, and I'm the better man for it. Appreciation of God's grenery, and even man's concete lets new beaty invade your days and push you to search even deeper for it. Mostly I wish to sit and watch. Observations are questionable, but sometimes beautiful. The coward journalist for example. Like saying something as you are walking out the door. Not allowing room for any other side of the debate. But the sky diver, and the sewer worker have different perspectiver. They too have something to say. The internet blogger. All of twelve, with not much knowledge of the power of the written word. It's tricky, words can kill. The power that words have, printed words, it's dangerous. They don't teach you that in school. And journalists don't even have to got school anymore: Neither do musicians.

I'm geaded to Japan soon for the last performances of Get Behind Me Satan. Looking for a place to store the marimba afterwards. Maybe Meg's basement. What a funny album, coming from divided critics to supposed disappointing sales, to going platinum in several countries, to making most critic top ten lists, to winning a Grammy. That's funny right? When that happens pitchfork has to call spin to confer on whether to ignore or make fun of it. They lose perspective, the sewer worker below their lower east side Manhattan hipster bar out smart them every time. They all play a cowards game. Only one side to their playground. Such an easy fight that away. The faceless opinion of print and the internet. What is it teaching all of us? Back when there was a time when we had great writes, and respected journalist who had earned their position as tastemarkers, and won peoples respect with their knowledge and insight, it was much easier to understand a written opinio because you at least where it was coming from.
Now those printed opinions are probably coming from the person sitting next to you on his laptop at the small. Why should you care about their opinion? Why shouldn't you? Who are all of those people on vh1 trashing everyone? Why does a failed stand up comedian have the final word on the rubik's cube? They are currently I go to senior citsen community centers ofr my dose of editorial. At least know those people have lived long enough that isn't "allowed" to be critiqued. Be careful children, you don't have to listen to all of those opinions out there, and not even this one you are reading. Don't let bring you down, don't let them make you consume. Remember the person's opinion you are reading probably knows less about the topic you are Interesd in then you do. Find a mentor and put a little bit of trust in then. Discuss these things face to face and lear who you are in the process.

As fo Billy Childish, Meg and U readly feel sorry for you. It must be lonely sitting in all of that garage rock bitterness Billy. You know children, when you take someone else's music and put your own lyrics on top of it, it's still called plagiarism. Something Mister Childish hasn't learned yet. It's about the same as going to the writing "Childish" on it. By the way Billy, we didn't have to have you play with us, and we didn't have to mention you in interviews, we were just being polite in a foreign land. But you're welcome anyways. The bitter garage rocker... Children I've been around a lot of them, and for a while I expected to grow up to be just like them. But that's when you need to grad a hold of yourself and push away all of those abscurists and cynics. "Indie" isn't a word, handed down from God. You can't bless yourself with that word, you can't immerse yourself in the idea of indie and expect to be exempt from all contempt, artistic criticism, and "selling out". It doens't make your art pure just because you have knighted yourself anti-pop. For example, most indie record labels rip off band WAT more than major labels, you know why? Because they can get away with it. Because no one else is going to put out your album, so you've got nothing to complain about. Major labels can get sued, who's going to sue and indie label for three hundred bucks? That's actually something that I know a lot about, so you can trust me. All the other stuff I said is up to you. Talk soon, the world is looking beautiful.

Jack White
III

Hello children,
Japanese hotel rooms. The last time I was here there was a white peach in my room when I walked in. I'd never seen a white peach before. And I've still never seen a real white apple either. I don't know where Meg is. So nice to be in japan again. What a distinct and beautiful culture. I love guitar feedback. I have pictures of people that are important and beautiful to me. One is Gary Cooper and a chimpanzee. I love the chorus of Beyonce's new song. It's brilliant how confused it makes me as to how to sing along to it. I like that because it keeps me guessing. That's not easy to do. She has some wonderful melodies that woman. We are lucky to have talented people like that around coming up with things like that for the world. We are lucky to have so much. So much.

They have determined that there is a new species of sloth near Panama swimming in salt waters. They still don't know where the stolen Scream painting by Munch is. It'll come back sooner or later. What are you going to do with a stolen painting? Hide it in your attic? You can't show it to anyone really, if you're caught with it, I don't know. Strange.

Sometimes I get jealous of the nineteen year old walking down the street. Breathing that air in the fall on the way to school. It smells so good in the fall, and your life is totally in front of you. You could do or be anything, nothing is determined. What a great moment, a moment that is hard to hold and recognize.

Sometimes I've wondered if pursuing music has brought me into a mine field. I wonder how many mines it takes to overshadow the beauty of what I am impassioned to do. That's when you wonder if it's worth it or not. It's not as easy as saying "I don't care what other people think" and I'm going to do what ever I want. Sometimes it's not worth it. Van Gogh only sold one painting. He painted one every day. A new painting every day. No one cared what he did, and he had no friends. How lucky we are that he kept going. But how tragic for him to not feel love when he was creating. He has showed us the beauty of some interesting moments, and has made people curious just to the simple strokes of his brush. What a wonderful thing. I wish I could walk past him on a road. I wish I knew where our generation's Van Gogh is right now so I could be his friend.

How nice it is when art is pure and unhindered by other people trying to tear it apart. How rare that is I should say. I made a white apple once. I kept it on my mantle until it rotted within it's new white skin. God created a tree with fruit that he told humans not to eat. He created a possibility to not love him. We could have just been robots, why didn't he do that?

I've had a great day today. I flew for thirteen hours and I somehow didn't watch t.v. the whole time. I didn't notice until I was off the plane. I wonder what I was thinking about. I'm one of those people that you have tokeep your eye on or I'll wander off into the woods and forget to come back. But you can't punish me for that. Don't ask me my opinion and then punish me for the answer I give you! Better still, just don't ask. Or don't expect truth. Fruit from the tree of knowledge. I love it! If you think I'm going to give you an opinion that's popular then you are talking to the wrong person. I don't know how to do that. I don't know how to turn my brain off and do what you would like me to do. I don't know how to answer a question with the words "...I don't know". I'm trying to learn though so that you'll just let me do what I have to. Music is what I have to do, I only answer the questions so that I can do it. But I don't look at things like the boys in the top ten. I don't know how. I don't want to lie to you, but sometimes you make me feel like I should.

There was a small boy at the airport, maybe two years old, who came over to me and stood in front of me. I gave him a record that you can only get from me. He laughed and stared. For a second I wished I was no one else but myself. I'll never see him again but he was the most beautiful thing I've seen in a while.

Jack White
III