White Stripes – im Lonely But I Aint That Lonely Yet I‘m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet) – The White Stripes (press play)
Last week, The White Stripes announced that the band “has officially ended and will make no further new recordings or perform live.” In the announcement, Meg White and Jack White noted that the end is not due to differences or to any health issues. The split is for many reasons, “but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way.” They conclude with a warm thank you to the fans:
“The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want. The beauty of art and music is that it can last forever if people want it to. Thank you for sharing this experience. Your involvement will never be lost on us and we are truly grateful.”
The news may not be that surprising to most people, as Jack White has been working on other projects for several years, including his work as part of the bands The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather. But he was most identified with The White Stripes, and he and Meg even appeared on an episode of The Simpsons. On the other hand, considering that they were married when the band formed in 1997 (although they initially claimed they were brother and sister), and then divorced in 2000, in some ways it is amazing that they worked together for so long.
I have a few albums by The White Stripes, and it always impressed me how they got such big sound with just two people. One of their quieter songs, though, is “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t that Lonely Yet)” off their Get Behind Me Satan
CD. It is a beautiful song, simply about being lonely, missing people, and contemplating suicide. Although it is not as loud as many of their other songs, it is still powerful with Jack White’s voice singing over the piano.
I also have a strong fondness for Jack White’s work outside the band. So I hope the news of the White Stripes’s demise means he will spend more time on work like he did with Loretta Lynn for her album Van Lear Rose (2004). Below is their duet of the song, “Portland, Oregon.” The song is about a one-night stand:
Well Portland Oregon and sloe gin fizz
If that ain’t love then tell me what is
Well I lost my heart it didn’t take no time
But that ain’t all. I lost my mind in Oregon
His guitar work on the song adds great texture, and the rock band sound contrasted with Lynn’s country voice created a modern classic. The long 97-second instrumental build-up to Lynn’s voice is perfect. One of my favorite parts of the video is that White and Lynn do not seem to know how to look at each other. I assume if they were closer in age, they would have been gazing lustfully at each other like lovers while they sang. Instead, they look like a couple of friends — or mother and son — singing about a one-night stand.
The song won “Best Country Collaboration with Vocals” at the Grammys, but is it country? I do not know. I just like it.
Will you miss The White Stripes? Leave a comment.
Bonus Documentary: The band was profiled in the 2009 documentary The Great White Northern Lights.
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On September 22, 1985, the first “Farm Aid” was held in Champaign, Illinois. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp organized the benefit concert for struggling American farmers. Performers at that concert included a broad range of performers, including Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Hoyt Axton, Don Henley, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Billy Joel, Waylon Jennings, John Denver, Loretta Lynn, Joni Mitchell, Charley Pride, Sammy Hagar, George Jones, and Lou Reed.
