As a new book of his lyrics, poems, and selected musings is published, Jack White, the renowned singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the White Stripes, reflects on his approach to poetry, politics, and the art of songwriting. The book, Jack White: Collected Lyrics & Selected Writing Volume 1, edited by Ben Blackwell, offers a comprehensive look at White's work outside of the White Stripes, including poems, Instagram ruminations, and scans from his notebooks.
According to Hanif Abdurraqib, a poet and critic, White's lyrics are often overlooked, and he wishes more people would recognize him as a writer of lyrics. White himself thinks that for every singer, the lyrics are overlooked, and that it's unfair to dismiss songwriters as poets simply because they set their words to melody. In an interview with The Guardian, White discusses his creative process and the themes that emerge in his work.
White's influences as a writer are diverse, ranging from blues musicians like Charley Patton and Son House to poets like William Blake and Shakespeare. He started writing poems as a teenager, inspired by the coffee houses in Hamtramck, a city in Detroit, where he would perform folk music and learn about art from various artists. White's love for arcane vocabulary is evident in his lyrics, and he often incorporates snippets and soundbites from other sources, such as Orson Welles's movie The Magnificent Ambersons.
Exploring Recurring Themes
Upon examining White's collected works, recurring themes emerge, including birds and trees, broken bones and lonely ghosts, God, and Detroit. White believes that these themes are a natural part of his creative process, and that they reflect his comfort zones and personal experiences. He makes no distinction between lyrics and poetry, considering all music to be the blues and all lyrics to be poetry.
White's dreams are often hilarious and off-kilter, and he has kept a dream journal in the past. While his subconscious mind plays a significant role in his creative process, he tries to balance stream-of-consciousness writing with more structured approaches. White rarely writes autobiographical songs, preferring to create characters and stories that allow him to explore different perspectives and emotions.
The Art of Reupholstering
White's approach to music, sculpture, and poetry is akin to reupholstering furniture – taking an old, beat-up piece and bringing it back to life. This approach is evident in his song Archbishop Harold Holmes, which is based on a letter from a traveling evangelist in the 1970s. White used this letter as a springboard to create a character and explore themes of faith, deception, and power.
While White has posted ferocious broadsides against President Trump on Instagram, he prefers not to write explicitly political songs. Instead, he creates characters and stories that allow him to comment on politics and social issues in a more nuanced and indirect way. White believes that this approach enables him to avoid being seen as preachy or didactic, and to encourage listeners to think critically about the issues he addresses.
Preserving the Past
White has maintained an archive of his notebooks and other ephemera, thanks in part to the efforts of Ben Blackwell and his brother Stephen. While he doesn't always prioritize preserving his own work, White recognizes the importance of looking back on his creative output and taking stock. He believes that nostalgia and a desire to move forward are both essential parts of his creative process, and that they enable him to find beauty in unexpected places.
As White reflects on his career and creative journey, he acknowledges feeling like a man out of time. He recalls looking up the definition of "anachronistic" 20 years ago and realizing that it described him perfectly – someone who is out of place and doesn't fit neatly into any particular category. This sense of being a misfit has been both a blessing and a curse, allowing White to maintain his creative freedom and individuality while also making it challenging for him to navigate the music industry and connect with his audience.
Jack White Complete Lyrics & Selected Writing Volume 1 is now available, offering a unique glimpse into the creative mind and process of one of music's most innovative and enduring artists.
