A Martyr for My Love for You

Album: Icky Thump (2007)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In August 2007, Guitar World asked Jack White if this song, which has the narrator pining for a leggy teen girl, was his contribution to the great genre of jailbait song. White answered: "I don't know, because I'm not sure who that character is. How old is he, the guy who's singing? Maybe he's 16 just like the girl." Jack White added: "The main idea is that the guy is going to make a sacrifice and not ever explore the idea of having a relationship with the girl, 'cause he knows it's going to end up anyway. What if we were smart as to do that in real life? Most people, when they start a relationship don't say, 'Oh come on, we know how this is is going to end. Let's not even bother.' The idea is, what's the difference between negativity and realism? They're very close. A lot of things I say sound realistic in my mind, but to other people they may sound very negative." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.