Broken Bricks
White Stripes, The · White Stripes
Well have you been to the broken bricks girl?
Snuck down through the cyclone fence?
Past the caution tape and the security gate,
backwards to the break room bench?
Well there was a little corner,
where you first got kissed,
and felt your boyfriend's fist,
and made the company list.
And there's a little spot,
where your dad ate lunch,
and your brother landed his first punch,
yeah yeah yeah...
Well now you've been to the broken bricks girl,
seen the barrels that they've left behind.
Seen the machine that got aluminum clean,
and cut tape from the caution sign.
I've broken two window panes;
just a rusty colored rain that drives a man insane.
You tried jump over water but you land in oil,
climbed the metal of a broken crane,
yeah yeah yeah...
Don't go to the broken bricks girl,
it's not a place that you want to be.
Think about the spot your father spent his life,
demolition calls it building C.
Demolition calls it building C now,
demolition calls it building C now...
Yeah
Broken Bricks
Broken Bricks stands as a defining track from The White Stripes' self-titled 1999 album, capturing the duo's raw, minimalist approach during their formative years. Jack White's aggressive guitar work and Meg White's steady, understated drumming create a driving rhythm that propels the song forward with characteristic intensity. The recording exemplifies the band's early commitment to a stripped-back aesthetic, relying on the interplay between electric guitar and percussion to convey emotional depth without unnecessary embellishment. As part of a discography that would later redefine garage rock, this song highlights the group's ability to craft compelling narratives through simple, powerful instrumentation. It remains a testament to their unique chemistry and the enduring appeal of their lo-fi sound.