Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground


"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" is a song by American garage rock band The White Stripes, featured on their 2001 third studio album White Blood Cells. Written and produced by vocalist and guitarist Jack White, "Dead Leaves" was released as the third single from the album in August 2002, charting at number 19 on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart and number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.

Reception

In a review of the song for allmusic, Tom Maginnis describes "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" as a "grimy rocker", noting it as a display of the duo's "keen understanding of musical dynamics".

Music video

The music video for this song, directed by Michel Gondry, depicts Jack White coming back to his trashed London house and surveying reckless destruction. While he goes from room to room, video of the party events that led to the decimation is projected over the scenery, until in the final scene she leaves him.

Track listings

All songs were written by Jack White, except "Stop Breaking Down" by Robert Johnson.
7" vinyl
  1. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
  2. "Stop Breaking Down"
CD single
  1. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
  2. "Suzy Lee"
  3. "Stop Breaking Down"
DVD single
  1. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
  2. Interview with Arthur P. Dottweiler

    Charts

Use in ''Rock Band''

The song was made available to download on May 23, 2011 for play in the Rock Band 3 music gaming platform in both Basic rhythm, and PRO mode which takes advantage of the use of a real guitar / bass guitar, along with standard MIDI-compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to vocals.

Cover versions