Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground

"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
Single by the White Stripes
from the album White Blood Cells
Released July 1, 2002
Recorded February 2001
Studio Easley-McCain Recording (Memphis, Tennessee)
Genre Rock
Length 3:04
Label
Songwriter(s) Jack White
Producer(s) Jack White
The White Stripes singles chronology
"Fell in Love with a Girl"
(2002) 		"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
(2002) 		"We're Going to Be Friends"
(2002)
Music video
"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" on YouTube

"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 July 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". Paste and Stereogum ranked the song number three and number five, respectively, on their lists of the 10 greatest White Stripes songs.

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 (and of his and Meg's relationship before he left) 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-inch vinyl (XLS 148)

  1. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
  2. "Stop Breaking Down" (Robert Johnson cover; live at the BBC Studios, Maida Vale)

CD single (XLS 148CD)

  1. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
  2. "Suzy Lee" (live at the BBC Studios, Maida Vale)
  3. "Stop Breaking Down" (live at the BBC Studios, Maida Vale)

DVD single (XLS 148DVD)

  1. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" (music video)
  2. Interview with Arthur P. Dottweiler

Personnel

Personnel are taken from the UK single CD liner notes

Charts

Chart (2002) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC) 26
UK Singles (OCC) 25
UK Indie (OCC) 3
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard) 19

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States July 1, 2002
V2
United Kingdom September 2, 2002
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
 XL

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