"The White Stripes were part of a wave of retro-minded young bands who gave rock music a much-needed jolt in the first few years of the 21st century, but they're less nostalgic bashers than a brilliant conceptual creation: a divorced Detroit couple who masqueraded as brother and sister, named themselves after their band (or vice versa), wore alternating white-and-red outfits, and rewired the blues for the new generation."

"I like them, but I don't see how they're in any way a manifestation of the blues."

"That would break up the thing of vocals, guitar and drums. Somebody else there would bring this fourth component. If you're going to have four components, you might as well have 20, y'know?"

"And if I'm wasting my time Then nothing could be better Than hanging on the line And waiting for an honest word forever"

"Just a rusty-coloured rain that drives a man insane"

"And then my idols walk next to me I look up at them, they fade away It's a destruction of a mystery The more i listen to what they say So does that mean that there's no more doin' And there's no more thinkin' And there's no more feeling 'Cause there's no right opinion So can you tell me what I'm supposed to do?"

"Come and tell me what you're thinking 'Cause just when the boat is sinking A little light is blinking And I will come and rescue you"

"I guess I'm just another runaway"

"And I don't wanna break the rules 'Cause I've broken them all before But every time I see you I wonder why I don't break a couple rules so that you'll notice me"

"You try to tell her what to do And all she does is stare at you Her stare is louder than your voice Because truth doesn't make a noise"

"My mind's already out of here"

"Soft hair and a velvet tongue I wanna give you what you give to me And every breath that is in your lungs Is a tiny little gift to me"

"It might sound silly For me to think childish thoughts like these But i'm so tired of acting tough And I'm gonna do what I pleaseLet's get married In a big cathedral by a priest 'Cause if I'm the man that you love the most You could say "I do" at least"

"I never said that I wouldn't Throw my jacket in the mud for you But my father gave it to me so maybe I should carry you Then you said "You almost dropped me" so then I did And I got mud on my shoes"

"Fell in love with a girl Fell in love once and almost completely She's in love with the world But sometimes these feelings can be so misleading"

"My left brain knows that all love is fleeting"

"It can't be love for there is no true love"

"Well, I'm sorry but I'm not interested in gold mines, oil wells, shipping, or real estate What would I liked to have been? Everything you hate"

"There is a man—a certain man And for the poor you may be sure that he'll do all he can Who is this one? Who's favourite son? Just by his action has the traction magnets on the run Who likes to smoke, enjoys a joke, And wouldn't get a bit upset if he were really broke With wealth and fame, he's still the same I'll bet you five you're not alive if you don't know his name"

"I'm coming through the door, but they're expecting more Of an interesting man, sometimes I think I can; But how much can I fake? I'll speak until I break; With every word I say, offend in every way"

"All you little kids seem to think you know just where it's at Oh, I think I smell a rat"

"What a season To be beautiful Without a reason"

"No harm will come of this One little midnight kiss"

"Don't wanna hear about it Every single one's got a story to tell Everyone knows about it from the Queen of England to the Hounds of Hell"

"All the words are gonna bleed from me And I will think no more"

"Listen, master, can I ask you a question? Is it the fingers or the brain that you're teaching this lesson?"

"I saw you standing in the corner On the edge of a burning light"

"You make me feel a little older Like a full grown woman might But when you're gone I grow colder Come to me again in the cold, cold night"

"I need the fuel to make my fire bright"

"I'm afraid to even open my eyes"