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Music

A Poet's Response To Jack White's Poem About Music

We, too, heard the muse's call.

Jack White shared a poem called "music is sacred" to his Third Man Records blog last night. It's a call to arms to lovers of music to "jump in front of demons" to defend the artist's freedom to create. The timing's peculiar, since earlier this week he fielded an interview from his own website to address fans' criticism of his participation in Jay Z's Tidal cabal. A rep quickly stepped in to assure everyone that the poem was completely unrelated to the Tidal discussion and punted it over to Third Man Books. Here's White's "music is sacred" and a response piece we're calling "But You're Not" from an anonymous but very respected poet:

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"music is sacred"

those of you who stand for the sanctity of music
so that its soul can breathe
and be heard
so that it blooms in graveyards
echoes in hotel hallways
awakens neighbors in the night
and fills peoples minds with fire
shout it out loud with whatever microphone you have
or these stones will shout for you.
jump in front of demons,
and stand over cowards and those who would intend
to rip out your lungs and dampen your desire
tell the living and the dead
what you know in your heart to be true
and what you know your ears
will forever hear
that the melody of the human race
is a song that never ends.
music is sacred.

"But You're Not"

Jack White is tight
That poem was not
He wants us to fight
But he's lost the plot
Third Man is dece
The White Stripes were rad
But this shit was weak
And his fans are mad
So please take the hint
Stop selling us Tidal
You're making a mint
Off gimmicky vinyl