When Jack White recently criticized his hometown of Detroit, MI, some responded with their own criticisms of the White Stripe. Never to do things the normal way, Jack decided to kiss and make up by writing a poem for his stomping grounds. No word yet from Detroit if she accepted the apology. MP3s and entire poem after the jump.

MP3: It’s My Fault for Being Famous (with Beck)

MP3: We’re Going To Be Friends

Read the entire background behind the poem at the Huffington Post.

Courageous Dream’s Concern

I have driven slow,
three miles an hour or so,
through Highland Park, Heidelberg, and the
Cass Corridor.
I’ve hopped on the Michigan,
and transferred to the Woodward,
and heard the good word blaring from an
a.m. radio.
I love the worn-through tracks of trolley
trains breaking through their
concrete vaults,
As I ride the Fort Street or the Baker,
just making my way home.

I sneak through an iron gate, and fish
rock bass out of the strait,
watching the mail boat with
its tugboat gait,
hauling words I’ll never know.
The water letter carrier,
bringing prose to lonely sailors,
treading the big lakes with their trailers,
floats in blue green chopping waters,
above long-lost sunken failures,
awaiting exhumation iron whalers,
holding gold we’ll never know.

I’ve slid on Belle Isle,
and rowed inside of it for miles.
Seeing white deer running alongside
While I glide, in a canoe.
I’ve walked down Caniff holding a glass
Atlas root beer bottle in my hands
And I’ve entered closets of coney islands
early in the morning too.
I’ve taken malt from Stroh’s and Sanders,
felt the black powder of abandoned
embers,
And smelled the sawdust from wood cut
to rehabilitate the fallen edifice.

I so love your heart that burns
That in your people’s body yearns
To perpetuate,
and permeate,
the lonely dream that does encapsulate,
Your spirit, that God insulates,
With courageous dream’s concern.

MP

Via PF: Jack White’s other other better half has decided to get the record to fans as soon as possible upon finishing it not two weeks ago.  The 14-track Consolers of the Lonely will be available in all formats.

Buy The Raconteurs/MP3: Call It a Day

MP

UPDATE: 3 “cold” MP3s posted below.

From our Carl Carpenter file, from MTV:

WHITE AND DYLAN COLLABORATE
Jack White says he’s working with Bob Dylan on his new album, a set of
unfinished songs started by late country star Hank Williams. White is one
of a number of high profile musicians Dylan has asked to contribute, writing
lyrics for the incomplete tracks. Explaining that he had worked on the song
‘You Know That I Know’, White explained how other stars had been asked by Dylan to help out with around 25 different tracks. “He did one, asked Willie Nelson to do one, asked me to do one, and I think Lucinda Williams and Alan Jackson are on it too”, he told MTV. “I think it might come out this year. It’s a cool record”.

Be sure to visit Carl’s London blog, and check back later below for MP3s.

Buy The White Stripes/MP3: In the Cold, Cold Night

Buy Bob Dylan/MP3: Cold Irons Bound
Buy Hank Williams/MP3:  Cold, Cold Heart