| In the Cold, Cold, Night | |
| Cover: | Meg White Under Great White Northern Lights.jpg |
| Caption: | Meg White performing the song in 2007 |
| Type: | song |
| Artist: | the White Stripes |
| Album: | Elephant |
| Recorded: | April–May 2002 |
| Studio: | Toe Rag Studios, London |
| Composer: | Jack White, Meg White |
| Lyricist: | Jack White |
| Producer: | Jack White |
"In the Cold, Cold Night" is a song by American rock duo the White Stripes from their fourth studio album, Elephant (2003). The fifth track on Elephant, it was written and produced by Jack White specifically for Meg White to sing, which was her first time performing as the band's lead vocalist. Musically, the song features a minimal soundscape and lyrics about a woman awaiting her lover's return.
"In the Cold, Cold Night" was received positively by music critics, who praised its composition and Meg's vocals. It is considered one of the White Stripes' best songs.
The White Stripes made their recording debut in 1998, where guitarist Jack White was established as the duo's vocalist and drummer Meg White occasionally performed background vocals.[1] After the band's international breakthrough in 2001, they began to create material for their fourth studio album, Elephant (2003).
"In the Cold, Cold Night" was one of eleven songs recorded through April and May of 2002 at Toe Rag Studios in Hackney, London.[2] The song marks the first time Meg recorded leading vocals on any track of the band to that point; to gain confidence in her singing abilities, she sang more during their live performances.[3] Meg would sing lead once more in "Passive Manipulation" for their fifth studio album, Get Behind Me Satan (2005).[4]
"In the Cold, Cold Night" is an alternative rock, blues rock, and garage rock song.[5] Unlike the band's prior work, the song does not have any percussion and features a minimalist soundscape of guitars and bass pedals of a Hammond organ.[6] [7] The song is written in the key of D minor, and Meg's voice ranges from soprano to mezzo-soprano.[8]
Jack wrote "In the Cold, Cold Night" specifically for Meg to sing. Though its lyrics have been interpreted ambiguously, the song is about a young—and possibly inexperienced—woman pleading for her lover to return.[9] [10] Critics have noted its contrast to the rest of the the band's songs, for both Meg's leading position and its cryptic atmosphere.[11]
Though "In the Cold, Cold Night" was never released as a standalone single, it received positive reviews from music critics, and a visualizer was created for Elephant
Matt Harvey of BBC said that "Meg speaks and (unlike her drumming) comes across all fey and, well, sort of pre-Raphaelite in a down-town Motor City kind of way. [...] it's all so divinely confident, so sexy."[13] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called her vocals "childlike" and deemed it a "radical departure" for the band from their usual sound.[14] Stephen Trageser of Nashville Scene believed the song has an "unsettling, ambiguous sentiment" with a "determined creepiness". Ron Hart of Spin called her vocals "sweet and tender", and Cat Clyde wrote for Spin: "I loved that Meg’s voice was timid. It felt so real. [...] I still feel today it’s such a perfect recording."[15] Tom Breihan of Stereogum said she "brings a magnetic remoteness" and called it "beautifully weird".[16]
On a Medium list ranking 79 songs of the band, "In the Cold, Cold Night" placed in the top 20, and Meg's vocals were called "seductive".[17] Petridis included the song on The Guardian
The song was a staple of the White Stripes' live performances, and was frequently performed by the band from 2003 until their final performances in late 2007.[19] Notable performances of the song include at the Aragon Ballroom in 2003,[20] Madison Square Garden in 2007,[21] and during their 2007 Summer Tour in Canada featured in the documentary, Under Great White Northern Lights (2009).[22]
In 2012, the song was covered by singer Tracey Thorn for her Christmas album Tinsel and Lights.[23] In 2013, the song was covered by singer-songwriter Wanda Jackson for the compilation album Rockin' Legends Pay Tribute to Jack White.[24]
Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Elephant.[25] The White Stripes
Additional personnel