Last month Jack White signed a massive global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group giving the publisher global rights to White’s entire music catalog. Now, White White has announced he will be releasing a new children’s book called “We’re Going to Be Friends.” The track was released as a promotional single by White’s former band White Stripes from their album White Blood Cells in 2002 and was featured in the opening credits of the 2004 film Napoleon Dynamite. “We’re Going to Be Friends,” tells the story of a narrator who is at beginning a new school year and is worried about the idea of making new friends. Some lyrics of the song include a reference to the mysterious Susy Lee:
Fall is here, hear the yell
back to school, ring the bell
brand new shoes, walking blues
climb the fence, books and pens
I can tell that we are gonna be friends
I can tell that we are gonna be friendsWalk with me, Suzy Lee
through the park and by the tree
we will rest upon the ground
and look at all the bugs we found
safely walk to school without a sound
safely walk to school without a sound
The new picture book will be out November 7th via Third Man Books and was illustrated by “The Ren & Stimpy Show” and “Pee Wee’s Playhouse” animator Elinor Blake. The book will follow the adventures of the song’s protagonists, Suzy Lee and her friend. “Suzy Lee,” is a name than any White Stripe’s fans would be familiar with as she is not only is mentioned in the song, but makes recurring appearances in White Stripes’ discography. Their eponymous album also includes the song “Suzy Lee” and the White Stripes 5th studio album, Get Behind Me Satan, is dedicated to Suzy Lee, “Wherever she may be…”
The book comes with a download of “We’re Going to Be Friends,” along with cover versions by April March, the pseudonym of Elinor Blake, and the Woodstation Elementary School Singers.
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