A live recording of the song is featured on Under Blackpool Lights; the band's first official DVD release.

"The Big Three" refers to the three major automakers in the 1950s and 1960s: Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, all of which have their headquarters in Detroit.

The song is an attack on these companies, relating to the engineering technique of planned obsolescence, and a short-sighted lack of innovation.

Throughout the White Stripes later years, they performed the song live with alternate lyrics referring to the Iraq War: "Bush's hands are turning red... and I found out your baby is dead.

"[1] The photo that the band is standing in front of on the single's cover has a note on it, which reads "Insert your money here", a reference to the costs of maintaining automobiles which are intentionally engineered to become prematurely obsolete.