The Big Three Killed My Baby

{{Short description|1999 single by The White Stripes}}

{{More citations needed|date=July 2009}}

{{Infobox song

| name = The Big Three Killed My Baby

| cover = The Big Three Killed My Baby.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the White Stripes

| album = The White Stripes

| released = March 1999

| recorded = January 1999

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Garage rock, punk blues

| length = 2:29

| label = XL Recordings

| writer = Jack White

| producer = Jack White

| prev_title = Lafayette Blues

| prev_year = 1998

| next_title = Hand Springs

| next_year = 1999

}}

"The Big Three Killed My Baby" was released in March 1999 as a 7" single and is the third track on re-releases of The White Stripes, the eponymous debut of the Detroit-based American garage rock band the White Stripes. A live recording of the song is featured on Under Blackpool Lights; the band's first official DVD release. The single is backed with "Red Bowling Ball Ruth".

"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. {{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} Jack White has stated in interviews that he does not believe music to be a viable medium for political messages and did not write another political song until the 2007 release of "Icky Thump" (which criticizes American immigration policy). The song mentions "Tucker's blood", a reference to Preston Tucker's ill-fated Tucker 48. 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."{{Cite web|url=http://www.whitestripes.net/faq.php|title=The White Stripes FAQ|website=Whitestripes.net|access-date=7 June 2021}}

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.