Jack White is one of the artists involved with Tidal, the artist-owned streaming service launched by Jay Z. Over the past week, he's been contesting the frequently brought-up argument that the service mostly exists to help rich artists get richer. In an online Q&A this past Wednesday, White pushed back: "What is elitist about it? Who's speaking for the little guy?"

Tonight, he's penned a poem for the Third Man Records blog entitled "music is sacred". It addresses the "sanctity of music" and those who threaten it: "jump in front of demons,/and stand over cowards and those who would intend/to rip out your lungs and dampen your desire". Read it below.

Read "Tidal and the Elusive Promise of Streaming Music" on the Pitch.

music is sacred those of you who stand for the sanctity of music

so that its soul can breathe

and be heard

so that it blooms in graveyards

echoes in hotel hallways

awakens neighbors in the night

and fills peoples minds with fire

shout it out loud with whatever microphone you have

or these stones will shout for you.

jump in front of demons,

and stand over cowards and those who would intend

to rip out your lungs and dampen your desire

tell the living and the dead

what you know in your heart to be true

and what you know your ears

will forever hear

that the melody of the human race

is a song that never ends.

music is sacred.

Update: A representative for White shared this statement about the poem: