Lyrics
Meaning
The song “Black” by Pearl Jam is a song about love, loss, and heartache. The lyrics tell the story of a man who has lost the woman he loves and is now living in a world of sadness and loneliness. The lyrics start off with the man describing how he once had a beautiful relationship with this woman, but now the sheets of canvas and clay are untouched and all the horizons have revolved around her soul. He reflects on how he taught her everything and how she gave him all she had, but now his hands chafe beneath the clouds of what was everything. The pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything.
The man then takes a walk outside and is surrounded by children playing, yet he can only feel the pain and sadness he is feeling. He reflects on how quickly the sun can drop away and how all the love has gone bad and turned his world to black. He wishes that he could have the beautiful life that he knows the woman he loves will have with someone else, but he knows he can’t. The song ends with the repetition of the words “doodoo-doo-doo-doodoodoo” to emphasize the emotional state of the man.
Sing-Along
Now try to sing along with the piano cover of Black. Remember to press the Record button below so you can listen to your recording when you’ve finished.
And in the middle of the night
I may watch you go
There’ll be no value in the strength
Of walls that I have grown
There’ll be no comfort in the shade
Of the shadows thrown
But I’d be yours if you’d be mine
Stretch out my life
And pick the seams out
Take what you like
But close my ears and eyes
Watch me stumble over and over
I had done wrong
You built your tower
But call me home
And I will build a throne
And wash my eyes out never again
But love the one you hold
And I’ll be your gold
To have and to hold
A lover of the light
With skin too tight
And eyes like marbles
You spin me high
So watch me as I glide
