Black, a bad break-up or suicide?

Justin Case

Black, a bad break-up or suicide?

Omarama

i'd say the break up, but as has been said before pj songs, or any songs really, are left to be interpreted any way the listener wishes, thats the beauty of music

mad22

bad break-up

fran9480

I agree on the break-up theme. But, just to throw out a conspiracy theory...

The line "I take a walk outside...I'm surrounded by some kids at play" has always sounded like it was more than just a line. Thinking it was a girl, there was a pregnancy, and the child was somehow lost, leading, in-part, to the break-up.

slightofjeff

is this a serious question? this is one of the most direct PJ songs of all time.

"the love gone bad, turned my world to black"

that's what it's about.

prytocorduroy

fran9480 wrote:

I agree on the break-up theme. But, just to throw out a conspiracy theory...

The line "I take a walk outside...I'm surrounded by some kids at play" has always sounded like it was more than just a line. Thinking it was a girl, there was a pregnancy, and the child was somehow lost, leading, in-part, to the break-up.

Ooooooooo that's good. I never picked up on that. Good theory.

DOSW

fran9480 wrote:

The line "I take a walk outside...I'm surrounded by some kids at play" has always sounded like it was more than just a line. Thinking it was a girl, there was a pregnancy, and the child was somehow lost, leading, in-part, to the break-up.

Hmm... not so sure about that, but interesting theory. I figured it was just illustrating the contrast between childhood happiness/innocence and the way the protagonist is feeling.

But as always with PJ, it's all up to the listener.

stonesgstring

I think, but don't quote me on this, that Ed has said in the past that it's about the break up of a relationship.

But as people before have said, although the band may write songs with their own aspects, they leave the meanings up to the listener. I guess that's why the band don't talk about their personal meanings to them.

decides2dream

Omarama wrote:

i'd say the break up, but as has been said before pj songs, or any songs really, are left to be interpreted any way the listener wishes, thats the beauty of music

agreed.
the true beauty of all art...completely open to individual interpretation.

Pearl_Jam_Necklace

breakup (in my oppinion)

Gary Carter

break up song

La Mer

..

suffragette

Break up. But I like the lost child theory. Kind of ties it to "Porch".

SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr

fran9480 wrote:

I agree on the break-up theme. But, just to throw out a conspiracy theory...

The line "I take a walk outside...I'm surrounded by some kids at play" has always sounded like it was more than just a line. Thinking it was a girl, there was a pregnancy, and the child was somehow lost, leading, in-part, to the break-up.

That is an interesting theory.

In my mind, the song has always been about a breakup. After getting my heart broken, torn to pieces and lit on fire last summer, the lyrics took on a new meaning. As for the verse you're talking about, I always thought that the next lyric went "I can't feel their laughter, so why do I stay?" After my breakup, I felt numb and the lyrics I believed to be correct reflected that feeling. But apparently, the lyric is "I can feel their laughter, so why do I sear" which also reflects some feelings I had during my breakup. I went through a phase of anger in which everything bothered me... maybe the lyric is meant to reflect Eddie's experience of such a phase...

spnoone

i know someday you'll have a beautiful life

iamica

I think it's a breakup...the ending says it all for me, "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star in SOMEBODY ELSE'S sky, but why, why, WHY CAN'T IT BE MINE?"
Bitterness and regret that someone you loved will eventually belong to someone else.

SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr

For me, that lyric has also carried the feeling that while you may have lost the person you loved so much, you still care about them and want them to become a star.

Rhinocerous Surprise

iamica wrote:

I think it's a breakup...the ending says it all for me, "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star in SOMEBODY ELSE'S sky, but why, why, WHY CAN'T IT BE MINE?"
Bitterness and regret that someone you loved will eventually belong to someone else.

I love that line... That's why it always bothered me when Ed changed it to 'I hope you'll be a star in somebody else's sky'. If he hopes for someone to be a star, he may as well hope for it to be in his sky as well, right?

monkeyderfen

There is a live version, I think from 94, where Eddie sings "I don't think, these people understand, oh they don't understand, oh no one understands, we belong TOGETHER.."

I used to think maybe it had to do with a child. I thought he was singing more about a child, never seeing that kid...But that was when I thought the line was "legs spread out before me" and now I see that it's really "were laid spread out before me." Damn you Pearl Jam website! If you read it again thinking a child could be involved, or maybe they broke up, she took the kid, or I used to think it was about abortion, when I thought more about these things. Who knows!

Nothingman54

If I remember right Ed said it was about a girl who died. That was pretty much all he said, maybe an old girlfriend died or something.????

not4u

man, you just blew my mind
i say both now.
"And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass"
has just taken on a new meaning for me...i think now he's gunna cut his wrists with the broken picture glass to make his world black... fuck... thanks

damn_u85

I have listened to this song I dont know how many times. And when I learned how to play it I sang it all the time. This song touched me in the deepest way. I was going through a bad break up myself and all you have to do is listen to the lyrics and you'll get it. I dont see how anyone gets suicide out of it though


"I know she gave me all that she wore"

pearljamprincess

This is probably one of their most emotive songs and I remember hearing it for the first time after I broke up with my first boyfriend and feeling every lyric as if it had been written for me.

Thats why I love them - its better than therapy!

bambers-back

i love that song but u cant just right it off as a breakup song, yes it says someone elses sky but her being a star could mean she is nolonger of this world???
anyway it has the best depressing line EVER
''I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star in SOMEBODY ELSE'S sky, but why, why, WHY CAN'T IT BE MINE?"
that line and eddies voice combined makes the song, that lyric just cuts through me (sorry if that sounds gay) it makes me wonder how i would cope losing the one i love (again sorry if that sounds stupid and emotional)
the glass/ slitting wrists theory is interesting i cant believe i missed that!!!!

Siouxsun

http://www.songfacts.com/search_fact.php?combinedartists=pearl+jam

outspaced

Siouxsun wrote:

http://www.songfacts.com/search_fact.php?combinedartists=pearl+jam

what's that fucker from Stain'd doing singing Black??? Christ

Siouxsun

outspaced wrote:

what's that fucker from Stain'd doing singing Black??? Christ

I dont know but I would never have trespassed the territory if I was a musician !

faithful227

i have always thought of it as a breakup song. more so after i heard the "we belong together" tag. at camden night 2 this year ed brought it back, as a whisper right at the end. it was incredible and may be the highlight of all the shows i've seen. it was even better when they went directly into one of the best performances of crazy mary ive seen as well. awesome.

lifeisgood

Echoing what so many others have offered - so many of their songs can be interpreted in different ways.

I think it could be both. Bad break-up followed by suicide.

I don't think I've ever listened to this song without thinking about my brother-in-law, who committed suicide some time after his girlfriend broke up with him.

comebackwoman

faithful227 wrote:

i have always thought of it as a breakup song. more so after i heard the "we belong together" tag. at camden night 2 this year ed brought it back, as a whisper right at the end. it was incredible and may be the highlight of all the shows i've seen. it was even better when they went directly into one of the best performances of crazy mary ive seen as well. awesome.

That was such an amazing performance. It sent chills down my spine!

I have always thought of Black as a break up song...he desperately still wants to be with the girl (we belong together tag), but wishes her well regardless. It's filled with so much angst. Such a fitting song for anyone who has ever come to the realization that a relationship must end (or has ended) and is still struggling with accepting it.

Ms. Haiku

Hey...oooh...
Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay
Were laid spread out before me as her body once did
All five horizons revolved around her soul
As the earth to the sun
Now the air I tasted and breathed has taken a turn
Ooh, and all I taught her was everything
Ooh, I know she gave me all that she wore
And now my bitter hands chafe beneath the clouds
Of what was everything?
Oh, the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed Everything...

I take a walk outside
I'm surrounded by some kids at play
I can feel their laughter, so why do I sear
Oh, and twisted thoughts that spin round my head
I'm spinning, oh, I'm spinning
How quick the sun can, drop away
And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything...
All the love gone bad turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I will be...yeah...
Uh huh...uh huh...ooh...
I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky, but why, why, why
Can't it be, can't it be mine

What's interesting is that when I read the lyrics the ramifications of the break up seem more important than the break up. The artist has lost inspiration, and is really focused on that, it seems. How the art is affected. I'm sure there is the loss of the love, but the artist didn't see how the art would be affected, how the inspiration would be lost. What is more important, the loss of love or the loss of creativity?