"Black" revisited
MarylandTeacher
Posts: 233
Friends and beloved Pearl Jam fans,
It has been said by someone far wiser than I that most good fiction contains certain elements of autobiography within its hallowed pages. I agree with that statement. And if it has been said that Art Reflects Life, then we must assume the Life Reflects Art. They go together like peas and carrots. This much being true, can the same be said for lyrics? I feel that most good songs are born from something. They come from someplace. I can only ponder how many stars use elements of their personal lives to fuel the fire of their creation. I have collected a handful of “tags” that Eddie Vedder has used either before or after he performed “Black.” In short, I feel that these tags tell a tragic story. While we know that Eddie Vedder wrote “Black,” is he the narrator within the song, or is he merely the author? Regardless, I feel that the “tags” within “Black” follow a pattern. My thesis is that I feel that these tags weave a tangled tale of both loss and healing.
The early tags to “Black” show the narrator at his worst. He pines over love lost, and he is self-tortured. The pain and hurt within “Black” are obvious. In 1992, during the Riverside/Newcastle, England concert, Vedder, almost as an afterthought, whispered, “It’s her birthday,” to the audience. It’s hard to hear, and it’s easy to miss. Who is this mystery woman? Since he mentioned her, she has to be important. Is she the woman who scarred the narrator from “Black”?
As early as 1994, EV adds the classic tag that talks about, “we belong together." This begins a pattern that lasts over ten years worth of performances. In Atlanta, during Pearl Jam’s 1994 tour, Vedder belts out the following lament:
I don't...
I don't think...
...these people understand...
...oh they don't understand....
...oh no one understands...
...we belong together...together...
...together
Being hurt and feeling that no one understands your pain echo the feelings felt by most young people. This tag is one voice that speaks for the mute across all cultures, races, and geographic locations.
Lamenting over what could have been, what should have been, continues during the Ottawa tour of 2005. During one of those performances, Vedder ponders aloud:
You are the stars in the sky
Thought you were up in mine
Still I wonder
I wonder
I wonder
You're so long gone
We've all come alone
Still I wonder
Still I wonder
With each breath I know you're there
Somewhere
I wonder
I still wonder
As a teacher, a parent, and a husband, I cannot help but to wonder who she was. Who hurt him so? And how many of us can remember that one relationship, either during high school or perhaps later, that we thought may have turned out to be the relationship? Vedder captures that sense of pain from love lost when his prose guides us back to what could have been.
During the Berlin—2006 tour, Vedder returns to his pain when he reminds us the damage that heartache can wreak upon us:
time heals the wounds
no one can see
time heals the wounds
no one can see
but my memories, my memories, won't let me be
my memories
won't let me be.
we belong....we belong together....together...
together...we belong....we belong together
....together...together...together
we belong...
In this tag, Vedder is haunted by what could have been, tormented by his memories. He seems entrenched within the deep hole in his heart, unable to climb out of that pain.
This pain, this longing, finds a voice during the Hololulu, HI--2006 tour. During this tour, Vedder returns to a time-honored tag:
We belong...We belong together
together...together.
We belong...we belong together, together
We belong, we belong
This is the classic “Black” tag, and it is this tag that most fans seem to remember. Some love it, some hate it; but it is classic Eddie Vedder.
By 2007, the narrator from “Black” (or, alternatively, Mr. Vedder himself) seems to be putting those feelings of loss behind him:
what could have been
what could have been
will never be
it could have been here
I could have been there
well I want to be here
fuck you and them
I'm with my friends (fans?)
I've got an end
what could have been
what could have been
no longer care
I no longer care
it's all right, it's all right
it's all right, it's all right
The narrator from “Black” seems to have come to terms with something, finally putting it to rest. Those deep struggles, those painful ramblings, so pervasive in the earlier tags, are now gone, replaced by the bittersweet thoughts of a man who has now found solace. The Madrid, Spain—2007 “Black” tag—“what could have been” seems to suggest that EV has come to terms with whatever may have been the creative fuel behind “Black.” The demons he once wrestled with are now gone. Perhaps he has found peace at last.
What do you think? Has the narrator from “Black,” who may or may not be Eddie Vedder, finally put the loss behind him? I’m not saying anything negative about EV. He is entitled to add anything he wants to his music, which may or may not be autobiographical. Lyrics are not necessarily a window to one’s soul. We, the fans, will always wish him the best.
And how many of us don’t have a “Black” from our own personal history? How many of us know all-too-well how much it hurts to lose that one special person? Look at the tags and come to your own conclusion.
Maryland Teacher.
PS….if you know of any other verifiable “tags,” please send me a PM.
Marseille 2006: "We don't belong together"
Melbourne 2006 (III - I guess): "We didn't belong together", after he pleases "Somebody help me (please)" and "Pull me up"...
Santa Barbara 2006:
"(It) take(s) the pain away
when I hear you say
du du dut dut du du duu..."
Pistoia 06 ?
It has been said by someone far wiser than I that most good fiction contains certain elements of autobiography within its hallowed pages. I agree with that statement. And if it has been said that Art Reflects Life, then we must assume the Life Reflects Art. They go together like peas and carrots. This much being true, can the same be said for lyrics? I feel that most good songs are born from something. They come from someplace. I can only ponder how many stars use elements of their personal lives to fuel the fire of their creation. I have collected a handful of “tags” that Eddie Vedder has used either before or after he performed “Black.” In short, I feel that these tags tell a tragic story. While we know that Eddie Vedder wrote “Black,” is he the narrator within the song, or is he merely the author? Regardless, I feel that the “tags” within “Black” follow a pattern. My thesis is that I feel that these tags weave a tangled tale of both loss and healing.
The early tags to “Black” show the narrator at his worst. He pines over love lost, and he is self-tortured. The pain and hurt within “Black” are obvious. In 1992, during the Riverside/Newcastle, England concert, Vedder, almost as an afterthought, whispered, “It’s her birthday,” to the audience. It’s hard to hear, and it’s easy to miss. Who is this mystery woman? Since he mentioned her, she has to be important. Is she the woman who scarred the narrator from “Black”?
As early as 1994, EV adds the classic tag that talks about, “we belong together." This begins a pattern that lasts over ten years worth of performances. In Atlanta, during Pearl Jam’s 1994 tour, Vedder belts out the following lament:
I don't...
I don't think...
...these people understand...
...oh they don't understand....
...oh no one understands...
...we belong together...together...
...together
Being hurt and feeling that no one understands your pain echo the feelings felt by most young people. This tag is one voice that speaks for the mute across all cultures, races, and geographic locations.
Lamenting over what could have been, what should have been, continues during the Ottawa tour of 2005. During one of those performances, Vedder ponders aloud:
You are the stars in the sky
Thought you were up in mine
Still I wonder
I wonder
I wonder
You're so long gone
We've all come alone
Still I wonder
Still I wonder
With each breath I know you're there
Somewhere
I wonder
I still wonder
As a teacher, a parent, and a husband, I cannot help but to wonder who she was. Who hurt him so? And how many of us can remember that one relationship, either during high school or perhaps later, that we thought may have turned out to be the relationship? Vedder captures that sense of pain from love lost when his prose guides us back to what could have been.
During the Berlin—2006 tour, Vedder returns to his pain when he reminds us the damage that heartache can wreak upon us:
time heals the wounds
no one can see
time heals the wounds
no one can see
but my memories, my memories, won't let me be
my memories
won't let me be.
we belong....we belong together....together...
together...we belong....we belong together
....together...together...together
we belong...
In this tag, Vedder is haunted by what could have been, tormented by his memories. He seems entrenched within the deep hole in his heart, unable to climb out of that pain.
This pain, this longing, finds a voice during the Hololulu, HI--2006 tour. During this tour, Vedder returns to a time-honored tag:
We belong...We belong together
together...together.
We belong...we belong together, together
We belong, we belong
This is the classic “Black” tag, and it is this tag that most fans seem to remember. Some love it, some hate it; but it is classic Eddie Vedder.
By 2007, the narrator from “Black” (or, alternatively, Mr. Vedder himself) seems to be putting those feelings of loss behind him:
what could have been
what could have been
will never be
it could have been here
I could have been there
well I want to be here
fuck you and them
I'm with my friends (fans?)
I've got an end
what could have been
what could have been
no longer care
I no longer care
it's all right, it's all right
it's all right, it's all right
The narrator from “Black” seems to have come to terms with something, finally putting it to rest. Those deep struggles, those painful ramblings, so pervasive in the earlier tags, are now gone, replaced by the bittersweet thoughts of a man who has now found solace. The Madrid, Spain—2007 “Black” tag—“what could have been” seems to suggest that EV has come to terms with whatever may have been the creative fuel behind “Black.” The demons he once wrestled with are now gone. Perhaps he has found peace at last.
What do you think? Has the narrator from “Black,” who may or may not be Eddie Vedder, finally put the loss behind him? I’m not saying anything negative about EV. He is entitled to add anything he wants to his music, which may or may not be autobiographical. Lyrics are not necessarily a window to one’s soul. We, the fans, will always wish him the best.
And how many of us don’t have a “Black” from our own personal history? How many of us know all-too-well how much it hurts to lose that one special person? Look at the tags and come to your own conclusion.
Maryland Teacher.
PS….if you know of any other verifiable “tags,” please send me a PM.
Marseille 2006: "We don't belong together"
Melbourne 2006 (III - I guess): "We didn't belong together", after he pleases "Somebody help me (please)" and "Pull me up"...
Santa Barbara 2006:
"(It) take(s) the pain away
when I hear you say
du du dut dut du du duu..."
Pistoia 06 ?
Dalai Lama—To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.
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Hartford 5-13-06, 6-27-08, 10-25-13
Mansfield, MA 6-30-08, 6-28-08, 7-2-03, 7-3-03, 7-11-03, 8-29-00, 8-30-00, 9-15-98, 9-16-98
Worcester 10-15-13, 10-16-13
7/22/06, 7/23/06, 04/07/07, 8/3/07
I have always thought when EV is saying this tag he is sending a messages to him, whoever black is about, us etc.
A truly liberal person is conservative when necessary.
Pro-life by choice.
If you know of any tags that I missed, please bring them to my attention.
Matt
I agree that it's one of those songs that transcends social, cultural, and socio-economic barriors. It's like a good suit...it never goes out of style.
Perhaps bitter sweet would be a better word than solace. Perhaps solace is too hopeful. Perhaps it is I who is too hopeful: I tend to view the world as my classroom. I’m willing to admit that. While the narrator from "Black" does seem to come to terms with the loss, that history of hurt still rings true.
When I reflect on those lyrics, my mind gets the image of a person looking down at a scar. Yes, that scar will be there forever, much like the tattoo from "Black." However, one can, over time, learn to look beyond the tattoo, as it does not have to rule your life. Time may make the scar less noticeable. Doesn’t time heal all wounds? Most wounds? Some wounds?
When he sings:
what could have been
what could have been
no longer care
I no longer care
it's all right, it's all right
it's all right, it's all right
It's touching. His voice, the tone and inflection, is the tone of acceptance. It is peace married to harmony. Have you listened to the Madrid, Spain—2007 version? I feel, in my humble opinion, that it is Vedder's best work. One can really feel the narrator's acceptance. It is as if he has finally put that pain in its place. And, for the record, the narrator from "Black" may or may not be Mr. Vedder. My thesis is only speculation.
I just like the thought process. A very wise friend once told me that the real reward is in the work, and I hope that comes across in this writing. I do enjoy the intellectual exploration, as it is its own reward, despite the Lee Lee's of the word. : )
Mr. B
I often wonder the same thing whenever I dig out and dust off my copy of Nine Inch Nails' "Pretty Hate Machine." Who was the girl who maimed Trent Reznor so badly that he wrote an entire album about her?
Shouldn't heart-breakers like that come with some sort of government-issued warning label or something? : )
The tag from Marseille (Sept 9th 2006) is really interesting also :
"This love ... I will remember forever ... That is why I'm lying when I say I don't love you .... no more ... no more ..."
However unlike many other versions it ends with "we didn't belong together".
Like if what happened will be kept printed in his memory. He can't erase it and there is no way he could have changed it.
As said above, many of us can relate to this story. It gave me chills when I heard it live ... and unfortunately this is tag is so currently true.
A truly liberal person is conservative when necessary.
Pro-life by choice.
My "black" came back into my life recently. All the emotions are still there. It has been 17 years total!!! No, it never goes away. I want him more now than I ever have.
A truly liberal person is conservative when necessary.
Pro-life by choice.
I thought Trent Reznor's angry hateful songs are about his mother. He always struck me as a guy who had "mummy" issues...in a Jim Morrison kind of way.
Soooo...maybe "Black" is Ed singing from his dad's perspective and his (Ed's) mom? Perhaps part of the song is about how Ed's dad felt that he and Ed's mom were meant to be together (and Ed still felt that way until recently when he patched things up a couple of years ago with his step-dad)... OR maybe it could be his dad singing about the daughter (Ed's sister) they gave up for adoption? I mean, the Mamasan Trilogy is loosely based on Ed's life, so why couldn't "Black" be a part of that?
I dunno...those are just the twisted thoughts that spin round my head...
I'm the only one allowed to make really bad PJ allusions as part of my writing!
: )
I want to stand by the tried-and-true idea that Black captures the pain of romantic loss, but loss is loss, regardless of who feels it. I'll recognize that validity of that.
However, I still like your thought process. : )
Sincerely,
matthew
thanks! However, to Ed, that IS a romantic loss. He's said that his dad was the only man that his mother truly loved...and he has the romantic notion that they did belong together...and the "We belong together" could possibly be Ed referring to the fact that he, his mom, and his dad belong together. That they are the family he never had but really wanted (including the sister put up for adoption)...AND, there is the possiblity that it refers to this AS WELL as his own romantic loss and pain...which, is the standard interpretation of "Black"...
Ed's world did come crashing down when his mom told him about his real dad and changed everything about him and all he'd beeeeeeeeeee...he said that after he worked so hard to be a songwriter and musician, his relatives were saying that he got his talent from his real dad, which pissed Ed off because he wanted to be recognized for his own talent and that he created it all within himself.
Ta-dah!
Whew! This all literally JUST came to me...So Ed, PM me after you get that wonderful Envirnomentalist of the Year award - congrats, by the way!
Of course, this is the true beauty of Ed's lyrics...they can mean so many things to so many people....what an amazing gift for him, and us because he chooses to share...
A truly liberal person is conservative when necessary.
Pro-life by choice.
Right...but the song could be from two perspectives (his dad & Ed) -- or about two situations. Ed's loss of what could have been his family with his natural parents, and the loss of any potential family with his girlfriend (assuming that's who hurt him). What I mean is, 1st half of song is about Ed's dad feeling the loss of the relationship and 2nd half is about Ed feeling the loss of a relationship. What if the whole song is from Ed's dad's perspective? "I know someday you'll have a beautiful life, I know you'll be a star..." is Ed's dad saying that to Ed....
Ooooooh....freaky....I think I just blew my mind!
A truly liberal person is conservative when necessary.
Pro-life by choice.
Anyway, first verse, first chorus could be sung from Ed Severson's perspective (or how Ed could imagine) about breaking up with Ms. Vedder, whether it was because he was gay or not.
The second verse and chorus could be from Ed's perspective about a failed relationship he had that left him just as wounded (as either his mother or father may have felt)...
Ed hated his step-dad for so many years, as everyone has heard by now - which is why I think the "we belong together" could be referring to the fact that he belonged with his real dad, they had lots in common after all, not just DNA....Ed was basically denied a relationship with his father, and that's really gotta hurt!
I've kinda always thought that "Black" was from two different peoples' perspectives (whether it says he/she or whatever)...but I could very well be very wrong...
The whole song is an enigma anyway....
In closing, I think Black is about people (for whatever reasons) can't be together even thought it tears out their souls and rips them apart even if they feel they really do belong together....
As far as the tags go, i personally don't think it's about one party not willing to be with the other (well, maybe in the beginning), but both parties unable to be together.....for whatever reason. And the tags sum up the frustration of a complicated situation. Which, i think, explains the lyrical variations.
but what do i know.....................................
I do remember reading in Wikipedia that EV learned that the man who had raised him was not his father, and I can only imagine how much that must have hurt him...and that is loss, too. Perhaps he has faced many losses in his life.
I guess that you could say that "Black" is just chock-full of loss.
Matthew
The more I reflect on this idea, the more I agree. That situation, whatever it may be, must be complex....and it does feel very frustrated.
Ok..that blew my mind, too. I had never thought of that part being from the perspective of father to son.
You made me stop and think over that....too cool.
Matthew
We can only hope that Ed never stops performing with PJ...well..at least until he's too old and broken to pick up the mic.
: )
Matt
Mr. B
Pistoia 06 is a classic, im not gonna try and give some great explanation as to the meanings as i feel i wouldnt do it justice, just get it an give it a listen
I'll check out Pistoia '06 as soon as possible....thanks for the tip.
Mr. B
For me though its not as if ,that I still feel for anyone of my losses now the same way I felt for them then, but its these losses that have molded me into the individual that I am today, but while going through the losses i felt a terrible pain. At those times, the times of difficulty I could'nt imagine life with what was happening.
We grieve and slowly time heals the wound, and many wounds for that matter. I've learned through my losses the consequences that happen from them.
I'm trying to say here that everytime "he" sings this song he relives the time that it was written in,..the pain ,..the moment. The tags added later is what he feels while reliving the moment. And I'm sure being that hes a father now... and I'm saying this as I feel as a mother... that his main love in life must be his child. Seeing that it had to be this way.
We learn responsibility, understanding and wisdom through our difficulties. Our children also become the love of our lives. Maybe when reliving the moments while singing "black" he no longer feels the pain once felt because of his current love or situation, and is what he, feels that its better. Yet still is able to somewhat still feel for the pain once felt.
We will always "wonder what could have been" that you can't help... being that we are human. Even though I love my husband and children and now can't imagine life any other way, but "wonder" sometimes and say to myself, but then "this" couldn't be...i love "this" more ... more then me.
As we grow older we also realise that "my" pain is so minute compared to that of the world. That our pain is so trivial compared to whats happening in the world. Not that I am belittling the pain that was once felt because that was the world at the time... I'm saying time has moved the pain onto bigger issues of the world... the world that will be passed to our children= "my love".
As for wondering about who "she" is... thats what makes it special... the song is HIS not HERS. I felt with his pain not hers so I don't really "wonder" about her as she probably doesn't care.
Just my opinion, love this song sooooooo much!
I am fuel, you are friends, we got the means to make amends
I am lost, I'm no guide, but I'm by your side
I am right by your side... PJ
I Think it is one of the many "we didnt belong" tags!