"Black" is featured on Pearl Jam's debut album, "Ten," which was released in August 1991. It remains a fan favorite (my personal favorite too) and is considered a quintessential example of Pearl Jam’s early sound, characterized by its emotional depth and musical complexity.
Even without being released as a single, "Black" received substantial radio play and is considered one of Pearl Jam’s greatest songs.
Over the years, it's been covered by various artists and been featured in several films, TV shows, and commercials, highlighting its enduring appeal and impact on pop culture.
What makes it such a great hit and what is the story behind the emotional depth of the lyrics?
The song was written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and guitarist Stone Gossard. It was first made as an instrumental demo titled "E Ballad," by guitarist Gossard in 1990.
Vedder’s lyrics for "Black" are notably poignant and introspective, dealing with themes of love, loss, and longing.
Eddie Vedder has explained that "Black" is about first relationships. The song's lyrics reflect the feelings of remembering a lost love and the struggle to let go. The famous line, "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?" captures this sentiment.
"The song is about letting go," Vedder said in an interview.
"It's very rare for a relationship to withstand the Earth's gravitational pull and where it's going to take people and how they're going to grow. I've heard it said that you can't really have a true love unless it was a love unrequited. It's a harsh one, because then your truest one is the one you can't have forever."
There have been rumors suggesting the song is about a girl who undergoes an abortion without informing her boyfriend. However, the lyrics imply that Vedder is reflecting on a girlfriend (or close companion) who either passed away or ended their relationship.
The musical arrangement in "Black" complements the lyrical content, with Gossard’s guitar lines providing a somber, yet beautiful backdrop.
The dynamics of the song build from a soft, melancholic intro to a more powerful, emotionally charged finale. This progression mirrors the escalating emotional narrative of the lyrics.
The song underwent several iterations before reaching its final form on the "Ten" album. Live performances have often seen further evolution of the song, with Vedder sometimes altering lyrics or extending sections to fit the mood of the performance.
Sheets of empty canvasUntouched sheets of clayWere laid spread out before meAs her body once did
The reference to blank artistic materials suggests potential and possibilities that were once available but remain unrealized. This artistic potential serves as a poignant metaphor for a personal relationship that held promises of growth and creation but is now no more.
All five horizonsRevolved around her soulAs the earth to the sunNow the air I tasted and breathedHas taken a turn
These lyrics depict the speaker's world as having once revolved entirely around a significant other, much like planets orbit the sun, illustrating her profound influence on his life.
However, following her departure, even the air he breathes feels altered, symbolizing how deeply her absence has affected his everyday reality.
Oh and all I taught her was everythingOh I know she gave me all that she woreAnd now my bitter handsChafe beneath the cloudsOf what was everythingOh the pictures haveAll been washed in black
The speaker reflects on the depth of his contributions and the reciprocal nature of the relationship, suggesting he taught her everything he knew, and she gave him all she could.
However, the aftermath leaves him with "bitter hands," a metaphor for his painful, regretful state as he grapples with the loss of what once was his "everything."
The imagery of pictures "washed in black" emphasizes the overwhelming sense of loss and grief, as memories that were once vivid and colorful are now tainted and obscured by sorrow.
I take a walk outsideI'm surrounded bySome kids at playI can feel their laughterSo why do I sear
This must be the part where people speculated about abortion being referenced here. But simply, this juxtaposition highlights his sense of isolation and disconnect from the happiness around him.
I know someday you'll have a beautiful life
I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky
Why can't it be mine
This captures the heartache of loving someone who will ultimately belong to another, reflecting the intense emotional conflict between wishing her well and desiring her presence in his own life.
"Ten" eventually became one of the defining albums of the 1990s and a cornerstone of the grunge movement.
Due to its heavy radio play, "Black" reached number three on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 20 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1993, two years after the initial release of Ten.
There are several notable acoustic versions of "Black," including live performances that have been officially released, such as on MTV's Unplugged session in 1992, which showcase the song's raw emotional power even when stripped down to its acoustic elements.
Despite its popularity, Pearl Jam decided not to release "Black" as a single and deliberately chose not to create a music video for it. The band wanted to make a statement against the burgeoning music video culture of the early 1990s, which they felt was contrary to their artistic integrity.
The song's influence extends beyond just Pearl Jam's discography. "Black" is often cited in lists of the greatest rock songs of all time. Its lyrical and emotional depth has influenced a wide array of artists across different genres.
The emotional depth and complex layering of "Black" not only established it as a standout track on "Ten" but also as a critical piece in Pearl Jam’s songwriting legacy.
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