Black

"Black" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. The song is the fifth track on the band's debut album, Ten (1991). Featuring lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by guitarist Stone Gossard, "Black" is a soliloquy by a broken-hearted man, who is remembering his absent lover. After Ten became a commercial success in 1992, Pearl Jam's record label Epic Records urged the group to release the song as a single. The band refused, citing the song's personal nature. Despite the lack of a commercial release, "Black" received airplay on American radio stations, and charted on the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock Tracks charts. A remixed version of the song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album, rearviewmirror: Greatest Hits 1991–2003.

[Intro] Hey-hey-hey Yeah-ah [Verse 1] 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 breathe has taken a turn [Pre-Chorus] Mmm, and all I taught her was everything Mmm-hmm, I know she gave me all that she wore [Chorus] And now my bitter hands chafe beneath the clouds Of what was everything All the pictures had all been washed in black Tattooed everything [Verse 2] I take a walk outside, I'm surrounded by some kids at play I can feel their laughter, so why do I sear? [Pre-Chorus] Mmm, and twisted thoughts that spin 'round my head I'm spinning, oh-oh, I'm spinning How quick the Sun can drop away? [Chorus] And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass Of what was everything All the pictures have all been washed in black Tattooed everything [Post-Chorus] All the love gone bad turned my world to black Tattooed all I see, all that I am All I'll be, yeah-yeah Oh-oh, oh-oh, ooh [Bridge] 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 Oh, can't it be mine? Ooh Ah, yeah Ah, ooh-ooh [Outro/Guitar Solo with Vocalizations] Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo (oh, oh-yeah) Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo (ah-ah) Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo (ah-ah) Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo (yeah) Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo (ah-ah, yeah) Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo (yeah, ah) Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo (yeah-yeah-yeah) Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo (oh-oh) Oh-oh, oh-oh Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh