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Little Black Submarines
The Black Keys Lyrics


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Little black submarines
Operator, please
Put me back on the line
Told my girl I'd be back
Operator, please
This is wreckin' my mind

Oh, can it be?
The voices calling me
They get lost and out of time
I should've seen it glow
But everybody knows
That a broken heart is blind
That a broken heart is blind

Pick you up, let you down
When I wanna go
To a place I can hide
You know me, I had plans
But they just disappeared
To the back of my mind

Oh, can it be?
The voices calling me
They get lost and out of time
I should've seen it glow
But everybody knows
That a broken heart is blind
That a broken heart is blind

Treasure maps, fallen trees
Operator, please
Call me back when it's time
Stolen friends and disease
Operator, please
Patch me back to my mind

Oh, can it be?
The voices calling me
They get lost and out of time
I should've seen it glow
But everybody knows
That a broken heart is blind
That a broken heart is blind
That a broken heart is blind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Little Black Submarines" by The Black Keys tell the story of a brokenhearted man who's trying to deal with the aftermath of a failed relationship. The song begins with the singer asking an operator to put him through to his girlfriend, whom he has promised to return to. However, as he's waiting on the phone, he starts hearing voices in his head that remind him of his pain and regret. He realizes that a broken heart is a blind heart, and he should have seen the signs that the relationship was doomed.


The second verse reveals that the man has lost his way and is trying to escape his troubles by hiding. However, he acknowledges that he had plans and dreams, but they have been shattered. Once again, the voices in his head remind him of the truth, and he finally realizes that he's been in denial about his situation. The third verse describes how the man has been betrayed by friends and is struggling with a disease. He desperately asks the operator to patch him back to his mind as he comes to terms with his reality.


The chorus of the song focuses on the idea that a broken heart is blind. The singer should have seen the warning signs, but he didn't because he was too consumed by love. Overall, the main theme of the song is the heartbreak and despair that come with the end of a relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Little black submarines
The subject introduces a metaphorical statement to set the tone for the song, indicating that they are feeling trapped and under pressure.


Operator, please
The subject is reaching out for help, but is unsuccessful in establishing a connection with the operator.


Put me back on the line
The subject wants to communicate with someone who can help them, but they are disconnected and need to reconnect.


Told my girl I'd be back
The subject promised someone important to them that they would return, but it seems not to have happened yet.


This is wreckin' my mind
The state of being disconnected and unable to return is distressing to the subject, causing anxiety and frustration.


Oh, can it be?
The subject is themselves questioning the reality of their current situation, unsure if they are imagining or real.


The voices calling me
The subject is experiencing hallucinations or delusions which are pulling them in various directions.


They get lost and out of time
The voices the subject hears can't give them clear guidance or a clear path towards resolution, instead creating further confusion.


I should've seen it glow
The subject is reflecting on past events and their perception of what they should have been aware of at the time.


But everybody knows
The subject acknowledges that there are common experiences, including heartbreak, which everyone can relate to.


That a broken heart is blind
The subject recognizes that when a person is experiencing heartbreak they may not perceive things as they truly are.


Pick you up, let you down
The subject may have had plans and expectations that things would work out better, but the reality was different.


When I wanna go
The subject is describing a desire to escape and find a safe haven.


To a place I can hide
The subject is searching for a sanctuary that is free from the realities and pressures of their current state.


You know me, I had plans
The subject, highlighting the same point as before, identifies that they had hopes, aspirations, or a plan that has since failed.


But they just disappeared
The subject recognizes the failure of their plans or aspirations and can't find a clear understanding of what went wrong.


To the back of my mind
The subject has relegated the failed plan or aspirations to the past, but it still affects them.


Treasure maps, fallen trees
The subject uses metaphorical language to describe events, possibly with the connotation that they were misled or things fell apart in more than one way.


Call me back when it's time
The subject is again reaching out for help, highlighting that timing is important and they need assistance at the right moment.


Stolen friends and disease
The subject is using metaphorical language to suggest that they are missing people in their lives, indicating feelings of loneliness.


Patch me back to my mind
The subject is again seeking help to help them reconnect to a more focused and aware state of mind.


That a broken heart is blind
The song concludes with a reinforcement of the idea that heartbreak can take a toll on a person's ability to see things and situations clearly, providing context to the entire song.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brian Joseph Burton, Daniel Quine Auerbach, Patrick James Carney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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