Black Ice
►AC/DC Lyrics
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You toss 'em back and be a man,
With the last time,
Black ice,
End of it all, end of the line,
End of the road,
Black ice,
Black ice
Come on and bleeding out the crowds,
We're watching all the women go,
Many a mile I'll never take,
I run for forty miles and come up runnin' late,
Don't you know I live it down,
When the devil come a callin' I ain't gonna be around,
Black ice,
Black ice,
Black ice,
The devil come a callin' I ain't gonna be around,
Black ice
Livin' long, livin' long,
Sleep all alone, you're gonna take it all,
And I'm gonna rip it out,
I'll kick, I creep crawl down your street,
I'll gouge your eyes out,
Black ice,
Black ice,
Black ice,
Black ice,
My life,
Black ice,
My life,
Black ice,
My life,
When the devil come a callin' I ain't gonna be around,
I'll kick, I creep crawl down your street, and gouge your eyes out,
Black ice
The lyrics to AC/DC's song "Black Ice" seem to be referring to a dangerous and destructive force that is unstoppable and can bring an end to everything. The devil is mentioned, as if representing this force, and the lyrics seem to be warning the listener to be careful and not let themselves be consumed by it. The phrase "you toss 'em back and be a man" indicates that the song is about drinking and the dangers that come with it. The line "with the last time" suggests that the singer is aware that they are engaging in self-destructive behavior but chooses to do so anyway.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Black ice" four times in a row, emphasizing the power and danger of this force. The verses talk about running from it, or being caught in its grip, and the sense of inevitability that comes with it. There is a sense of fatalism in the lyrics, as if the singer is resigned to their fate but wants to warn others before it's too late.
Overall, "Black Ice" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of addiction and destructive behavior. The lyrics encourage the listener to be aware of the consequences of their actions and to resist the temptation of the devil, who represents the powerful force that can sweep us up and bring an end to everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the devil may care,
The consequences may not matter to some people, just like when gambling with the devil.
You toss 'em back and be a man,
Drink alcohol with confidence and act like a man.
With the last time,
Being reckless without thinking of the consequences because it may be the last time.
Black ice,
A metaphor for something that appears harmless but can be deadly and dangerous.
End of it all, end of the line,
The point where everything comes to an end and there's no turning back.
End of the road,
The conclusion of the journey, with no other route to take.
Come on and bleeding out the crowds,
Provoking the audience to create a wild and intense atmosphere.
We're watching all the women go,
Observing the women leave, suggesting that it's not just men who are affected by the dangers present in the song.
Many a mile I'll never take,
The dangers that exist in life will prevent some people from being able to take many journeys and live their lives to the fullest.
I run for forty miles and come up runnin' late,
Even with a great deal of effort, it may still not be enough to avoid the danger.
Don't you know I live it down,
It's not possible to forget the potential consequences of living dangerously.
When the devil come a callin' I ain't gonna be around,
If something dangerous were to happen, the singer would rather not be present.
Black ice,
Repeated again to emphasize the danger and warning present in the song.
Livin' long, livin' long,
The desire to live a long and fulfilling life, despite the danger present.
Sleep all alone, you're gonna take it all,
Being alone when facing danger, and having to take responsibility for everything.
And I'm gonna rip it out,
The energy to take on the danger and confront it head-on.
I'll kick, I creep crawl down your street,
A fierce declaration of intent to seek out and confront the source of danger.
I'll gouge your eyes out,
A violent and aggressive approach to dealing with the danger.
My life,
Emphasizing the importance of living one's own life despite the danger present in the world.
When the devil come a callin' I ain't gonna be around,
Repeated again to stress the point that the singer would rather avoid the danger if possible.
I'll kick, I creep crawl down your street, and gouge your eyes out,
Repeated to further emphasize the aggressive approach to dealing with danger present in the song.
Black ice
Repeated again to drive home the serious nature of the danger in the song.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANGUS MCKINNON YOUNG, MALCOLM MITCHELL YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind