Black
Aaron Lewis Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 breathed
Has taken a turn
Ooh, and all I taught her was everything
Ooh, I know she gave me all that she wore
And now my bitter hands
shade beneath the clouds
Of what was everything?
Oh, the pictures seared all been washed in black,
Tattooed everything...

I take a walk outside
I'm surrounded by some kids at play
I can feel their laughter,
So why do I sear?
and twisted thoughts that spin round my head
I'm spinning, oh, I'm spinning
How quick the sun can, drop away
And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures seared all been washed in black,
tattooed everything...

All the love gone bad
Turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I'll be...yeah...

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life,
I know you'll be the sun




In somebody else's sky, but why
Why, why can't it be, why can't it be mine...

Overall Meaning

The song "Black" by Aaron Lewis is a poignant reflection on lost love and the pain of memories that continue to haunt. The opening lines, "Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay. were laid spread out before me as her body once did", set the stage for an introspective journey through what was once a deeply meaningful connection. The singer's love for this woman was all-encompassing, his soul revolving around her in much the same way the earth orbits the sun. But now, the memories of this love have taken a bitter turn, as the taste of the air around him has changed, and the pictures that were once so vibrant have been washed in black, leaving nothing but a tattooed impression on his psyche.


The second half of the song takes on a more frenzied tone, as the singer walks outside and is confronted by the joyous sounds of children playing. Here, the contrast between his own anguish and the carefree playfulness of the children highlights the loss and loneliness he feels. As the sun drops away, he cradles broken glass in his hands, symbolizing the shattered remnants of a love that was once all-encompassing.


Overall, "Black" is a powerful meditation on the pain of lost love and the intense memories that continue to linger long after the relationship has ended. It is a song that speaks to the human experience of love and loss, and reminds us that even the most beautiful relationships can ultimately fade away.


Line by Line Meaning

Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay.
The artist had a blank canvas and nothing else but his imagination.


Were laid spread out before me as her body once did
The artist felt that the canvas was like the woman he loved.


All five horizons revolved around her soul
The artist felt that everything in his world revolved around his love for this woman.


As the earth to the sun
The artist's love for the woman was like the earth's love for the sun.


Now the air I tasted and breathed
The artist's world has completely changed.


Has taken a turn
The artist has lost someone special and no longer sees the beauty in the world.


Ooh, and all I taught her was everything
The artist gave everything he had to the woman he loved.


Ooh, I know she gave me all that she wore
The woman gave everything she had to the artist and loved him completely.


And now my bitter hands
The artist is filled with sadness and regret.


Shade beneath the clouds
The artist feels like he is in the shadows of the world.


Of what was everything?
The artist is questioning what the meaning of life is now that his love is gone.


Oh, the pictures seared all been washed in black,
The artist is reminded of the past and how it has been tainted by sadness.


Tattooed everything...
The artist is filled with pain and sadness that cannot be removed.


I take a walk outside
The artist is trying to find peace outside in nature.


I'm surrounded by some kids at play
The artist sees the innocence of youth and is reminded of what he has lost.


I can feel their laughter,
The artist can feel their happiness but cannot join in.


So why do I sear?
The artist is questioning why he is filled with so much pain and sadness.


and twisted thoughts that spin round my head
The artist is having a hard time letting go of the past and is consumed with memories.


I'm spinning, oh, I'm spinning
The artist is feeling lost and dizzy from his emotions.


How quick the sun can, drop away
The artist understands how quickly something can be taken away.


And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass
The artist is holding onto something broken and painful.


Of what was everything
The artist is questioning the purpose of life without love.


All the pictures seared all been washed in black,
The pictures of the past are darkened by sadness and grief.


tattooed everything...
The sadness is like a tattoo that cannot be removed or forgotten.


All the love gone bad
The artist has lost love and it has turned into something negative.


Turned my world to black
The artist's world has been consumed by sadness.


Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I'll be...yeah...
The artist is filled with pain that will never leave him.


I know someday you'll have a beautiful life,
The artist is acknowledging that his love will find happiness one day.


I know you'll be the sun
His love will make someone else's world a bright place.


In somebody else's sky, but why
The artist cannot understand why he cannot be the one to make her happy.


Why, why can't it be, why can't it be mine...
The artist wishes he could have been the one to make her happy, and is left questioning his own worth and purpose.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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