Black Is The Colour
Brian McFadden Lyrics


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er lips are like some roses fair
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
And I love the ground whereon she stands

I love my love and well he knows
I love the ground whereon he goes
I wish that day soon would come
When he and I can be as one

I go to the Clyde and I mourn and weep
For satisfied I never sleep
I write him letters just a few short lines
And I suffer death a thousand times

Black is the colour (black is the colour) of my true loves hair (of my true loves hair)
Her lips are like (lips are like) some roses fair (some roses fair)
The sweetest smile (he has the sweetest smile) and the gentlest hands (and the gentlest hands)
And I love the ground (I love the ground) whereon she stands (whereon he stands)





Black is the colour of my true loves hair

Overall Meaning

The song Black Is the Colour by Brian McFadden is a heartfelt ballad that speaks about the love and devotion of the singer towards their beloved. The lyrics describe the physical beauty of the person, with their lips being compared to roses and possessing the gentlest hands. The singer expresses their love and desire to be united with their beloved, wishing for the day when they can be together as one. However, the singer also comes across as pensive and melancholic, mourning and weeping for their love at the Clyde, a river in Scotland. They suffer from separation anxiety and the longing for their love causes them to write a few short lines that make them suffer in pain.


The song's lyrics are a manifestation of the traditional Scottish and Irish folk song from the 17th century. The original version's melody is an old Scots folk tune that's rich in emotion and easily recognizable by traditional music lovers. McFadden's version is slower and sadder, reflecting the song's deep and melancholic nature. The song is often sung by traditional Irish singers and is a staple at Irish-American folk music festivals. The song's title and chorus are inlaid with symbolism, with 'Black' representing mourning or death, and 'Colour' representing a metaphor for love or beauty.


Some interesting facts about the song include that McFadden's version was featured in the season 1 episode of Game of Thrones, sung by a character named Shae. Like many other traditional folk songs, the authorship of the lyrics is unknown, and the song has been covered by several artists worldwide. The earliest known version of the song is said to have been collected in the Appalachian Mountains in America. The song is also sung in other languages, including Spanish, Dutch, and German. The song's melancholy anachronistic aura is believed to have inspired the American author Truman Capote to write the story Breakfast at Tiffany's.


The chords of the song are G, D, C, G.


This song expresses the simplicity of love and the strong emotions it awakens within a person. The singer's words are a direct reflection of the universal longing for love and the pain of separation from it. This song continues to resonate with people worldwide and has been an inspiration for storytellers, singers, and authors.


Line by Line Meaning

Her lips are like some roses fair
Her lips are soft like roses and her beauty is unmatched


She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
She has a lovely smile that can light up my world and her hands are gentle when she touches me


And I love the ground whereon she stands
I love everything about her, even the earth on which she stands


I love my love and well he knows
I deeply love my partner and they are aware of my love for them


I love the ground whereon he goes
I love everything about my partner, even the ground they walk on


I wish that day soon would come
I long for the day when we can be together and our love can flourish


When he and I can be as one
When we can finally be together and united as a couple


I go to the Clyde and I mourn and weep
I visit the Clyde and grieve, feeling sad and depressed


For satisfied I never sleep
I can never be truly content without my partner by my side


I write him letters just a few short lines
I send my partner brief notes to express my love and longing for them


And I suffer death a thousand times
The pain of being separated from my partner feels like a thousand deaths


Black is the colour (black is the colour) of my true loves hair (of my true loves hair)
My partner has beautiful black hair that I adore and cherish


Her lips are like (lips are like) some roses fair (some roses fair)
Her lips are soft and gentle like the petals of a rose


The sweetest smile (he has the sweetest smile) and the gentlest hands (and the gentlest hands)
My partner has a smile that fills me with joy and hands that are kind and gentle


And I love the ground (I love the ground) whereon she stands (whereon he stands)
I love everything about my partner, even the ground they stand on




Writer(s): TRADITIONAL, BRIAN MCFADDEN

Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@nennepanrikefairytaleart4773

Thank you ....
I've never heard this beautiful version before ...
I hope Sinéad is in a peaceful place now ....
Love from Nenne in Sweden

@heathercamball4691

Sinead and Brian's voices blend so well

@elainemariamoreiraramosram7472

Sinéad era incrível. Tudo que ela cantava sua voz cada vez mais linda. Saudades minha linda Sinéad. Nossa Rainha da Irlanda. Seu legado ficou pra ser preciado. Adeus Sinéad 🙏🕊

@user-ey7sr8sv3n

In my opinion this is the best performance to this song

@joseguillermolopezespinoza5349

This is a great version! You’re great Mr. Mcfadden 🙏🏼

@cloclo626

Wonderful Brian McFadden, love this song

@incanegrodelcampo9357

An astonishing version

@hearditman

Wonderful Sinead O' Connor, thanks for sharing this.

@johnstemmet1458

Just discovered it 10 min ago. Listened to it twice already. What a song. Fuck!

@juliadasilva7233

sublime sublime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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