Paint it Black
Calli Malpas Lyrics


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I see your red door, I want it painted black
No colors anymore, I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
I see the line of cars and they're all painted black
With flowers and my love, both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly looked away
Like a newborn baby it just happens every day
I look inside myself and see my heart is black

I see my red door, I must have it painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black
No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes
I've seen your red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore, I want them to turn black




I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

Overall Meaning

In Calli Malpas's song "Paint It Black," the singer expresses their desire to transform their surroundings, specifically wanting to paint a red door black. The singer begins by describing seeing the red door and wanting it to be painted black. They then expand on this desire for transformation, expressing a desire for "no colors anymore" and for everything around them to turn black. The imagery of the girls walking by in summer clothes represents a more colorful world that the singer cannot handle in their current state. They turn away until their "darkness goes."


The singer reflects on loss, noting the line of cars that are "all painted black" for a funeral procession. They mention flowers and their love, both of which will "never come back." When people turn their heads and look away from the funeral procession, the singer notes that "it just happens every day." This line contrasts with the earlier line about the girls in summer clothes, highlighting the different ways people experience joy or pain.


The singer delves deeper into their own emotions, stating that they "look inside [themself] and see [their] heart is black." They repeat their desire for the red door to be painted black, expressing that perhaps then they could "fade away and not have to face the facts" of their life. The singer acknowledges the difficulty of facing reality when their "whole world is black."


The second half of the song offers a glimmer of hope. The singer states that they hope their "green sea" will not turn a deeper blue. This line could symbolize the hope that they won't feel worse than they already do. They acknowledge that they could not have foreseen the loss they've experienced. The singer looks into the setting sun, searching for hope in the darkness. They hope that their love will laugh with them "before the morning comes." The song ultimately ends with the singer repeating their desire to paint the red door black and having to turn away from the colorful world around them.


Line by Line Meaning

I see your red door, I want it painted black
I desire for your red door to be painted black


No colors anymore, I want them to turn black
I want every color to transform into black


I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I observe girls in summer clothing stroll past


I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
I must avoid looking until the gloom disappears


I see the line of cars and they're all painted black
All cars in the lineup are colored black


With flowers and my love, both never to come back
Flowers and my affection will vanish forever


I see people turn their heads and quickly looked away
Individuals rapidly avert their gaze


Like a newborn baby it just happens every day
Similar to an infant, this occurs daily


I look inside myself and see my heart is black
Examining myself, I find that my heart is black


I see my red door, I must have it painted black
It's essential to paint my red door black


Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
I could vanish and avoid confronting the reality


It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black
Confronting problems is daunting in a black world


No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
My sea can't turn deeper than blue anymore


I could not foresee this thing happening to you
I didn't predict this occurring to you


If I look hard enough into the setting sun
Focusing on the sunset brings clarity


My love will laugh with me before the morning comes
Before daybreak, my love will share a laugh with me


I've seen your red door and I want it painted black
Your red door needs to be black, I've seen it


No colors anymore, I want them to turn black
I want all colors to convert into black


I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
Ladies enjoying the sun stroll by


I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
I have to avoid looking until the dark feelings dissipate




Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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