Black & Blue
Harry Radford Lyrics
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I'm still here
Didn't you know
I still care
She was alone
I was too young to understand
She brought me to life
And showed me the world
You just stood with the bell
She gave me these eyes
Now i see that you put her through hell
How could you look at yourself 22 still black and blue
From all the times that i thought of you
Now you talk as if i'm a friend
Have you forgotten all that you did
You can try and break through
But now i'm too far gone
You left me to move on
22 still black and blue
But i forgive you
I found my feet and i grew up
They call my name on the streets
It's still never enough
I'm on the line
Will you answer me in time
How could you look at yourself 22 still black and blue
From all the times that i thought of you
Now you talk as if i'm a friend
Have you forgotten all that you did
You can try and break through
But now i'm too far gone
You left me to move on
22 still black and blue
But i forgive you
Now you got her back don't you forget about it
Never let her go so here's to second chances
22 still black and blue but i forgive you
22 still black and blue
From all the times that i thought of you
Now you talk as if i'm a friend
Have you forgotten all that you did
You can try and break through
But now i'm too far gone
You left me to move on
22 still black and blue But i forgive you
In Harry Radford's song Black & Blue, we hear the story of a person who experienced abuse from someone they used to care about deeply. The first verse is directed towards the abuser, who is no longer in their life, and the second verse is directed towards the victim's own journey towards healing and self-discovery. The chorus is a powerful reminder of the scars that can last from emotional and physical abuse, but also the strength that comes from forgiveness.
The opening lines of "Where did you go / I'm still here" set the tone for the song, as the victim is left feeling abandoned and alone after the abuse. The line "She was alone / I was too young to understand" highlights the complexity of traumatic experiences, especially when they involve someone you care about deeply. The abuser in this situation is someone who was supposed to care for and protect the victim, and yet they were the source of so much pain. The line "She brought me to life / And showed me the world" suggests that the victim's abuser had a significant role in their life, perhaps as a parent or parental figure. But the next line, "You didn't put up a fight / You just stood with the bell" suggests that the abuser did not do enough to prevent the abuse from happening, or worse, was complicit in it. The victim is left with "these eyes" that have seen the harm that was done to the person who "put her through hell."
The chorus is the emotional core of the song, with the repetition of "22 still black and blue" emphasizing the ongoing trauma of the abuse. The line "From all the times that I thought of you" suggests that the victim is haunted by the memory of the abuser, which is especially true when the abuser tries to reconnect with them as a friend. The victim is wary of letting the abuser back into their life, recognizing that they are "too far gone" for that to be a healthy relationship. But despite that, the chorus ends on a note of forgiveness, recognizing that the abuser has a chance for redemption if they take it.
Overall, Black & Blue is a powerful meditation on the lingering effects of abuse, as well as the strength it takes to move on and forgive. By telling the story of their own experiences, Harry Radford creates a powerful anthem for survivors of trauma.
Line by Line Meaning
Where did you go
Asks about the whereabouts of the person who left
I'm still here
Harry is still around
Didn't you know
Expresses confusion about why the person left
I still care
Harry still has feelings for the person who left
She was alone
Refers to someone who was left by the person addressed in the song
I was too young to understand
Harry was not mature enough to comprehend the situation at the time
She brought me to life
The person mentioned made a significant positive impact on Harry's life
And showed me the world
Harry gained new experiences and perspectives thanks to the person who left
You didn't put up a fight
Indicates that the person who left did so without resistance
You just stood with the bell
The imagery refers to someone ringing a bell to signal the end of a round, perhaps suggesting that the person who left was ready to move on
She gave me these eyes
The person mentioned instilled a particular way of seeing things in Harry
Now I see that you put her through hell
Despite not understanding the situation before, Harry now realizes that the person who left caused hardship for someone else
How could you look at yourself 22 still black and blue
Asks how the person who left can live with themselves despite the harm they caused to others
From all the times that I thought of you
Harry has been preoccupied with memories of the person who left, which cause him pain
Now you talk as if I'm a friend
Despite the past, the person who left now tries to maintain a relationship with Harry on friendlier terms
Have you forgotten all that you did
Asks if the person who left has truly moved on from their past actions
You can try and break through
The person who left wants to reconnect with Harry
But now I'm too far gone
Harry has moved on from the past and does not wish to reconnect
You left me to move on
The person who left allowed Harry to grow and mature through their absence
But I forgive you
Harry has let go of his anger and has come to terms with the past
I found my feet and I grew up
Harry has become more independent and mature since the person who left
They call my name on the streets
Harry has gained popularity or recognition in his community
It's still never enough
Despite his success, Harry still feels unfulfilled for some reason
I'm on the line
Undecided or unsure about something
Will you answer me in time
Asks if the person who left will give Harry the closure he needs
Now you got her back don't you forget about it
Reminds the person who left to appreciate what they have
Never let her go so here's to second chances
Encourages the person who left to hold onto the person they got back
Contributed by Adam Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.