During the band's early years, In Flames had a varying group of musicians recording with them, including many session musicians. By the release of Colony (1999), the group had established a stable lineup. Their sixth studio album Reroute to Remain (2002) showed the band moving toward a newer style of music that moved further away from melodic death metal and closer to alternative metal. This decision was criticized by fans of the group's heavier metal sound; however, it increased the band's mainstream audience and bolstered their album sales. As of 2008, In Flames has sold over two million records worldwide.
Since the band's inception, In Flames have released thirteen studio albums, three EPs, and two live DVDs, their latest release being their thirteenth studio album I, the Mask in 2019. In Flames has been nominated for three Grammis Awards. They won two of these nominations; one for Soundtrack to Your Escape (2004) in the "Hard Rock/Metal of the Year" category, and one nomination for their following album Come Clarity (2006) in the same category.
Black and White
In Flames Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am proud to be this far from you
You say that you have no regrets
But I know that you do
You told me someone stole the eye
I know him too
That between black and white
There is no room for two
The scale, it might seem wide
But there's no need to be blind
Between black and white there is no room for two
I leave all the grey behind
I see clear, I know that I'll find
You claim that you are innocent
But tell me who ain't
You think that you're going to be saved
There's no such thing as a saint
I've come to the conclusion, yes I know
That between black and white
There is no room for two
The scale, it might seem wide
But there's no need to be blind
Between black and white there is no room for two
Black and white
There's nothing in between
Black and white
Nothing's what it seems
I've come to the conclusion, yes I know
That between black and white
There is no room for two
The scale, it might seem wide
But there's no need to be blind
Between black and white there is no room for two
The lyrics to In Flames's song "Black" are somewhat cryptic, but seem to be about the concept of duality and the idea that one must choose a side, either black or white, with no room for gray area. The opening lines, "I am one with the world tonight / I am proud to be this far from you," suggest a sense of independence and freedom from someone or something that was holding the singer back.
The following lines, "You say that you have no regrets / But I know that you do / You told me someone stole the eye / I know him too," are a bit more difficult to interpret. The reference to someone stealing an eye is unclear, but it could be symbolic of a loss of perspective or a betrayal of trust. The singer seems to be suggesting that this person is not being honest about their feelings and actions, and is holding onto regrets that they are not admitting to.
The chorus, "I've come to the conclusion, yes I know / That between black and white / There is no room for two / The scale, it might seem wide / But there's no need to be blind / Between black and white there is no room for two," reinforces the theme of duality and suggests that the singer has made a firm decision to align themselves with one side or the other. The lines "I leave all the grey behind / I see clear, I know that I'll find" suggest that the singer is confident in their decision and is moving forward without hesitation.
Overall, the lyrics to "Black" seem to be about the importance of making difficult choices and the necessity of committing oneself to a particular path. The song encourages the listener to let go of any indecision or uncertainty and to embrace the clarity that comes from choosing a side.
Line by Line Meaning
I am one with the world tonight
I feel in sync with the universe
I am proud to be this far from you
Being away from you is an achievement to be proud of
You say that you have no regrets
You claim to have no remorse for your actions
But I know that you do
I'm aware that you secretly regret your actions
You told me someone stole the eye
You confided in me that something valuable was stolen from you
I know him too
I also know the person who stole from you
I leave all the grey behind
I choose to see things as black and white, without any ambiguity
I see clear, I know that I'll find
I have clarity and believe that I will find what I'm looking for
You claim that you are innocent
You maintain your innocence
But tell me who ain't
But everyone has some guilt or shame to bear
You think that you're going to be saved
You have faith that you will be rescued from your troubles
There's no such thing as a saint
No one is perfect, everyone has flaws
Black and white
A representation of opposing forces or ideas
There's nothing in between
There are no shades of grey or middle ground
Nothing's what it seems
Things are not always as they appear
I've come to the conclusion, yes I know
I have reached a clear understanding
That between black and white
Within the context of opposing forces
There is no room for two
There is no space for both to exist
The scale, it might seem wide
The range of options may seem extensive
But there's no need to be blind
But there's no reason to be unaware of the two contrasting forces
Between black and white there is no room for two
There is no middle ground or neutral territory between opposing forces
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LUKE GOSS, MATTHEW GOSS, NICKY GRAHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind