Paint it Black
KITCHEN - The Rolling Stones Lyrics

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I see a 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

I see a 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 look away

Like a new born 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 settin' sun
My love will laugh with me before the mornin' comes

I see a 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

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm

I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones convey a sense of darkness, despair, and the desire for a drastic change in the singer's surroundings and emotions.

The opening lines "I see a red door and I want it painted black, no colors anymore, I want them to turn black" suggest that the singer is experiencing a deep sense of emptiness and longing for a transformation. The color red represents passion, but the desire for it to be painted black indicates a loss of hope or vitality. The singer wants to rid themselves of any trace of color or vibrancy, seeking a state of darkness to match their inner turmoil.

The reference to girls walking by in summer clothes implies that life goes on around the singer, but they are unable to fully engage with it. They have to turn their head, avoiding the light and the beauty around them until their personal darkness dissipates. This suggests that the singer is struggling with their own internal demons and cannot appreciate the joy and beauty in the world.

The next verse uses a line of cars painted black, adorned with flowers and symbols of love, to symbolize loss and heartbreak. The mention of people turning their heads and looking away reflects the inescapable nature of tragedy and the indifference of others to one's personal pain. The simile comparing this to a new born baby suggests that such dismissiveness is a common occurrence, an everyday event that the singer has become accustomed to.

The lyrics then take a more introspective turn, with the singer looking inside themselves and acknowledging the darkness in their own heart. They mention their red door, which represents a barrier or entrance to their inner self. The desire to have it painted black indicates seeking a drastic change, perhaps hoping to dissociate from their own emotions. The line "Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts" suggests a longing for escape from reality, possibly due to the overwhelming weight of their struggles.

The following lines express regret and a sense of the unexpected, as the singer realizes they could not have foreseen the tragedy that has befallen someone else. This emphasizes how life can randomly deliver hardships, leaving one feeling helpless and unable to make sense of it all.

In the final stanza, the singer holds onto a glimmer of hope. They express the desire to find solace in the setting sun, perhaps yearning for a moment of connection and laughter with their loved one before facing the impending dawn, which symbolizes the return to their bleak reality.

Overall, "Paint It Black" is a deeply introspective song that explores themes of darkness, despair, loss, and the longing for a drastic change. It reflects the inner turmoil of the singer's mind and their struggle to find meaning or escape from their bleak reality.

Line by Line Meaning

I see a red door and I want it painted black
I notice the presence of a red door, and I strongly desire for it to be completely covered in black paint.

No colors anymore, I want them to turn black
I no longer wish to perceive any vibrant colors, but instead, I desire for everything to be transformed into a deep shade of black.

I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I observe the girls as they pass by, adorned in their light and colorful attire suitable for the summer season.

I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
In order to alleviate the internal burden of my own darkness, I find it necessary to divert my attention away from these cheerful scenes.

I see a line of cars and they're all painted black
I perceive a row of vehicles, and every single one of them is coated in a somber black hue.

With flowers and my love, both never to come back
Alongside these cars, I also observe flowers as well as the love I once had, but unfortunately, both have vanished and will never return.

I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
I witness individuals avert their gaze and hastily shift their attention elsewhere, intentionally avoiding any connection or acknowledgment.

Like a new born baby, it just happens every day
Similar to the routine occurrence of a newborn child, this act of turning away happens with regularity and predictability.

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
Upon introspection, I discover that my innermost being, my heart, is filled with darkness and despair.

I see my red door, I must have it painted black
I come face to face with the sight of my red door once again, compelling me to take immediate action and ensure it is completely covered in black paint.

Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
By transforming the environment around me into a monochromatic black, I hope that I can gradually retreat from reality and avoid confronting the uncomfortable truths.

It's not easy facing up, when your whole world is black
Attempting to confront the challenges and difficulties becomes incredibly arduous when the entirety of your surroundings is engulfed in an all-encompassing darkness.

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
The once vibrant and lively sea, represented by the color green, will no longer undergo a transition towards a deeper shade of blue.

I could not foresee this thing happening to you
I was unable to anticipate or predict that such an unfortunate event would befall upon you.

If I look hard enough into the settin' sun
If I scrutinize the sinking sun with great intensity and focus,

My love will laugh with me before the mornin' comes
It is in that moment that my affectionate companion will share in a joyous laughter together with me, anticipating the arrival of a new day.

I wanna see it painted, painted black
I yearn for the sight of everything coated in a deep, dark shade of black.

Black as night, black as coal
The desired black color should resemble the darkness of the night and the darkness of coal.

I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I long to witness the complete obscuration of the sun, completely erased from the expanse of the sky.

I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
My desire remains firm as I wish to witness the transformation into a deep, dark black color, emphasized by the repetition of the word 'painted'.

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Vocalizations representing a melodic tune without any specific intended meaning.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Michael Jagger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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