Black Building
Kashmir Lyrics


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I've past that little black building
Down on the corner so many times
And I often wondered
If anyone lived there.

it looked like an empty dwelling
With its cracked façade
Dusty windows
Curtains withdrawn
No lights
No signs of anything.

I talked to jewel about it
She had the same idea.

That old guy
That always hangs out
Outside
The liquor store
Next door
(röeghmann)

Told me he'd once seen the devil
In one of those windows up there
Blowing him a kiss.

He had a certain serious (almost eerie)
Look on his face as he said it
As if he'd actually seen the dark lord
'said heÂ'd seen him
Throw trash out of the back window
That he'd been stealing the furniture
From whatever bars
Closed down in the neighbourhood
But he's an old guy
Probably delirious.

So anyway
The other day me and ricco
Decided to break in.

To see what the dark palace was really all about
Yawllah llat gnol a dah ti
It had a long tall hallway
That led to a staircase in the back




And on the right side
I counted seven doors

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kashmir's song "Black Building" tell a story about a mysterious, seemingly abandoned building that the singer and his friend have been curious about for a long time. They speculate on whether anyone lives there or not, as the building looks decrepit and empty with its cracked façade, dusty windows, withdrawn curtains, and no signs of life. The singer mentions talking to his friend Jewel about it, and they later hear from an old man outside the liquor store next door that he once saw the devil in one of the windows blowing him a kiss.


Despite the old man's claims, the singer and his friend Ricco decide to break in and explore the building. They find a long, tall hallway that leads to a staircase in the back, with seven doors on the right side. The lyrics leave the exact details of what they find inside the building to the listener's imagination, but the imagery and atmosphere suggest a sense of danger and uncertainty.


The song's lyrics are rich in symbolism and imagery, which tie into the overall theme of mystery and the unknown. The black building represents a physical manifestation of the idea of the unknown, with its dark and foreboding appearance. The devil, too, is a symbol of mystery and power, representing the unknown and the inexplicable. The singer's decision to break into the building represents a desire to confront and understand the unknown, even if it means facing potential danger or consequences.


Line by Line Meaning

I've past that little black building
I have passed by that small, dark building


Down on the corner so many times
So many times I have passed by that building on the street corner


And I often wondered
I frequently pondered


If anyone lived there.
Whether there was anyone living inside.


it looked like an empty dwelling
It appeared to be an abandoned living space


With its cracked façade
The building had a damaged outer wall


Dusty windows
The windows were covered in dust


Curtains withdrawn
The curtains were drawn back


No lights
There were no lights on


No signs of anything.
Nothing to indicate any human activity was present.


I talked to jewel about it
I discussed this with my friend Jewel


She had the same idea.
Jewel shared my curiosity


That old guy
That elderly man


That always hangs out
Who is always outside


Outside
In the open air


The liquor store
Adjacent to the liquor store


Next door
Next to the building


(röeghmann)
His name is Röeghmann


Told me he'd once seen the devil
He told me he had spotted the devil once


In one of those windows up there
In one of the upstairs' windows


Blowing him a kiss.
Blowing a kiss in his direction


He had a certain serious (almost eerie)
He had a serious, almost eerie


Look on his face as he said it
Expression on his face while making this statement


As if he'd actually seen the dark lord
As though he had personally witnessed the devil


'said he'd seen him
He stated he had seen the devil


Throw trash out of the back window
Throwing garbage out of a rear window


That he'd been stealing the furniture
Stealing furniture


From whatever bars
From whatever establishments


Closed down in the neighbourhood
Which had ceased operations in the vicinity


But he's an old guy
However, he is an elderly gentleman


Probably delirious.
Possibly hallucinating or delusional.


So anyway
In any case


The other day me and ricco
Recently, my friend Ricco and I


Decided to break in.
Consented to loot infiltrate


To see what the dark palace was really all about
To explore the enigmatic structure


Yawllah llat gnol a dah ti
A meaningless phrase, possibly just poetic nonsense used to convey atmosphere


It had a long tall hallway
The structure comprised of a lengthy and tall passageway


That led to a staircase in the back
Which ended at a staircase at the far end


And on the right side
On the right-hand side


I counted seven doors
I observed a total of seven doors




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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