Black and Blue
Mike The Mechanics Lyrics
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What do you say, little girl
Yeah it's you I'm talkin' to tell me what right have you
To leave me black and blue
You say nothing lasts forever
No never, ever, ever but the goods you got
Oh God, you know it's hot, hot, hot, hot, hot
That's right it's black and white
You're saying day is night
But you leave me black and blue
You say nothing's everlasting
And that love is just the last thing
That you feel you want, you know you got
You know it's hot, hot, hot, hot, hot
We'll I've tried to make it on my own
But I just can't leave your love alone
Maybe just maybe, I'll get it sometime
From a boat or a plane or a magical sign
Send me the pieces, that make up my heart
I'll put them together, a part by, a part by
Hey, you I'm talking to
Tell me what right have you
To leave me black and blue
Yeah, what right have you, what right
To leave me black and blue, you wanna fight
You're saying day is night, you leave me black
Bring back the pieces that make up my heart
And I'll put them together, a part by, a part by a
Hey, you I'm black and blue
The Mike and the Mechanics song "Black and Blue" is a lament about the end of a relationship. The lyrics express the confusion and heartbreak of a lover left behind, struggling to come to terms with the sudden departure of their partner. The first verse begins with the singer addressing the one who is leaving, asking them what right they have to leave him "black and blue". He can't understand why they would leave him feeling so hurt and vulnerable. The chorus brings in the idea that "nothing lasts forever", but the pain of the breakup is felt deeply regardless.
As the song progresses, the lyrics suggest that the two lovers are now seeing things from completely different perspectives. The singer feels abandoned and betrayed, while the other person seems to be moving on easily, already claiming that love is not everlasting. The singer tries to make it on his own, but can't seem to let go of the relationship, longing for a way to bring his heart back together. The final verse brings it all back to the beginning, repeating the question of what right the other person has to leave him feeling "black and blue".
Overall, the lyrics convey the emotional turmoil of a breakup, the feeling of being left behind and struggling to find a way to move on. The use of color imagery, with the mention of "black and blue" and "black and white", amplifies this sense of contrast and opposition between the two perspectives.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey one fine day, you're going away ooh
Addressing the listener, the singer acknowledges that they will soon leave
What do you say, little girl
The singer asks the listener for an explanation
Yeah it's you I'm talkin' to tell me what right have you
The singer queries why the listener has the authority to depart
To leave me black and blue
The artist feels battered and hurt by the listener's leaving
You say nothing lasts forever
The listener has expressed that all things have an expiration date
No never, ever, ever but the goods you got
While the listener may believe in impermanence, the singer values the good things they have together
Oh God, you know it's hot, hot, hot, hot, hot
The singer acknowledges the passion they share with the listener
Ooh, it's hot
The artist repeats their acknowledgement of the intensity of their relationship
That's right it's black and white
The artist agrees with the listener's former statement
You're saying day is night
Repeating the listener's words, the artist acknowledges that their opinions differ
But you leave me black and blue
The singer is still hurt by the listener's impending departure
You say nothing's everlasting
The listener may not believe in eternal things, including love
And that love is just the last thing
The listener believes love is dispensable
That you feel you want, you know you got
The singer acknowledges the listener's freedom to do as they wish
We'll I've tried to make it on my own
The singer has attempted to function without the listener
But I just can't leave your love alone
Despite trying, the artist can't forget or move on from the listener's love
Maybe just maybe, I'll get it sometime
The artist holds out hope that they will be reunited with the listener
From a boat or a plane or a magical sign
The singer envisions various possibilities, including miraculous ones
Send me the pieces, that make up my heart
The singer asks the listener to return the parts of their heart that they took with them
I'll put them together, a part by, a part by
The artist expresses their willingness to rebuild their heart
Hey, you I'm talking to
The artist addresses the listener once again
Tell me what right have you
The artist repeats their question about the listener's justification for leaving
To leave me black and blue
The singer reminds the listener of how hurt they are
Yeah, what right have you, what right
The artist emphasizes their demand for an explanation
To leave me black and blue, you wanna fight
The singer challenges the listener to confront the pain they have caused
Bring back the pieces that make up my heart
The singer reiterates their request to have their heart returned
And I'll put them together, a part by, a part by a
The singer reaffirms their commitment to rebuilding their heart
Hey, you I'm black and blue
The artist emphasizes their emotional state once more
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: K, A B A ROBERTSON, BRIAN ALEXANDER P ROBERTSON, MICHAEL RUTHERFORD, PAUL YOUNG, CHRISTOPHER NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind