Black Walls
Pavement Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been to the desert on a horse with no name
He's got a different color, but he always looks the same

Well,
Black walls
Black walls
Black walls
Black walls
Black walls
Black walls

You shouldn't hate your body
'Cause it's a part of you
You shouldn't hate your family
It's a part of you
You shouldn't hate your neighbors
In this family of man

Black walls
Black walls
Black walls
Black walls
Black walls
Black walls
Black walls
Black walls




Black walls
Black walls

Overall Meaning

The opening line of Pavement's song, "I've been to the desert on a horse with no name", references the famous song by America, "A Horse With No Name". The line alludes to the idea of a journey of self-discovery, which is further reinforced in the next line, "He's got a different color, but he always looks the same". This line symbolizes the idea that even though the outside world may seem different, at the core, everything remains the same. The repetition of the phrase "black walls" throughout the rest of the song can be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling trapped or confined, possibly alluding to the idea of being stuck in one's own mind.


The final verse of the song has a powerful message of self-acceptance and unity, encouraging the listener to not hate their body or family because they are all part of the same human family, represented by the phrase "family of man". The repeated refrain of "black walls" throughout the song creates a somber and repetitive mood, possibly reflecting the feeling of being mentally stuck or trapped, which is juxtaposed against the hopeful message of the final verse.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been to the desert on a horse with no name
I have gone somewhere unfamiliar without any sense of direction or identity


He's got a different color, but he always looks the same
Despite minor differences, things remain mostly the same


Well,
The upcoming lines might contradict what I previously said


Black walls
There is a looming darkness that surrounds me


Black walls
This darkness seems to never subside


Black walls
This darkness is all that I see


Black walls
I feel trapped within these dark walls


Black walls
I feel suffocated by this darkness


Black walls
I can't find my way out of this darkness


Black walls
This darkness is consuming me


You shouldn't hate your body
You should accept and love yourself


'Cause it's a part of you
Because your body is an essential part of who you are


You shouldn't hate your family
You should love and appreciate your family


It's a part of you
Because your family is an essential part of who you are


You shouldn't hate your neighbors
You should love and respect those around you


In this family of man
Because we are all interconnected as humans




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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