Black
Pear-Jam Lyrics

Hey, oh
Addressing someone, possibly the subject of the song

Sheets of empty canvas
Metaphor for the blank slate of the future without the loved one, who is gone

Untouched sheets of clay
Metaphor for the potential of the future without the loved one, who is gone

Were laid spread out before me
The future is presented, but the artist is lost without the loved one

As her body once did
The loved one is gone and only memories remain

All five horizons
All possible directions the singer's life could take

Revolved around her soul
The loved one was the center of the singer's life

As the earth to the sun
The loved one was the center of the artist's life, like the sun is to the earth

Now the air I tasted and breathed
The artist is now alone and everything around them has changed

Has taken a turn
The artist's life has taken a turn for the worse

Oh and all I taught her was everything
The singer gave their all to the loved one

Oh I know she gave me all that she wore
The loved one gave everything they had to the artist

And now my bitter hands
The singer's hands are bitter, hardened by the pain of losing the loved one

Chafe beneath the clouds
The singer struggles with their emotions

Of what was everything
All the good things in the singer's life are now gone

Oh the pictures have
Memories of the loved one

All been washed in black
Metaphor for the darkness and despair the artist is experiencing

Tattooed everything
The memories of the loved one are permanent and ingrained in the singer's mind

I take a walk outside
The singer tries to escape their pain and surroundings

I'm surrounded by
The artist is not alone, but still feels isolated

Some kids at play
Innocent joy and happiness contrasted with the artist's sorrow

I can feel their laughter
The artist is reminded of the happiness they once had

So why do I sear
The pain persists despite external distractions

Oh, and twisted thoughts that spin
The artist's mind is tormented by thoughts of the past

Round my head
The thoughts of the past consume the singer

I'm spinning
The singer is lost in their thoughts and emotions

How quick the sun can, drop away
The singer's happiness was fleeting and disappeared quickly

And now my bitter hands
Reiteration of the hardened state of the artist's hands

Cradle broken glass
Metaphor for the artist's broken heart

Of what was everything
Continued emphasis on the loss of everything good in the singer's life

All the pictures had
Continued references to memories and loss

All been washed in black
Metaphor for the pervasive darkness in the artist's life

Tattooed everything
Repeated emphasis on the permanent nature of memories and loss

All the love gone bad
Relationships have soured and ended in the artist's life

Turned my world to black
The darkness and despair in the singer's life is all-encompassing

Tattooed all I see
The artist's perception of the world is filtered through their pain and sadness

All that I am
The singer's identity is tied to their pain and loss

All I'll be
The singer foresees that their pain will shape their future

Yeah
Agreement with an unspoken thought

I know someday you'll have a beautiful life
The artist still cares for the loved one and wishes them happiness

I know you'll be a star
The loved one will be successful and shine in their own right

In somebody else's sky
The loved one's future is not tied to the singer's

But why
Questioning why they could not have a future together

Why
Reiteration of the question and underlying pain

Why can't it be
Wishing things were different and they could be together