Black and Blue
Phyllis Hyman & Barry Manilow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There are no stars tonight,
There are no words to say
I feel my soul losing you
[Phyllis:]
Where did the good times go,
Baby what can we do
[Both:]
Black and blue, Black and blue
[Phyllis:]
When our hearts were young,
Clinging to each other
Moonlight used to glow
[Both:]
When our hearts were young,
Then there was no other
[Barry:]
Why'd we let it go
Down on the avenue,
You can forget your name
[Both:]
Paint pretty pictures,
False and true
[Barry:]
Picture what we've become
[Phyllis:]
Running is all we do
Color our love
[Both:]
Black and blue, Black and blue
[Phyllis:]
Looks like a storm tonight
[Barry:]
Look like a storm tonight
[Phyllis:]
A storm is overdue
[Barry:] A storm is overdue
[Phyllis:]
Color our love
[Barry:]
Color our love
[Both:]
Black and blue, Black and blue, Oh
The song "Black and Blue" sung by Phyllis Hyman and Barry Manilow is a mournful and melancholic duet that talks about two people who were once in love but have grown distant from each other. The song starts with Barry's verse where he describes the setting of the song as a starless and wordless night where he feels his soul losing the person he loves. Phyllis then enters with a verse that talks about how they miss the good times they once had and express hopelessness in what they can do to bring back that love. The chorus, sung by both artists, repeats the phrase and title of the song, "Black and Blue," which symbolizes the injuries and discomfort that they have been experiencing in their love life.
The song then talks about how their love was once young and they used to cling to each other. The moonlight used to glow brightly, and there was no other except for the two of them. The lyrics ask why they let it go and drifted apart. The lyrics then take a shift towards false hopes, where they paint pretty pictures, both true and false, which symbolize the lies and deceit they might have indulged in while trying to keep the love alive. The song then ends with them lamenting how they are running away from the love they once had and how they want to color that love black and blue because it represents the pain, sorrow, and bruises they have endured in their love.
Line by Line Meaning
There are no stars tonight,
The night sky is empty and there is no guidance or illumination from the universe.
There are no words to say
Words are inadequate to express the depth of emotions being felt.
I feel my soul losing you
The singer feels their very essence slipping away as the relationship deteriorates.
Where did the good times go,
The artist is feeling nostalgic and lamenting the loss of happy memories.
Baby what can we do
The artist is helpless to change the current situation and seeking advice or empathy from their partner.
Color our love
The couple is acknowledging that their love has changed and taken on darker tones.
Black and blue, Black and blue
The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the new, painful aspect of their love.
When our hearts were young,
The artist is reminiscing about a time when their love was new and pure.
Clinging to each other
The couple was deeply connected and dependent on each other at that time.
Moonlight used to glow
The setting is romantic and magical, imbued with moonlit wonder.
Then there was no other
The couple was exclusive and completely devoted to each other at that time.
Why'd we let it go
The artist is questioning what went wrong and why they allowed their love to falter.
Down on the avenue,
The setting is now impersonal and unromantic.
You can forget your name
The environment is so harsh that it can make one feel untethered and disconnected from their identity.
Paint pretty pictures,
The couple has resorted to creating and believing in beautiful illusions to cope with their current situation.
False and true
These pretty pictures are both deceptive and genuine in equal measure.
Picture what we've become
The couple is acknowledging that they have evolved and changed into something unrecognizable even to themselves.
Running is all we do
The couple is stuck in a negative cycle of fighting and escaping the issues at hand.
Color our love
The couple is once again addressing the fact that their love has become tinged with darkness and pain.
Looks like a storm tonight
The weather is reflecting the turmoil within the characters and suggesting that change is imminent.
A storm is overdue
The storm symbolizes a major upheaval or catharsis that has been building up for some time.
Black and blue, Black and blue, Oh
The last repetition of the refrain ties up the overall theme of the song, highlighting that love can often be as painful as it is beautiful.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDERSON, KELLY, MANILOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind