Paint it Black
U.K Rockers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I want to paint it black
No colors anymore
I want them to turn black
I see the girls walk by
Dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head
I see a line of cars
And they're all painted black
With flowers and my love
Both never to come back
I people turn their heads
And quickly look away
Like a newborn baby
It just happens everyday
I look inside myself
See my heart is black
I see my red door
And I wanna paint it black
Maybe then I'll fade away
Not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up
When your whole world is black
No more will my green sea
Will turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee
This thing happening to you
If I look hard enough
Into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me
Before the morning comes
Want to see it painted
Painted black, black as night
Want to see it painted
Painted black, black as coal
...
The lyrics of The Rolling Stones' classic song "Paint It Black" depict a sense of darkness and despair, emphasizing the desire to eliminate color and embrace a black aesthetic. The opening lines, "I see a red door and I want to paint it black, no colors anymore, I want them to turn black," illustrate a longing to strip away brightness and vibrancy, possibly representing a desire to hide or diminish certain feelings or aspects of life.
The lyrics further delve into the singer's inner turmoil as they observe the world around them. The mention of girls walking by in summer clothes and the need to turn away until "my darkness goes" suggests a struggle with personal demons and a sense of isolation or detachment from everyday beauty and joy. The reference to a line of cars painted black with symbols of love and loss reinforces a theme of grief and the inevitability of things passing away.
The imagery of people turning their heads away and avoiding difficult truths mirrors the singer's own internal conflict and reluctance to confront the harsh realities of life. The comparison to a newborn baby highlights the vulnerability and innocence that can be overshadowed by darker emotions and experiences. The introspective line "I see my red door and I wanna paint it black" underscores the urge to delve deeper into one's own psyche and potentially mask or erase painful memories or emotions through a symbolic act of painting everything black.
The concluding verses of the song express a longing for escape and a yearning for a different reality. The mention of not having to face the facts and the difficulty of navigating a world filled with darkness suggests a deep sense of despair and a desire for transformation. The references to a changing sea and an uncertain future speak to the impermanence of life and the unpredictability of fate. Ultimately, the repetition of wanting to see everything painted black emphasizes a desire for a blank slate, a fresh start, or a release from the weight of emotional burdens.
Line by Line Meaning
I see a red door
I see a bright and cheerful entrance
And I want to paint it black
And I want to change it to reflect my dark emotions
No colors anymore
No more bright and happy colors
I want them to turn black
I want everything to be dark and gloomy
I see the girls walk by
I see the people passing by
Dressed in their summer clothes
Wearing their seasonal attire
I have to turn my head
I have to look away
Until my darkness goes
Until my negative feelings fade
I see a line of cars
I see a row of vehicles
And they're all painted black
And they're all colored in a dark hue
With flowers and my love
With symbols of affection and emotion
Both never to come back
Both lost forever
People turn their heads
People look away
And quickly look away
And avoid eye contact
Like a newborn baby
Similar to a helpless infant
It just happens everyday
This occurrence is routine
I look inside myself
I introspect
See my heart is black
Realize my emotions are negative
I see my red door
I confront my source of happiness
And I wanna paint it black
And I wish to change it to match my mood
Maybe then I'll fade away
Perhaps then I'll disappear
Not have to face the facts
Avoid dealing with reality
It's not easy facing up
Confronting the truth is challenging
When your whole world is black
When everything feels dark and bleak
No more will my green sea
The once lush landscape of my life
Will turn a deeper blue
Will become even darker
I could not foresee
I did not anticipate
This thing happening to you
This unfortunate event affecting you
If I look hard enough
If I search diligently
Into the setting sun
Towards the end of the day
My love will laugh with me
My affection will provide joy
Before the morning comes
Before a new day dawns
Want to see it painted
Desire to witness it transformed
Painted black, black as night
Colored in the darkest shade
Want to see it painted
Desire to witness it transformed
Painted black, black as coal
Colored as dark as coal
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Michael Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mitchwilley5011
Saxon was one of my favorite bands when i was 16..i'm now 56 and they're still kicking ass...Awesome!!!
@andershultman7072
There with you in age 16 and 56 and with Saxon !
@Mission2Transition641
same here! since early days of NWOBHM! I was 16, 56 now!
@mitchwilley5011
i grew up in a small town with no record store had to travel 100 miles to look for albums..i remember the day i found my first saxon, accept and raven albums..brought them back to my small town and turned tons of people onto them..i'm still known as the audiophile guy to this day!
@TheRebelKiss
Me too!!! Glad to have fellow members of the 16 / 56 group here! Feels good to still be young. 🐾🎶💕
@sambrooks7862
Yep me too, class of 81
@justiceflash7799
It's almost 2021 and Saxon still kicks ass and I love it
@CC_Marauder
Never Surrender
🤘🏻
@southernrocker63
Better than I expected. They stayed true to the original, but also made it theirs as well. Great tune!! Saxon is one of the all time British metal bands!!
@Menyhard
Colored song Rolling stone