Black Coffee
björk & tricky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel so lonely, haven't slept a wink.
I walk the floor, and watch the door.
And in between I drink black coffee.
Love's a hand-me-down brew.
I never know why Sunday in this weekday brew?
I'm talking to the shadows, 1 o'clock till 4
All I do is pour black coffee.
Since the blues caught my eye,
I'm hanging out on Monday,
But Sunday dreams too dry
They say a man is born to go alone
And a woman is born to weep and fret
To stay at home and drown her past regrets
In coffee and cigarettes.
And moody all the morning, moody all night.
And in between I drink black coffee.
Black coffee.
The song "Black Coffee" by Björk and Tricky is a melancholic and emotive piece that speaks to the feeling of loneliness, isolation and desperation after a love has ended. The lyrics are rich with imagery and metaphor, creating a vivid picture of a person so lost in grief that they can only find solace in the bitter taste of black coffee. The opening lines "Move over, move over, yeah you heard what I said, move over," suggests a plea for someone to move over and make room for the singer in their life. However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that this plea will never be answered.
The lyrics go on to describe the singer's inability to sleep and the endless nights spent pacing the floor, unable to escape the pain of their broken heart. The line "Love's a hand-me-down brew" underscores the idea that love is often something that is inherited or passed down from others, rather than something that is truly created anew. The imagery of "Sunday dreams too dry" and "talking to the shadows" emphasize the unsettling feeling of being lost and alone, with nothing but the sound of your own voice for company. The repetition of the phrase "black coffee" throughout the song serves as a kind of mantra, a way of reinforcing the singer's desperate need for something to hold onto.
Line by Line Meaning
Move over, move over, yeah you heard what I said, move over.
I need some space, please make room for me.
I feel so lonely, haven't slept a wink.
I'm feeling very alone and unable to sleep.
I walk the floor, and watch the door.
I'm pacing around and keeping an eye on the door.
And in between I drink black coffee.
I'm filling the time with drinking black coffee.
Love's a hand-me-down brew.
Love is something that has been passed down over time.
I never know why Sunday in this weekday brew?
I don't understand why Sunday feels like any other day of the week.
I'm talking to the shadows, 1 o'clock till 4
I'm talking to myself and feeling alone from 1am until 4am.
And Lord how slow the moments go.
Time is moving very slowly.
All I do is pour black coffee.
The only thing that seems to help me cope is drinking black coffee.
Since the blues caught my eye,
Ever since I became aware of the sadness in my life,
I'm hanging out on Monday,
Every day feels the same and I'm feeling low on Monday.
But Sunday dreams too dry
I can't find any hope or inspiration on Sundays.
They say a man is born to go alone
I've heard that men are meant to be alone and independent.
And a woman is born to weep and fret
Meanwhile, women are apparently meant to be emotional and worried.
To stay at home and drown her past regrets
Women are expected to stay at home and suppress their regrets with things like coffee and cigarettes.
In coffee and cigarettes.
Drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes are how I deal with my problems.
And moody all the morning, moody all night.
I feel down and depressed all day and all night.
And in between I drink black coffee.
The only thing that seems to help me cope is drinking black coffee.
Black coffee.
I'm really relying on this black coffee to get me through these tough times.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Francis Joseph Burke, Paul Francis Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind