Her singing talent has lent itself to a wide range of genres, although earlier works, such as 'Angel With a Lariat' and 'Absolute Torch and Twang' (the last of which won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance) were predominantly country, with hints of jazz and salsa. Later works, including Ingénue and All You Can Eat, were more pop-ish in execution. No matter the genre, all left her talent undeniable. She has since garnered four grammys and many other awards, and was even made an officer of the Order of Canada in 1996, Canada's highest civilian honour.
Black Coffee
k.d. lang Lyrics
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Haven't slept a wink
I walk the floor from nine to four
In between I drink
Black coffee
Love's a hand-me-down brew
I'll never know a Sunday
In this weekday room
I'm talkin' to the shadow
One o'clock till four
And Lord, how slow the moments go
And all I do is pour
Black coffee
Since the blues caught my eye
I'm hangin' out on Monday
My Sunday dreams to dry
Now man was born to go a lovin'
But was a woman born to weep and fret
And stay at home and tend her oven
And down her past regrets
In coffee and cigarettes
I'm moonin' all the mornin'
Moanin' all the night
And in between it's nicotine
And not much heart to fight
Black coffee
Feelin' low as the ground
It's drivin' me crazy
This thinkin' 'bout my baby
Might maybe come around
Come around
In k.d. lang's song "Black Coffee," the singer is feeling incredibly lonely and unable to sleep. She spends her nights pacing and drinking coffee as a means to stay awake. The lyrics use the metaphor of love to describe the coffee, saying that it's a "hand-me-down brew." The singer longs for a Sunday, a day off from work, but instead is stuck in a "weekday room," devoid of any excitement or joy.
The lyrics also touch upon the themes of regret and gender roles. The singer laments that men are born to love, while women are expected to "weep and fret" and stay at home tending to domestic duties. She speaks of "past regrets" while smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee, alluding to a life of missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams.
Throughout the song, the singer is consumed by her thoughts of lost love. She spends her time talking to shadows, feeling low and restless, and yearning for her baby to come back to her. The repetition of the phrase "black coffee" highlights the monotony of her existence and her inability to escape her feelings of despair and longing.
Overall, "Black Coffee" is a poignant exploration of loneliness, love, and regret, set against the backdrop of a sleepless night fueled by cigarettes and coffee.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm feelin' mighty lonesome
I am feeling extremely lonely and isolated.
Haven't slept a wink
I have not been able to sleep at all, which has added to my misery.
I walk the floor from nine to four
I pace around my room for hours on end, unable to find any peace.
In between I drink
To cope with my loneliness, I have been drinking heavily.
Black coffee
I have been drinking black coffee, as it is my only comfort in this difficult time.
Love's a hand-me-down brew
The love that I have experienced in my life has been unoriginal and unsatisfying, like a cheap and mediocre drink.
I'll never know a Sunday
I will never experience true happiness or contentment.
In this weekday room
I am trapped in a mundane and unhappy existence, with no escape in sight.
I'm talkin' to the shadow
I have become so lonely that I now talk to my own shadow for comfort.
One o'clock till four
I have conversations with my shadow for hours at a time, from one in the morning until four.
And Lord, how slow the moments go
Time passes extremely slowly when I am alone and unhappy.
And all I do is pour
All I can do is pour more black coffee into my cup, trying to find some solace.
Since the blues caught my eye
Ever since I became sad and depressed, I have been drinking black coffee to ease my pain.
I'm hangin' out on Monday
I feel lost and without purpose, as if each day is the same and they all blend together.
My Sunday dreams to dry
My hopes and aspirations have been beaten down and are slowly disappearing.
Now man was born to go a lovin'
Men are naturally inclined to love and pursue relationships with others.
But was a woman born to weep and fret
Women are expected to sit at home and be emotional, rather than seeking happiness or success in their own lives.
And stay at home and tend her oven
Society expects women to be homemakers, focused on cooking and cleaning rather than pursuing their own interests.
And down her past regrets
Women are often burdened by past regrets and mistakes, which hold them back from achieving happiness.
In coffee and cigarettes
To cope with their pain and disappointment, women often turn to substances like coffee and cigarettes.
I'm moonin' all the mornin'
I am feeling sad and heartbroken all day, right from the moment I wake up.
Moanin' all the night
I am filled with despair and anguish throughout the night, unable to escape my sadness.
And in between it's nicotine
To cope with my emotional pain, I have been smoking cigarettes, which only make me feel worse in the long run.
And not much heart to fight
I am feeling so low and defeated that I do not have any motivation or energy to fight against my misery.
Feelin' low as the ground
I am feeling incredibly unhappy and hopeless.
It's drivin' me crazy
My sadness is consuming me and causing me to feel unstable and insane.
This thinkin' 'bout my baby
I am consumed with thoughts of my lost love, and it is making me feel even worse.
Might maybe come around
Despite my sadness, there is still a small glimmer of hope that my love will return to me and bring me happiness once again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, GUY WEBSTER/WEBSTER MUSIC
Written by: Francis Joseph Burke, Paul Francis Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind