This is the second part for Color Songs. The first part featured Chris de Burgh’s Lady in Red, Warrant’s I Saw Red and Aerosmith’s Pink. Don’t worry, 3 “black and white” songs (Michael Jackson’s Black or White, Matchbox 20’s Black and White People and Crowded House’s Black and White Boy) were already covered in the post Black and White Songs.
Color Songs feat. AC/DC, The Rolling Stones & The Beatles
Baby’s in Black by The Beatles
Baby’s in Black is featured on The Beatles album Beatles for Sale, released in 1964. The song, as the title suggests, is about the actual grief of a woman, as she suffers the loss of her fiancée Stuart Sutcliffe, who was the bass player for The Beatles when the band was formed. The “baby in black” is his photographer fiancé Astrid Kirchherr. Sutcliffe, who had left the band to pursue a career as an artist, died at the age of 22 due to a brain aneurysm. The song was written by Beatles members John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Sample Lyrics:
Oh dear, what can I do?
Baby’s in black and I’m feeling blue,
Tell me, oh what can I do?
She thinks of him and so she dresses in black,
And though he’ll never come back, she’s dressed in black.
Oh dear, what can I do?
Baby’s in black and I’m feeling blue,
Tell me, oh what can I do?
I think of her, but she thinks only of him,
And though it’s only a whim, she thinks of him.
Oh how long will it take,
Till she sees the mistake she has made?
Dear what can I do?
Baby’s in black and I’m feeling blue,
Tell me, oh what can I do?
Paint It, Black by The Rolling Stones
This 1966 Rolling Stones song (from the album Aftermath) became a number one hit in both the UK and US and it is considered to be one of the best rock songs ever written. The lyrics were written by front Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards.
The song is rumored to be about a girlfriend’s death (well, about a fictional man mourning the death of his girlfriend, to be exact). With the use of black in the song, there are no surprises. Black represents depression, grief and sadness. The man in the song wants to paint everything and everywhere black. Also, he claims that his heart has turned to black.
On an interesting note, “Paint It Black” is also the name of an American hardcore punk band founded in 2002, as well as the name of a music history novel, written by Janet Fitch and published in 2006.
Sample Lyrics:
I see a line of cars and they’re all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a new born baby it just happens every dayI look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and must have it painted black
Maybe then I’ll fade away and not have to face the facts
It’s not easy facin’ up when your whole world is black
Back in black by AC/DC
Back in Black is one of AC/DC’s most successful and best-known songs. It is often used in films (such as School of Rock, Iron Man) and TV shows (Supernatural). Back in Black is also the name of the hard rock album from 1980. The song was written by singer Brian Johnson and the band’s guitarist brothers Angus and Malcolm Young.
This fast and upbeat song is in fact a tribute to Bon Scott, the former AC/DC singer that died in 1980 due to alcohol poisoning. Scott’s band mates wanted Brian to write a song that would be about Bon and that would celebrate his life. “Black” also happens to be the favorite color of many rock and metal musicians. The song and album both became huge hits, reaching number 1 in the UK and number 2 in the States.
Sample Lyrics:
Back in black
I hit the sack
I’ve been too long I’m glad to be back
Yes, I’m let loose
From the noose
That’s kept me hanging about
I’ve been looking at the sky
‘Cause it’s gettin’ me high
Forget the hearse ’cause I never die
I got nine lives
Cat’s eyes
Abusin’ every one of them and running wild