Lena Torres
Paint It Black is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The song's lyrics revolve around themes of grief and loss, with many interpreting it as a man dealing with the death of his partner. The song's sound is notable for its use of a sitar, introducing Indian and Middle Eastern influences to the band's music for the first time. While the song has been praised for its unique sound and lyrical depth, some listeners have found its exploration of dark themes and imagery of death to be unsettling. This has sparked discussions about whether the song's message is ultimately positive or negative.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Theme | Death and sadness |
| Mood | Negative, angry, depressing |
| Lyrics | Grief, loss, darkness |
| Instruments | Sitar, bass, drums, acoustic guitar |
| Genre | Raga rock, psychedelia, psychedelic rock |
| Recording Location | RCA Studios, Los Angeles |
| Release Date | May 1966 |
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What You'll Learn
The song's lyrics are about grief and loss
"Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones is a song about grief and loss. The lyrics describe the narrator's feelings of sadness, anger, and isolation following the death of a loved one. The song is about the funeral of a girl from her lover's viewpoint, and he wants everything to be painted black, reflecting his mood and how he does not wish to be consoled.
The song's lyrics include references to a red door and girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes, which has been interpreted as the narrator's anger at seeing others alive and happy when his love is dead. The red door could also symbolize the narrator's heart, which he wants to be painted black, never to be opened again. The line "I see a line of cars and they're all painted black/With flowers and my love, both never to come back" further emphasizes the theme of loss and grief in the song.
The narrator expresses his desire to escape his feelings by blotting out the sun and fading away, not wanting to face the reality of his grief. The song captures the raw and intense emotions that come with losing someone, and the struggle to come to terms with a world now devoid of colour and joy.
The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" is a powerful expression of grief and a reflection on the painful process of coming to terms with loss. The song's lyrics resonate with anyone who has experienced the darkness that follows the death of a loved one and finds themselves in the anger and denial stage of grief.
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The song's sound is influenced by Indian and Middle Eastern music
"Paint It Black" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. The song was released in May 1966 and became a commercial success, reaching No. 1 in the U.S. and the U.K. charts. The song is a product of the songwriting partnership of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, with all five band members contributing to the final arrangement.
The song's sound is heavily influenced by Indian and Middle Eastern music. This influence is particularly evident in the use of the sitar, an Indian instrument that had become prominent in British rock music in 1965. Brian Jones, a multi-instrumentalist, played the sitar on "Paint It Black," adding a distinct Indian flavour to the song's introduction. Jones's interest in the sitar was sparked by his conversations with the Beatles' lead guitarist, George Harrison, who had used the instrument in their song "Norwegian Wood."
In addition to the sitar, "Paint It Black" also features unconventional instrumentation, including a Hammond organ and castanets. The song's rhythmic and melodic phrases have been described as calling to mind the Middle East more than India. This unique blend of Indian and Middle Eastern influences, coupled with Jagger's droning and slightly nasal singing style, gives "Paint It Black" its distinctive sound.
Music scholar James E. Perone notes that the song bears a strong resemblance to the Supremes' 1965 hit "My World Is Empty Without You", which also used a foreboding minor key with harpsichord and organ. Lindy Shannon of the La Crosse Tribune described "Paint It Black" as "going into a sort of distorted area of unpleasant sounds," while Staff at Melody Maker lauded the track as "a glorious Indian raga-riot."
The Rolling Stones' experimentation with Indian and Middle Eastern influences in "Paint It Black" was part of a broader trend in rock music during the 1960s, with bands like the Beatles, the Kinks, and Led Zeppelin also incorporating similar elements into their songs.
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The song's creation was a collaborative effort
"Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones was indeed a collaborative effort, with all five members of the band contributing to the final arrangement. While the song is credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song's final arrangement originated from a studio improvisation by Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, and Brian Jones. Wyman played the Hammond organ in a style that mimicked a cinema organist, while Watts contributed an improvised double-time drum pattern that gave the song a new, driving rhythm. Jones, who had been experimenting with the sitar, introduced the instrument's distinctive sound to the song, playing a riff that perfectly complemented the song's dark mood.
The song's creation came during a period of intense creativity for the band, as they were writing all the material for their album "Aftermath" for the first time. It also marked a pivotal period in the band's recording history, as Jagger and Richards began producing more original material for the band. The song was recorded in March 1966 at RCA Studios in Los Angeles, with sound engineer Dave Hassinger and producer Andrew Loog Oldham.
Despite the collaborative nature of the song's creation, Wyman was later critical of Oldham's decision to credit only Jagger and Richards as songwriters. He felt that the song should have been credited to the band's pseudonym, Nanker Phelge, as it originated from the improvisation by himself, Watts, and Jones. In a 1995 interview, Jagger described "Paint It Black" as "this kind of Turkish song," noting the influence of Indian and Middle Eastern sounds on the track.
The song's lyrics, written by Jagger and Richards, tell a story of grief and loss, with the narrator expressing sorrow, despair, and a desire for a world that reflects their inner turmoil. The song's rhythm, with its fast, driving tempo, creates a sense of urgency and agitation, contrasting with the depressive theme of the lyrics.
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The song's title caused controversy
The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" stirred controversy due to its title being released as "Paint It, Black". The comma was an error by Decca Records, which caused a racial interpretation of the song. The song was initially supposed to be titled "Could You Walk on the Water?". However, the British press announced that the new Rolling Stones LP would be released on 10 March 1966 with the title "Could You Walk on the Water?". This upset Decca executives, who refused to issue an album with such a title, as they believed it would provoke a negative response from Christians.
The controversy resulted in a delay in the release of the Rolling Stones' next studio album, which was retitled "Aftermath". The delay gave the band more time to record new material and explore different musical styles. The song "Paint It Black" was a product of this extended recording period and featured Indian, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European influences. It was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and included contributions from all five band members, although only Jagger and Richards were credited as songwriters.
The title "Paint It Black" has been interpreted as a reference to grief and loss, with the colour black symbolizing sadness and depression. The song's lyrics include imagery of darkness and the absence of colour, reflecting the narrator's emotional state. The song's racial interpretation, however, suggests that the title could be calling for something to be literally painted black, which some may interpret as a negative or controversial statement.
The controversy surrounding the title "Paint It Black" adds to the song's complex history and has sparked discussions about its meaning and interpretation. While the song deals with themes of grief and loss, the racial interpretation of the title has also influenced how listeners perceive the song's message. The controversy highlights the impact of song titles and how they can shape the listener's experience and understanding of the music.
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The song's meaning has been interpreted in various ways
"Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones has been interpreted in various ways by listeners since its release in 1966. The song is known for its Indian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European influences, with the sitar being a key instrument in the song. The lyrics, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, are often thought to be about grief and loss.
One interpretation is that the song is about a man dealing with the death of his girlfriend or wife. This is supported by lyrics such as "I see a line of cars and they're all painted black/ With flowers and my love both never to come back", which seems to be a reference to a funeral cortege. The song's narrator is struggling to come to terms with his loss, feeling depressed, worthless, and disconnected.
Another interpretation is that the song is about a man whose positive outlook has been shattered, perhaps by war. In this reading, "my love" is a metaphor for something abstract, but the song is still about the death of a significant other in a more symbolic sense.
The song has also been associated with feelings of anger and the urge to kill. Some listeners interpret the lyrics "I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes/ I have to turn my head until my darkness goes" as the narrator fighting the urge to kill these girls or feeling angry at them for being happy and alive while his love is dead.
"Paint It Black" has also been analysed through the lens of its musical style. Music scholar James E. Perone notes that the song has a "Middle Eastern-sounding" melody, transcending the blues-based rock and roll conventions of the Rolling Stones' previous songs. Lindy Shannon of the La Crosse Tribune felt that the song strayed from the "commercial field" and ventured into "a sort of distorted area of unpleasant sounds". In contrast, Penny Valentine of Disc and Music Echo praised Jagger's singing as "better than ever", while Jesse Gress of Guitar Player cited "Paint It Black" as the originator of the 1960s ragarock craze.
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Frequently asked questions
The song "Paint It Black" is about a man dealing with the death of his girlfriend or wife and the accompanying sadness and grief.
The song was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and was inspired by Indian and Middle Eastern sounds. It was recorded in March 1966 and released as a single in May 1966.
"Paint It Black" is a raga rock song with Indian, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European influences. It features a sitar, heavy bass, low-pitch drumming, and bolero-driven acoustic guitar.
