Wednesday, September 23, 2015

SOTD #1: Not easy facing up

Welcome to the very first Song of the Day!

What is the purpose of this, you ask?  Kat, isn't this a fiction blog?  Yes, ladies and bros, it is.  More generally, a writing blog.  And song lyrics can be, occasionally, the finest examples of writing around.

Song of the Day is a lyrical reflection.  The songs featured here appeal to me artistically as works of writing, and are occasionally songs whose lyrics have taught me important lessons about self-expression.  Writers are artists.  Music is art.  The inspiration to be found in the union of music and writing, for me, is something that should never be underestimated.

That said, first up on the reflection block is... *grungy-'70s-rock-inspired drum roll*

(Personal fave lyrics in bold)

I see a red door, and I want it painted 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 until my darkness goes

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 newborn baby, it just happens every day

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door, I 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

No more will my green sea go 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

I see a red door, and I want it painted 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 until my darkness goes

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm...

I wanna see it painted,
Painted black
Black as night,
Black as coal!
I wanna see the sun
Blotted out from the sky!
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted
Painted black
Yeah!

*

The aviators analysis (yes, I do literary analysis for fun sometimesSTOPJUDGINGORGETOFFTHEBLOG):

The act of "painting" everything "black" - a literary device, a metaphor for a potentially depressed or angry outlook on the world.  Inner struggles with mood and hopelessness.  It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black.  Color "black" perhaps the most obvious metaphor for depressed mood in the world, yet the Stones' use of it here is classic.  Lesson learned: sometimes repeating an obvious metaphor is an acceptable way to make a point through literature.  "Paint it Black" is not hard to decipher, which is likely the point.  In this case, the metaphor is not diminished by its ease of access.  Nicely done, Stones.

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