The Rolling Stones: Paint It Black Meaning

Song Released: 1966

Paint It Black Lyrics

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 theyre all painted...

1. anonymous

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   Oct 24th 2009 !⃝

   i think its about a woman who died in child birth. and the baby lived. and hes angry because the child lived and his woman died.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
2. jennyjen

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   Aug 27th 2009 !⃝

   I know this is a different interpretation...but I always kinda thought about this song to be about a serial killer..i guess i think that "i see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes i have to turn away until my darkness goes" possibly being the killer resisting the urge to kill someone...or "i look inside myself and see my heart is black" meaning he knows that he is a sick person who kills people. " i see people turn their heads then quickly look away" meaning people don't look him in the eye because hes a killer. Basically its a very sinister sounding song to me..it has something to do with depression or some kind of sickness...but the whole killer thing just kinda stuck in my head since i've been a kid.
3. anonymous

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   Jun 25th 2009 !⃝

   The most sinister song ever written. Exponentially so when considering that this was a Rolling Stones song. Amazing tune.
4. anonymous

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   Feb 22nd 2009 !⃝

   Honestly don't read that much into it. I agree with the first interpretations and that he lost a love and is depressed and such. Not the whole Jesus line of thought. Although death can be spiritual this is about the dark side of a mans feelings not about him seeing Jesus or something... Why do people always go there?
5. Commissioner

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   Oct 24th 2008 !⃝

   "Paint it Black" what is this song all about?
   I spent considerable time on my tv show "Interpretations
   of Song Lyrics" on the meaning of this song.
   
   My interpretation may be hard for some to come to grips with...truth can be hard to accept. Read on if you dare.
   
   My theory about many songs is that they reveal something
   about the ultimate subject of inspiration-Jesus Christ.
   
   If you listen to Rock music you'll hear His name time and again. Explicit references to Him are the exception however. The subtle references to Him are the rule.
   Counting the nicknames for Jesus in lyrics would be like
   counting the stars in the sky.
   
   In "Paint it Black" I believe He is referrred to as
   "my love"
   
   Jesus' face is referrred to in the line
   "I wanna see your face painted black, black as night
   Don't wanna see the sun flyin high in the sky"
   
   But one must be careful not to take this too literally
   for metaphor and sarcasm are also common denominators
   in lyrics in general.
   
   I sense a conflict in this song between wanting to
   obcure or block out Jesus' face (Paint it Black)
   versus actively seeking out (Jesus' face)
   "If I look hard enough into the settin sun
   my love will laugh with me before the morning comes"
   
   The expression "Paint it Black" may in itself be rooted in a sarcastic tone.
   
   What about
   "I see a line of cars and they're all painted black
   With flowers and my love both never to come back"
   
   The subject of Jesus' return is being broached here...
   again sarcastic in tone if we believe Jesus will in fact
   come back.
   The line of cars almost certainly does not refer to a funeral procession but rather to something associated with
   Christ's return.
   
   All this might be too much for you to get your mind around so I'll wrap it up here and hope that this actually gets
   through

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
6. Commissioner

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   Oct 20th 2008 !⃝

   The underlying meaning behind "Paint it Black"
   has to do with the line "I wanna see your face painted black, black as night, black as coal; don't want to see the the sun flyin high in the sky" (partially omittted
   in the lyrics provided by this website)
   
   The face referred to here is Christ's face.
   
   Christ is referred to as the sun flyin high in the sky.
   
   But there is a contradiction and conflict with this
   statement of wanting to Paint it black, paint Christ's face
   black, obscure or blot it out and the line
   "If I look hard enough into the settin sun; my love will laugh with me before the morning comes" which speaks
   of looking for Christ.
   
   Sarcasm and metaphor are encountered again and again in lyrics in
   general and this song is no exception.
   
   I'll say more about this song "Paint it Black"
   so stay tuned...
7. Commissioner

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   Oct 5th 2008 !⃝

   "if I look hard enough into the setting sun
   my love will laugh with me before the morning comes"
   
   This part of the song, I believe, calls attention to the concept of Mathew 24:42 "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
   
   Here, "my love" from the line I am interpreting, is a reference to Jesus.
   
   I could say more about this song but will add to to my interpretation in the future...if anyone wants to hear more you can reach me directly at 201-264-6194.
   Just wondering if you can make comments about others' interpretations on this site.
8. anonymous

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   Jul 11th 2008 !⃝

   I SOOO have to go with the last guy- I always thought (despite what my friends said) that this part of the song about the summer clothes had sexual undertones. He feels sad and guilty that he is naturally attracted to other women. Thanks, someone finally got it!
9. anonymous

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   Jan 5th 2008 !⃝

   OH! I thought that "look hard enough into the setting sun" was "look hard enough into the second song"
10. midnitegreen

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    Apr 18th 2007 !⃝

    ... He likes black.
11. anonymous

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    Dec 5th 2006 !⃝

    who is the dead girl in the song?

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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