Paint It, Black

The Rolling Stones * Track #1 On Aftermath (US)

Download "Paint It, Black"

Album Aftermath (US)

ALBUM

The Rolling Stones

1966

Paint It, Black by The Rolling Stones

Release Date

Fri May 13 1966

Performed by

The Rolling Stones

Produced by

Andrew Loog Oldham

Writed by

Mick Jagger & Keith Richards

About

From their 4th album, Aftermath. Per pophistorydig, the song is about the funeral of a girl from her lover’s viewpoint, and he wants the color of everything to match his mood.

What’s with the comma in the title? Maybe they are saying “paint it, black!” like “hey, Mr. Black, please paint my door!” I...

Paint It, Black Lyrics

[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse 1]
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colours 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

[Verse 2]
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

[Verse 3]
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 facing up when your whole world is black

[Verse 4]
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

[Verse 1]
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colours 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

[Outro]
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

Paint It, Black Q&A

Who wrote Paint It, Black's ?

Paint It, Black was written by Mick Jagger & Keith Richards.

Who produced Paint It, Black's ?

Paint It, Black was produced by Andrew Loog Oldham.

When did The Rolling Stones release Paint It, Black?

The Rolling Stones released Paint It, Black on Fri May 13 1966.

There is no sense for that comma in the title

True, but that’s how The Stones chose to write it…

What did The Rolling Stones say about "Paint It, Black"?

Keith Richards explains why Brian Jones played the sitar –

Brian had pretty much given up on the guitar by then. If there was [another] instrument around, he had to be able to get something out of it. It gave the Stones on record a lot of different textures.

Was this song ever used as promotion for a video game?

Yes, the song was used for a promotional trailer for the video game Black Ops 3.