Black

written by: Sarah McLachlan

Lyrics

As the walls are closing in
And the colours fade to black
And my eyes are falling fast and deep into me
And I follow the tracks that lead me down
And I never follow what’s right
And they wonder sometimes when they see all the
Sadness and pain that truth brings to light

‘Cause I can’t see no reason
What is blind cannot see
‘Cause I want what is pleasing
All I take should be free
What I rob from the innocent ones
What I’d steal from the womb

If I cried me a river of all my confessions
Would I drown in my shallow regret

As the walls are closing in
And the colours fade to black
And my eyes are falling fast and deep into the sea
(Above line written as “and the night is falling” in album jacket)
And in darkness all that I can see
The frightened and the weak
Are forced to cling to mistakes they know nothing of
At mercy are the meek

‘Cause I can’t see no reason
What is blind cannot see
‘Cause I want what is pleasing
All I take should be free
What I rob from the innocent ones
What I’d steal from the womb

If I cried me a river of all my confessions
Would I drown in my shallow regret
If I cried me a river of all my confessions
Would I drown in my shallow regret
If I cried me a river of all my confessions
Would I drown in my shallow regret
If I cried me a river of all my confessions
Would I drown in my shallow regret

 

Appears on

Solace (1991)
Remixed (2001)

Live EP (1992)

Possession (single)
Into The Fire (single)

 

Versions

Album Version
from “Solace”
Track length: 5:04

Live: Live EP
from the “Live EP 1992″
Track length: 5:08

Live: CBC Session
from “Into The Fire” (single)
Track length: ???

William Orbit Mix
from “Remixed”
Track length: 7:00

 

Compilations

Album Name
Track length
Version

 

Credits

Vocals: Sarah McLachlan
Percussion, Mandolin, Accordion Reeds: Pierre Marchand
Bass: Alan Gevaert
Violin, Viola: Deni Bonet
Harmonica: Peter “Harpy” Conway

 

Collaborations

 

Trivia/Notes

 

Sarah says

It’s about greed on many different levels. I wrote it after the Exxon oil spill.
– From WDRE radio in NY, during an interview in Vancouver, B. C.

 

Video