Black is arguably one of the most powerful colors there is. It can be all encompassing, drowning other colors out. It can represent the smart, with black cards and black suits. It can also represent the not so good, with black sheep and black magic.
Many musicians have written songs around this theme, and today we’ll share the best songs with black in the title.
1. “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse
Song Year: 2006
The track’s lyrics talk about the vicious cycle people frequently enter into when recovering from an ended relationship. “Black to Black” means she had difficulty returning to the life she was accustomed to after her boyfriend left her for his ex-girlfriend.
Whereas some individuals understand “black” to refer to a sad mood and drinking, others understand it as black tar heroin. The singer struggled with substance abuse and alcoholism.
2. “Man in Black” by Johnny Cash
Song Year: 1971
The track’s title was one of the many Cash nicknames. The lyrics convey a serious message about the unequal distribution of resources in the United States.
The song addresses racial inequality, the Vietnam War, and the criminal justice system. Cash affirmed that he became motivated to compose the song after talking to college students about the issues they were facing.
3. “Two Black Cadillacs” by Carrie Underwood
Song Year: 2012
The song is about two women who have come together for exact vengeance. The lyrics describe how a wife dials an unknown number on her husband’s phone and speaks to his mistress.
Instead of blaming each other, they collaborate to deal with their cheating boyfriend. Two months later, they both show up in black Cadillacs for his funeral and fake sad faces as the pastor and the deceased man’s brother speak highly of his morals.
4. “Black Water” by The Doobie Brothers
Song Year: 1974
The song’s protagonist desires a slow boat ride on the Mississippi River at night. He fantasizes about catching one big catfish and stopping in New Orleans for jazz and drinks.
Although a boat ride down the Mississippi sounds like a lot of fun, the river is quite dirty due to runoff from farms and cities. Furthermore, it harbors leeches, snakes, sharks, and alligators. Some issues are best when addressed through music.
5. “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” by KT Turnstall
Song Year: 2005
The track is about the courage to follow your heart when making decisions. The lyrics are about a lady who doesn’t understand what she wants. The protagonist wanders through the wilderness until she comes to a crossroads and must decide on her life’s direction. She comes across a cherry tree and a big black horse, signaling marriage.
She doesn’t accept the marriage proposal but ends up regretting it. Her heart, the cherry tree, and the black horse turn their backs on her and go on to lead happy lives.
6. “Black or White” by Michael Jackson
Song Year: 1991
Before the birth of contemporary campaigns against racial discrimination, Michael Jackson used his music to advocate for racial cohesion. Before the track’s release, Jackson’s reputation had declined due to his odd behavior and shifting appearance.
The tune is a call for racial equality. The singer says he’s sick of hearing about “this stuff,” which maintains that race is irrelevant. He declares that he’s no longer frightened by Klan sheets and appeals to his listeners’ logic.
7. “Black Honey” by Thrice
Song Year: 2016
The song describes the United States’ interference with Middle East issues. The singer employs a metaphor of a guy who continually dips his hands in a beehive to extract honey. He doesn’t seem to realize they may retaliate if he disturbs them.
8. “Black Dog” by Led Zeppelin
Song Year: 1971
The song’s lyrics depict a woman as a black dog. The singer narrates about a beautiful lady he’s interested in. Sadly, the lady wastes his money, runs away with his vehicle, and uses their association to build a name for herself. The track depicts the singer’s regrets and hopes of getting a decent lady who will bring him happiness.
9. “Back in Black” by AC/DC
Song Year: 1980
The track was AC/DC’s first album to feature lead vocalist Brian Johnson. It was also their first album release after the death of the original lead singer, Bon Scott. It’s widely interpreted as a tribute to Scott, who met his untimely death after a thrilling night. Instead of evoking sad emotions, the track commemorates Scott’s contribution as a friend and band member.
10. “Black Rose” by Volbeat ft. Danko Jones
Song Year: 2017
Black roses represent anguish and wickedness. The lyrics express the pain of betrayal as the singer talks about his evil partner who shattered his dreams, told lies, and caused him great suffering.
However, despite his contempt towards his ex-love, he still holds onto the memories they created during the relationship’s infancy. He’s hopeful that they can mend their differences and be happy again.
11. “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden
Song Year: 1994
The song paints the picture of a world overrun by darkness and despair. The title refers to a black hole, a phenomenon in space where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape. That idea of something inconceivable represents the complexities of life and death and themes of loneliness and loss.
Soundgarden’s lead vocalist Chris Cornell wrote the track Kurt Cobain’s death, Nirvana’s lead singer. He fought depression for an extended period and eventually committed suicide in 2017.
12. “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud” by James Brown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hj1iWqoYEc
Song Year: 1968
The track celebrates the strength and independence of black people. Racial tensions in the United States were very high in the 1960s, and the song became a powerful anthem of the civil rights movement.
Brown described the song as “an anthem of black pride.” The lyrics are a rallying call for African-Americans to stand up for their rights and be proud of their heritage.
13. “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” by The Hollies
Song Year: 1972
The track is set in a tavern during the prohibition period. The protagonist is a covert FBI agent against criminals. Before the raid, his attention is drawn to an attractive vocalist wearing a black dress and long legs.
Authorities raid the tavern without any prior notice. The covert agent must make a quick decision as gunfire erupts around him. He grabs the vocalist’s arm to keep her out of danger.
14. “Black Magic Woman” by Santana
Song Year: 1970
The song tells the story of a man who can’t resist the spell of a woman who practices black magic. The narrator warns other men to beware of the woman, as she will lead them down a dark path.
It’s unclear whether she’s a real witch or a symbolic representation of some bad force, such as a heroine. That’s because the heroine has many nicknames, including “black stuff,” “black pearl,” or “black tar.”
15. “Black and White” by Niall Horan
Song Year: 2020
The track is about a gentleman who recalls meeting his significant other while declaring his undying devotion to her. From the moment he met her, he’s been counting down the days till their wedding.
Like any other man who has found true love, he imagines his lover as dazzling, sparkling colors lighting up against their future’s unclear ending. The singer then skips ahead when they’re old and still very much in love.
16. “Black Sheep” by John Anderson
Song Year: 1983
The song’s protagonist feels no shame about being a social misfit. The narrator owns a semi-truck despite his siblings having acquired higher education and are filthy rich. His wife works as a waitress, living together in a two-room cottage. The man is unpretentious and has a simple outlook on life.
17. “Blackout” by Frank Turner
Song Year: 2018
The song is about vulnerability and uses a momentary power blackout to demonstrate our needs for the association. When there’s a power failure, your TV will go off, but their life support machine stops working for another person somewhere.
The narrator refers to the universal dread that we all share when we are in complete darkness. He extends a compassionate and reassuring hand to other people.
18. “Black Magic” by Little Mix
Song Year: 2015
Being confident enough to win your dream guy’s heart is something every woman would want. A small dose of the black potion might do that for you. The track tells a story of a cheeky lady.
The woman knows what she wants and uses black magic to get it. She feeds her lover a secret recipe that keeps him wanting more. It only takes a single drop of this dark concoction for her spouse to submit.
19. “Black Widow” by Iggy Azalea ft. Rita Ora
Song Year: 2014
Stay away from this deadly woman. She is making her intentions clear. The song’s lyrics tell a story of a lady who issues a dire warning to any guy who woes her but ends up hurting her.
He’ll soon wish they’d never met because she’ll go the extra mile to get her revenge. She compares her ruthless vengeance plan to the black widow spider, notorious for ravaging the male during intercourse, sometimes as he’s struggling to run away.
20. “Black Beatles” by Rae Sremmurd ft. Gucci Mane
Song Year: 2016
The track’s lyrics show the rappers bragging about their money, especially when picking up chicks and dropping cash at strip joints. The track went viral after its release since most people used it in the “Mannequin Challenge,” a social media fad. However, the song’s infectious melody and Mike Will’s production proved successful.
21. “Black Parade” by Beyoncé
Song Year: 2020
The track is an anthem of celebration and gratitude for the black community. The song aims to commemorate Juneteenth, the day that marks the end of slavery in the United States.
With a powerful and soulful sound, the song features various references to African American history and culture. The singer pays homage to her roots and celebrates black people’s strength and resilience. She also talks about racism and police brutality and calls for racial justice.
22. “Men in Black” by Will Smith
Song Year: 1997
The track is about the many jobs the men in black do daily, including protecting the planet from aliens or clearing your memory if you’ve seen something you ought not. The singer celebrates how the men in black operate mysteriously. The song paints a picture of the agents as enigmatic and influential figures.
23. “Welcome to the Black Parade” by My Chemical Romance
Song Year: 2006
The song uses imagery to paint a picture of death as a journey through life and the afterlife. The song tells the tragic story of a young cancer patient who succumbs to the disease. Death takes the form of your most vivid memory, and for the young guy, that memory was attending a parade with his father.
Some interpret the song as referring to the bible. A father asks his son to save the broken during a parade but doesn’t believe he can accomplish the mission. That’s similar to when God appoints Moses to liberate Israelites from Egypt, but he thinks of himself as unworthy of the task.
24. “Blackbird” by The Beatles
Song Year: 1968
The song has more than one meaning. While visiting Rishikesh in India, McCartney’s interest was piqued by a blackbird’s song crying for freedom.
On the other hand, he was also aware of the racial unrest and commotion happening in the United States during the civil rights movement. He composed the song to create a lovely jingle about a young bird struggling to fly while still depicting the suffering of black Americans.
25. “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones
Song Year: 1966
The song is about losing someone close and the sense of hopelessness that comes with it. The protagonist’s partner dies prematurely, and he cannot accept that life must continue without her presence. His sadness has clouded his ability to appreciate the brilliant colors surrounding him, and he can’t even consider anyone in his present state.
26. “Black” by Dierks Bentley
Song Year: 2016
The love ballad is about the affection the singer and his lover have toward each other. He uses the color black to symbolize the seductive mystery of their connection. He’s confessing how everything reminds him of her. He says that he’s unable to escape the feelings of love and wants whatever they share to last forever.
27. “Black Velvet” Alannah Myles
Song Year: 1989
The song is a tribute to Elvis Presley for his significant cultural and musical influence. The singer likens Elvis’s voice’s tone to that of black velvet, hence the track’s title.
The lyrics describe him as an influential and authoritative character who would turn a boy into a man through his music’s appeal. She references Elvis Presley’s “boyish smile” and charisma throughout the song.
28. “Black” by Pearl Jam
Song Year: 1991
The song is for anyone in the undesirable position of cutting ties with a lover who hurt them. It looks melancholy at the surge of emotions one experiences following a painful breakup. The singer uses these feelings to color black and equates separation pain to:
29. “Black Balloon” by The Goo Goo Dolls
Song Year: 1999
The lyrics tell the story of a heroin-addicted woman and her man doing everything he can to help her. It’s about the pain of watching someone you care about mess up things. There has been some speculation that the song is about Robby Takac’s ex-wife, who died of a heroin overdose.
30. “Supermassive Black Hole” by Muse
Song Year: 2006
The song’s protagonist is unhappy in their relationship because of the other person’s deception. The lyrics describe the gradual, painful transition of a previously healthy and hopeful relationship into something undesirable. It’s a cautionary story about getting caught up in an unhealthy relationship.
31. “Blue on Black” by Kenny Wayne Shepard
Song Year: 1997
Black absorbs blue color when in a mixture. The track is a striking representation of a damaged or dysfunctional relationship. Mistreatment and death are also possible themes in the song. Shepherd, however, claimed that listeners should interpret the song according to their own experiences.
32. “Black Spiderman” by Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson
Song Year: 2017
The track’s subject matter is dismantling racial stereotypes and embracing diversity in its purest form.
The title references whether or not musician Donald Glover, a black American, should play the part of Spiderman, which white men often play. Logic hopes to build a society where people are accepted and valued for who they’re as individuals, regardless of their skin color.
33. “Fade to Black” by Metallica
Song Year: 1984
The track is about someone who has given up trying to change their current situation. The protagonist describes the emptiness that has taken control of their thoughts, comparing it to hell’s torment. The song ends with a message informing the listener that it is too late for them and that this is a farewell.
34. Black Republican by Nas ft. Jay-Z
Song Year: 2006
The rappers describe the paradox of having lucrative careers while maintaining touch with their roots and the marginalized people living in poor conditions. They imply that their story represents the materialization of aspirations of many youths from the ghetto.
35. “Black Is Black” by Los Bravos
Song Year: 1966
Los Bravos singer is completely perplexed by his girlfriend’s decision to end their relationship. He longs for her to return but reconsiders since it’ll only make his life more difficult. After giving it more thought, he concludes that perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad idea if she returned. Although she’ll not return, he finds solace in thinking he has a say.
36. “Black Lives Matter” by Dax
Song Year: 2020
The song takes a stance against racial inequality and police brutality. It’s a tribute demanding fair treatment of black Americans. Dax references George Floyd’s death, which resulted from police misconduct. The lyrics stress the idea that hatred is not innate but taught.
37. “Black Orchid” by Blue October
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiOM0R3Dh8U
Song Year: 1998
Like most songs about black, the song is about how loneliness and unhappiness may drive you to suicide. The singer laments that he needs somebody to hold and encourage him, but nobody seems to care. When the song starts, he’s hopeful, but towards the middle, he’s only waiting to take his own life. By the time the song ends, he has already committed suicide.
Top Songs With Black In The Title, Final Thoughts
The word black has a lot of meanings, and different world-famous artists have used it in every conceivable manner. Whether you’re a hip-hop, rock, or pop fan, many songs with black in the title carry a unique message. We hope you enjoyed reading our list of songs with black in the title.