Black and Blue
Love's Bruises: Decoding the Emotions Behind Lyle Lovett's 'Black and Blue'
Lyrics
It's Saturday night
Setting the scene on a Saturday night.
You check the TV guide
Checking the TV guide for entertainment options.
And pray the black and white
Expressing a hopeful anticipation for a satisfying experience.
Can keep you satisfied
Desiring content that can provide fulfillment.
She had yellow hair
Describing a woman with yellow hair.
She had high-heel shoes
Highlighting the woman's fashion choice of high-heel shoes.
She red the whole affair
Indicating she discovered or read about a problematic situation.
And left you black and blue
Conveying the emotional aftermath, being left physically and emotionally hurt (black and blue).
In 1956
Time shift to 1956, depicting a more innocent time.
She was just a kiss
Describing a romantic encounter (just a kiss).
In 1985
Jumping to 1985 and expressing disbelief at the negative transformation of the person.
How could she come to this
Questioning how the person could end up in such a state.
He had yellow hair
Introducing a male character with yellow hair and a preference for high-heel shoes.
He like high-heel shoes
Highlighting the man's unconventional fashion choice.
Lipstick was everywhere
Depicting a messy situation with evidence of lipstick everywhere.
And he left her black and blue
Repeating the theme of being left physically and emotionally hurt.
So it's Saturday night
Returning to the initial setting of Saturday night.
You check the TV guide
Repeating the action of checking the TV guide for entertainment.
And pray you'll be all right
Expressing a prayer or hope for a positive outcome this time.
Because it's your turn this time
Indicating a shift in perspective, suggesting the narrator might be the one facing a problematic situation.
See she had yellow hair
Reintroducing a woman with yellow hair and high-heel shoes.
She had high-heel shoes
Emphasizing her fashion choice once again.
Lipstick was everywhere
Describing a situation similar to before with evidence of lipstick everywhere.
And you left her black and blue
Reiterating the theme of being left physically and emotionally hurt.
What's it to you
Possibly a rhetorical question challenging the listener's perspective or involvement.
It's black and blue
Reaffirming the emotional state of being black and blue.
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