The Rolling Stones "Paint It Black"

"Paint It Black" is a landmark single by The Rolling Stones, released in May 1966 and featured as the opening track on the American version of their album Aftermath. Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the song is renowned for its fusion of rock with Indian, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European musical influences, most notably through the prominent use of sitar played by Brian Jones123.

Musical Innovation and Style

• Instrumentation: The song is a pioneering example of raga rock, blending Western rock instrumentation with the sitar’s droning melodies, Hammond organ, castanets, and a driving rhythm section. Brian Jones' sitar work is central, giving the track its distinctive, exotic sound123.
• Structure: "Paint It Black" is written in E minor, with a brisk tempo and a verse-driven form that lacks a traditional chorus. The arrangement moves from five consecutive verses into a chanted section, ending in a frantic coda12.
• Production: The song was recorded at RCA Studios in Hollywood and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Its experimental approach marked a major stylistic shift for the band, moving from blues-based rock to more adventurous, psychedelic territory234.

Lyrical Themes and Meaning

• Subject Matter: The lyrics are widely interpreted as expressing grief, loss, and depression. The narrator, devastated by the death of a lover, wishes to see the world turn black to match his inner darkness. Imagery such as "a line of cars... all painted black" and "flowers and my love both never to come back" evoke a funeral procession and the pain of bereavement567.
• Symbolism: The "red door" symbolizes the narrator’s bleeding heart, which he wants painted black, reflecting his desire for the world to mirror his sorrow. The song’s themes also resonated with American troops during the Vietnam War, who identified with its sense of despair and fury4.
• Intention: While Mick Jagger has downplayed any specific meaning, the lyrics clearly communicate a story of loss and the emotional aftermath of tragedy67.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

• Chart Success: "Paint It Black" was a major commercial success, topping the charts in the US, UK, Canada, and the Netherlands. It was The Rolling Stones' third US and sixth UK number-one single, and has received platinum certifications in the UK and Italy12.
• Influence: The song was groundbreaking as the first chart-topping single to feature the sitar, influencing the psychedelic genre and expanding the instrument’s popularity in Western pop music13.
• Recognition: "Paint It Black" has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, ranked #213 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s "Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll"1.
• Enduring Presence: The song remains a staple of The Rolling Stones’ live performances, has been covered by numerous artists, and is frequently featured in film and television, notably in Full Metal Jacket34.

Summary Table

"Paint It Black" stands as a defining moment in The Rolling Stones’ career and in 1960s rock, blending innovative sounds with dark, evocative lyricism to create a song that continues to resonate across generations124.