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The Rolling Stones — Paint It Black
Album: Aftermath
Avg rating:
8.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2266









Released: 1966
Length: 3:19
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors 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

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 ev'ryday

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been 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

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not forsee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors 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

Hmm, hmm, hmm...

I wanna see it painted black, 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

Hmm, hmm, hmm...
Comments (131)add comment
 whatshisname wrote:

you may just change your mind about Charlie being the best after seeing Gavin Harrison knocking the pig skins about ....Porcupine Tree

Or Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam. Or Ginger Baker, or John Bonham, or.... Elvin Jones or....  Just sayin'.  
 CosmicDon wrote:

Love this song. Ok, just making this shit up as I go, but I've always thought of this song as a response to the peace-love-Indian-guru face of the Beatles. Use the sitar to make an aggressively dark song that cuts through those daisies like a chain saw.


And because it closed out Kubrick's Vietnam classic Full Metal Jacket. 

GREAT TUNE!! ICONIC!!  I was 11yrs old when this was released. I bought the 45.  Low power (Top 40) WMCA 570 AM NYC (The Good Guys) used to play it a lot. Fond memories!  As usual, it  took a while for High power  (Top 10) WABC  770 am  NYC to start playing it.  Thanx RP!   
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jlhiweVZ1I
dunno if it's my crappy computer speakers, but i can barely hear the bass line i usually really enjoy
Apologies in advance! The Fast Show: "Black!" https://youtu.be/IIW9sL-Yf6Q .

I already apologised! pxd
grandi rolling ritmo allo stato puro da oltre 50 anni sempre bello
 sfyi2001 wrote:




My 10 year old brain on sitar, Vishnu drops nectar into my lotus petals.  Om Shanti Om


Someone the other day said the Stones were mediocre. We are doing a terrible job of passing on music and the context of the music. We are doing a terrible job of passing on anything that might be useful or important in general, really. The price of multiple generations of self absorbed humans
 jbuhl wrote:

Among my favorite rock drummers.  So many Stones songs he just totally anchors.  Uncanny ability to tastefully drive every song.
Reserved, Precise, subtle, bad ass.



And now, sadly, we must add "R.I.P.".
 CosmicDon wrote:

Love this song. Ok, just making this shit up as I go, but I've always thought of this song as a response to the peace-love-Indian-guru face of the Beatles. Use the sitar to make an aggressively dark song that cuts through those daisies like a chain saw.



Wow, this just got a verbal reply by Bill on the air. BTW, he doesn't believe it, because in 66, the Beatles just started with introducing Indian instruments.
Love this song. Ok, just making this shit up as I go, but I've always thought of this song as a response to the peace-love-Indian-guru face of the Beatles. Use the sitar to make an aggressively dark song that cuts through those daisies like a chain saw.
Is this one of the few Stones albums that have been licensed for internet play?  I only hear songs from this album on Pandora too.
 whatshisname wrote:

you may just change your mind about Charlie being the best after seeing Gavin Harrison knocking the pig skins about ....Porcupine Tree


I must agree about Gavin Harrison. The drumming on this piece is perfect for the time and place, but having seen King Crimson live several times in recent years, it's hard to imagine another percussionist who is more attuned to a more cosmic pulse.
 Essbee wrote:

Rate the music, not how many times you've HEARD the music. 

 
Well put! Some people simply refuse to understand that distinction!
 fredriley wrote:

Most pop/rock groups are poseurs of one sort or another, or at the least show-offs. Accusing the Stones of being poseurs is like complaining of speeding at Le Mans. This song screams depression to me, and takes me back to adolescent days when I'd get into a right mardy (as they say in Nottingham) such that everything was sh1t and nothing was good.

 
Fish meet bait
 fredriley wrote:

.......  This song screams depression to me, and takes me back to adolescent days when I'd get into a right mardy (as they say in Nottingham) such that everything was sh1t and nothing was good.

 

Never understood that when the song first came out (11 years old....) but yeah.  

Somewhat insightful lyrics if you think about it.
 mattenuttall wrote:

Best drummer of all time, all genres. Completely versatile and yeah, that ability to own a song without you even know he's doing so.... He carries the Stones on his shoulders.
 
you may just change your mind about Charlie being the best after seeing Gavin Harrison knocking the pig skins about ....Porcupine Tree
 jbuhl wrote:

Among my favorite rock drummers.  So many Stones songs he just totally anchors.  Uncanny ability to tastefully drive every song.
Reserved, Precise, subtle, bad ass.


 
Best drummer of all time, all genres. Completely versatile and yeah, that ability to own a song without you even know he's doing so.... He carries the Stones on his shoulders.
I feel no need to comment on this song. Why would anyone? A 10 will suffice. 
I've heard it countless times, but never had a clue it's a song by the Rolling Stones. Talk about a revelation!
Happy Birthday, Mick.
You reached the 3/4 century mark!
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/ae/27/f2/ae27f29ffba0519302302769ccac3cb6.png
Even more than the Beatles, these guys invented rock and roll as we know it.  This song is not my favorite, a little too silly, but it would be exhibit A in how this band helped open up rock music to pretty much everything.
 Proclivities wrote:
paint it black

 
YES~!! {#Lol}
This is absolutely my favorite Stones song, hands down. I find the rest of their songs OK I guess, but this one is something special!
paint it black
 neuticle wrote:
Charlie Watts, the drum fill master...love it coming out of the break...one of the best

 
Among my favorite rock drummers.  So many Stones songs he just totally anchors.  Uncanny ability to tastefully drive every song.
Reserved, Precise, subtle, bad ass.


 westslope wrote:
I learned to play this on the recorder and then the clarinet.

 
I remember going to elementary school in upstate NY in the sixties and they gave us all recorders and big 'music classes'! Don't remember being taught anything as fun as 'Paint It Black' though. Little Brown Jug rings a bell.
I learned to play this on the recorder and then the clarinet.
                         

The instrumental version from Westworld is pretty awesome.


 
 h8rhater wrote:

cli·ché
klēˈSHā/
noun
noun: cliché; plural noun: clichés; noun: cliche; plural noun: cliches
1.
a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.


 
opps, sorry
 Skydog wrote:
for me there are only 2 periods
pre 'Beggars Banquet'
and 'Beggars' thru 'Exile' 
if some how thats all they ever did then thats enough
those were great eras 


cli·ché
klēˈSHā/
noun
noun: cliché; plural noun: clichés; noun: cliche; plural noun: cliches
1.
a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.

for me there are only 2 periods
pre 'Beggars Banquet'
and 'Beggars' thru 'Exile' 
if some how thats all they ever did then thats enough
those were great eras 
I was a little kid when this came out. I was a huge Beatles fan and not much of a Stone's guy but I really loved this one. Relentless! Seems like it was played every 15 minutes on AM radio at the time.

This follow-up to 'Satisfaction' on the 'Out Of Our Heads' LP cements them as having turned from a (really good) covers band into actual self-realized artists. Then we got a bunch of great rock n' roll. Never gets old for me.


These rock and roll glitterati...... very demanding arnt they, go to B&Q or Homebase and get yer own f3cking paint you lazy gits!    they have to make a song and dance about everything dont they?!
 saffronphil wrote:
Hits spots other songs can't reach!
 
Exactly!
Can I vote for another 10 (10+10=20)
godlike.
Man, look at that ratings distribution. 
When we moved into my present house, the shutters and front door were deep red.  A couple years later, my wife decided to repaint the shutters black.  I was told to paint the door to match.  She saw a red door and she had it painted black.
God-like? Yaaaassssssss...  On WINS 101 New York, when I was a kid, listeners voted top songs every New Year (by postcard!) and for 4 or 5 years  "Satisfaction" was #1. With that powerful knowledge under my belt and the Yankees as my team, I thought I understood firmly how the Wold worked and it was pretty damn good!
First verse, second line.
Should be 'colours' not 'colors' 
dancing at my desk....work is so much better with RP and the Stones...  {#Bananasplit}even if it's dark and sad.
So desperation. 

Much dark.

Love it.  
Hits spots other songs can't reach!
 lemmoth wrote:
"Paint it black you devil" shouts the chick in the audience, caught on record on Get Yer Ya Yas Out.

"Won't you tell your dad "Get off my back
Tell him what we said 'bout 'Paint It Black' "

Thirteen - Big Star

 
Loved that album's "Midnight Rambler"--it really sounds like a riot was about to start during that song. 
{#Heartkiss}  So very good
So. Good.  
 SweTex wrote:

I was there and for me it's a 2.

 
I guess it had a different meaning while growing up looking forward to turning 18 and getting a draft card as a birthday present.

"Paint it black you devil" shouts the chick in the audience, caught on record on Get Yer Ya Yas Out.

"Won't you tell your dad "Get off my back
Tell him what we said 'bout 'Paint It Black' "

Thirteen - Big Star
 minimole wrote:
Dear RP, could we please have a "PSA" (Play Song Again) button?
 
brilliant
One of my absolute favorites.  I can't believe this is the first time I've heard it on RP.   Turn it up to 11.
Cualquier cosa que se diga sobre esta canción, jamás será suficiente para intentar adjetivarla.
This fine trippy gem was one of the ones my mom kinda didn't want me listening to on the radio above the headboard when I was just a little kid, (head floating in the breeze, man); I remember jumping up and whirling like a dervish and asking her, "What's that he's saying?" and can't forget how she said, "How the heck should I know?  Turn it off, time for bed, buddy-boy!"  Years later, I dived right in...and I'm still there.
 rdo wrote:

Yep, I remember that well.  Imagine that, an intelligent prime time drama about the Vietnam war with good music in the intro.  Oh how times have changed.  Now, we got teenagers eating spiders.  But that spider eating was several years ago and I don't watch prime time TV anymore. What are they up to now?
 

I just watched Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket the other night for like the 100th time, the closing credits roll to this as well.  This might lead some to think I have an unhealthy obsession with war, the Vietnam war in particular, to which I would readily concede.  Check out the book Matterhorn, by Karl Marlantes, for the full Vietnam experience.  Stanley Karnow's history of the war is also something everyone should read.
 
 Shimmer wrote:

The Stones were trying to capitalize on the the artistic spirit of the 60's, as exemplified by, say, Bob Dylan or the Beatles. I realize this is not the popular opinion, but to me it comes through so clearly in songs like this (which could be called "I am such a tortured artist") or albums like Satanic Majesties Request (which is an utter ripoff of Sgt. Pepper's and the like).

 
To judge the Rolling Stones by the album Their Satanic Majesties Request is to show your ignorance.  The good natured rivalry between the Stones and Beatles in the 60's certainly lead to innumerable comparisons and some similar album concepts (TSMR being one of them).  The Stones were never out to capitalize on the "spirit of the 60's" (whatever that is).  If anything they were capitalizing on the spirit of the American blues which came before the 60's.  As were the Beatles.  In the process, both bands expanded the reach of popular music and defined rock and roll for generations to come.  Poseurs could never have such an affect.

Back to the rock you crawled from under.
 kurtster wrote:
You sure didn't have to be there for this one, but if you were, its a 10.
 
I was there and for me it's a 2.
The stones made some phenomenal and unique music in the 70s - pick any album. Why do we have to hear the same overplayed stuff on RP???? Can't you here me knockin'???
Good choice Bill.......
Charlie Watts, the drum fill master...love it coming out of the break...one of the best
Dear RP, could we please have a "PSA" (Play Song Again) button?
 dvalfre wrote:

Yap, this song in my mind is forever tied to the "Tour of Duty" TV show and from there to every reference of the Vietnam War...
(too bad the producers of the show didn't pay due royalties so the DVDs don't include the original soundtrack)
 
Yep, I remember that well.  Imagine that, an intelligent prime time drama about the Vietnam war with good music in the intro.  Oh how times have changed.  Now, we got teenagers eating spiders.  But that spider eating was several years ago and I don't watch prime time TV anymore. What are they up to now?
 Baby_M wrote:
For some reason, I'm picturing helicopters.
 
Yap, this song in my mind is forever tied to the "Tour of Duty" TV show and from there to every reference of the Vietnam War...
(too bad the producers of the show didn't pay due royalties so the DVDs don't include the original soundtrack)
 Pharlap wrote:
"Paint it Black, You Devils"...anonymous woman at Altamount concert....minutes before the mayhem
  

 
Giselle62 wrote:

As that other fella said: good story but I never heard anything like this about Altamont and I've read all the books and seen the movie several times. (I'm fascinated with the dark side of the 60's probably because of my parents.)
 
You can hear a woman saying that at the beginning of one track of "Get Yer Yas Yas Out"—pretty sure it was "Sympathy for the Devil." That album didn't have any songs from the Altamont concert—all but one track was recorded at Madison Square Garden in Nov. 69. The other song was recorded in Baltimore a day before the MSG concert. 

This Wikipedia entry has a bit more and mentions the woman calling for "Paint it Black" on GYYYO. The band was playing "Under My Thumb" when the audience member got killed at Altamont: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathy_for_the_Devil#Aftermath 
 Shimmer wrote:

The Stones were poseurs. The Beatles and Dylan were not.

 

So what...?

The point you trying to make is plain stupid!
The Feelies did a great version of this.
 Proclivities wrote:

I am not attempting to refute your point; this is not a court of law.  It is your opinion.  All performers are poseurs to some large extent - always have been - always will be - otherwise they would have become actuaries or lighthouse keepers.  You apparently do not like the Stones' music - that is fine - but to me, they produced outstanding music for a very long time.  For example: Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main Street are as great as any rock/pop records ever recorded.  Was Mick Jagger more of a showman and/or front-man than Dylan or any of The Beatles?  Probably.  If you believe that one of the greatest bands in the history of rock-n-roll were nothing more than "poseurs", then that's what you believe; I cannot change your mind (well, unless I had that "zombie-headpiece" device from the 1940's Batman serial).  I was just pointing out that they were/are all in the same racket.  Anyhow, you and I probably like a lot of the same music. {#Cheers}
 
An awesome, civilized refute. 
You sure didn't have to be there for this one, but if you were, its a 10.
Sort of a Goth- first- dance- {#Skull}at- the- wedding- song. 
 Tana wrote:
I still have a picture in my head of Mick Jones sitting cross-legged playing the sitar on the Ed Sullivan show. Did that really happen?
 
Brian Jones?

 Pharlap wrote:
"Paint it Black, You Devils"...anonymous woman at Altamount concert....minutes before the mayhem
 
As that other fella said: good story but I never heard anything like this about Altamont and I've read all the books and seen the movie several times. (I'm fascinated with the dark side of the 60's probably because of my parents.)

 Shimmer wrote:

I know you're trying to be sarcastic, but it doesn't do much to refute my point. The Stones were poseurs. The Beatles and Dylan were not.

 
Um, are you maybe confusing the Stones with the Monkees?

i've liked this since i was a kid and my mom played this album all of the time.
 Pharlap wrote:
"Paint it Black, You Devils"...anonymous woman at Altamount concert....minutes before the mayhem
 
Isn't that what you hear just before they launch "Sympathy for the Devil" on Get Yer Ya-Yas Out? At least that's how I remember it; the satanic coincidence stuck in my head. According to Wikipedia's page on that album, that song was recorded at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 1969. Altamont was December 6th of the same year. Anyway, your version makes a better story!
 Shimmer wrote:
The Stones were poseurs. 
OMG

 Shimmer wrote:

I know you're trying to be sarcastic, but it doesn't do much to refute my point. The Stones were poseurs. The Beatles and Dylan were not.

 
I am not attempting to refute your point; this is not a court of law.  It is your opinion.  All performers are poseurs to some large extent - always have been - always will be - otherwise they would have become actuaries or lighthouse keepers.  You apparently do not like the Stones' music - that is fine - but to me, they produced outstanding music for a very long time.  For example: Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main Street are as great as any rock/pop records ever recorded.  Was Mick Jagger more of a showman and/or front-man than Dylan or any of The Beatles?  Probably.  If you believe that one of the greatest bands in the history of rock-n-roll were nothing more than "poseurs", then that's what you believe; I cannot change your mind (well, unless I had that "zombie-headpiece" device from the 1940's Batman serial).  I was just pointing out that they were/are all in the same racket.  Anyhow, you and I probably like a lot of the same music. {#Cheers}
Beatles cartoons


Brian Jones by ~ohindiegirl
Belinda  ©2008-2010 ~ohindiegirl

This is the late Brian Jones from the legendary and all mighty Rolling Stones. Brian was the one I had a true soft spot for, isn't he just beautiful?




Paint it Black - Rolling Stones - "Paint it Black" (extended intro by Keith) Live
I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors 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
I see a line of cars and theyre 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 new born baby it just happens evry day
I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black
Maybe then Ill fade away and not have to face the facts
Its not easy facin up when your whole world is black

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 settin sun
My love will laugh with me before the mornin comes

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors 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
Hmm, hmm, hmm,...
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!

 Proclivities wrote:
Yes, The Stones were the only recording artists trying to "capitalize on the the artistic spirit of the 60's".  The Beatles, Dylan and other recording artists were engaged in music for the attainment of aesthetic refinement, driven by altruistic purity.
 
I know you're trying to be sarcastic, but it doesn't do much to refute my point. The Stones were poseurs. The Beatles and Dylan were not.


Rolling Stones - "Paint It Black" Live in Japan (1990)

"The old ones are the best, learned their trade playing live music. Today live means miming, it's about image not musical talent. Shame that but a fact! I've turned more to blues as I've got older, that is real musicians."

"Music is more about the feelings you get from hearing it than knowing for sure what theyre saying thats why it doesnt matter what language you speak."

 Shimmer wrote:

The Stones were trying to capitalize on the the artistic spirit of the 60's, as exemplified by, say, Bob Dylan or the Beatles. I realize this is not the popular opinion, but to me it comes through so clearly in songs like this (which could be called "I am such a tortured artist") or albums like Satanic Majesties Request (which is an utter ripoff of Sgt. Pepper's and the like).

 
Yes, The Stones were the only recording artists trying to "capitalize on the the artistic spirit of the 60's".  The Beatles, Dylan and other recording artists were engaged in music for the attainment of aesthetic refinement, driven by altruistic purity.


"Paint it Black, You Devils"...anonymous woman at Altamount concert....minutes before the mayhem
 Tana wrote:
I still have a picture in my head of Mick Jones sitting cross-legged playing the sitar on the Ed Sullivan show. Did that really happen?
 
Brian Jones, sure. I have it on DVD.


Perhaps I've heard this song so much that it is losing some luster.
But it's still worth a 10.

It also takes me back to Tour of Duty... great show (well, for a little while anyway).


Tempo,,tempo,,tempo !!{#Drummer}
 paulmack wrote:


I couldn't agree with fredriley more. Shimmer are you serious? Or are you 6 years old? The Stones? Poseurs? Preposterous. Who were they posing 'to'?? Sorry, I don't usually do this but this but you should have thought that one through and decided not to post it. Maybe get a personal editor....
 
The Stones were trying to capitalize on the the artistic spirit of the 60's, as exemplified by, say, Bob Dylan or the Beatles. I realize this is not the popular opinion, but to me it comes through so clearly in songs like this (which could be called "I am such a tortured artist") or albums like Satanic Majesties Request (which is an utter ripoff of Sgt. Pepper's and the like).

 suebee3 wrote:
Ho-hum - almost sucko-barfo and it isn't even their fault.  This one is just plain over-played (not on RP of course).
 
Rate the music, not how many times you've HEARD the music. 

 Shimmer wrote:
This song screams "poseurs" to me.
 

I couldn't agree with fredriley more. Shimmer are you serious? Or are you 6 years old? The Stones? Poseurs? Preposterous. Who were they posing 'to'?? Sorry, I don't usually do this but this but you should have thought that one through and decided not to post it. Maybe get a personal editor....
Ho-hum - almost sucko-barfo and it isn't even their fault.  This one is just plain over-played (not on RP of course).
 Shimmer wrote:
This song screams "poseurs" to me.
 
Most pop/rock groups are poseurs of one sort or another, or at the least show-offs. Accusing the Stones of being poseurs is like complaining of speeding at Le Mans. This song screams depression to me, and takes me back to adolescent days when I'd get into a right mardy (as they say in Nottingham) such that everything was sh1t and nothing was good.

They talk about old school, well here is where it's spun from!
For some reason, I'm picturing helicopters.
Yes Yes...now too bad this is how I really feel! 
{#Dancingbanana_2}
Yes x 1,000
This song screams "poseurs" to me.
Alot of warm and fuzzies today! 10. Almost forgot, thanks Bill!


 romeotuma wrote:


This song is good for the ears...
 
You don´t really have much else to say, do you?
I still have a picture in my head of Mick Jones sitting cross-legged playing the sitar on the Ed Sullivan show. Did that really happen?
 Proclivities wrote:
It's funny; I heard this song earlier today while driving and listening to the local "oldies" station, which at 5PM plays the top 5 songs on that particular day in different years.  Apparently, this song was #1 in the U.S., today in 1966.  I wonder if that was part of the reason it was played today; it doesn't really matter - great tune! 
Coincidence?   Ooooh scary.{#Eek}
 
You got it, dude.
June 5 - 18 1966Rolling Stones - Paint It Black2 weeks

https://www.bobborst.com/popculture/number-one-songs-by-year/?y=1966
 

It's funny; I heard this song earlier today while driving and listening to the local "oldies" station, which at 5PM plays the top 5 songs on that particular day in different years.  Apparently, this song was #1 in the U.S., today in 1966.  I wonder if that was part of the reason it was played today; it doesn't really matter - great tune! 
Coincidence?   Ooooh scary.{#Eek}
Damn, what a great tune!
How 'bout that Charlie Watts intro?! Love it.
 Bleyfusz wrote:
A sitar, if you ask me. Very in vogue back in those times....
 

His majesty, Prince Jones, SMILED as he moved among the crowd...
I rock this song on guitar hero!
The original was a mono recording. If you hear stereo, then it's remastered.

 
typecast wrote:
Has this been remastered? I'm hearing a lot more distinct bass line and drums or am I hearing this for the first time on a decent system?
 


True that
Echo and the Bunnymen and The Feelies both do very respectable covers of this.
dylan thomas
 TerryS wrote:
Trivia....who gave the Rolling Stones their moniker?

 
I always thought Brian Jones named the band after "Rollin' Stone" by Muddy Waters.

Trivia....who gave the Rolling Stones their moniker?
Has this been remastered? I'm hearing a lot more distinct bass line and drums or am I hearing this for the first time on a decent system?
nigelr wrote:
So true. The hell instrument is that anyway, bazouki, balalaika?
A sitar, if you ask me. Very in vogue back in those times....
CafeRacer wrote:
THIS song, and no other, is the grandfather of goth.
Okay, but the Velvet Underground's "All Tommorrow's Parties" is its grandma.
passsion8 wrote:
Amazing how this is the first spin....ahhhh...just those first few notes makes one sit up and take notice...."The Stones?"......YEAH!
So true. The hell instrument is that anyway, bazouki, balalaika?