Black Gives Way To Blue

So obviously about the death of ol' Layne Staley, RIP. But what gets me the most is the ending. It's sudden, and leaves you unfulfilled in the song, like they should have extended the chorus and made a finale instrumental, as in most songs. But I now think that was the point. It's a song about Layne's death, his SUDDEN death, and when someone close to you dies suddenly, it seems like their life, as well as yours, is unfulfilled. Like there should be something more, if even extended slightly and made with a final note. Not just stopping at the snap of one's fingers. Like if someone you knew died and you weren't there when it happened, you would want to wish to speak to them one last time before they passed.

The only difference is, I can just put the track on repeat, and make it seem like the song never ended, it just paused before restarting, as if the song would never end (I'm not sure if Jerry intended it to be like that, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did). Sadly, you can't do that with someone's life. And if you could, life would be pointless. Everything is pointless without death.

Black gives way to blue - To me it means that they are slowly moving away from dark hell that had consumed them, however its only a little bit better; Blue is still a sad and mournful colour, but better than black :-)

Love the song. RIP Layne.

A song about Lane Staley. Incorrect lyrics, but this song is absolutely, ABSOLUTELY, incredible! It's so beautiful. I've been listening to it the entire day.

Watch the video! http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=63256219

Spog Zallagi, I suppose that's the reason behind the short length. I wish it was longer - like 3 times as long.

Black gives way to blue.

Like a dark bruise that is healing.

beautiful song, my fave from the new AIC. the lyrics can actually draw a tear out of me if im in a mood. def for layne. RIP.

Jerry Cantrell told this to Lily Cornell Silver and Susan Silver -" Sometimes there are very dark and challenging times in life and it may seem like things will never get better, but if you stay strong and keep moving forward and look out on the horizon you'll see a little point of light way out there and slowly the black would give way to blue. He told her things would start to feel better and for her to hold on to hope and keeping forward toward that light."

Here are the correct Lyrics

I don't wanna feel no more It's easier to keep falling Imitations are pale Emptiness all tomorrows haunted by your ghost Lay down black gives way to blue Lay down I remember you Fading out by design Consciously avoiding changes Curtains drawn now it's done Silencing all tomorrows forcing a goodbye Lay down black gives way to blue Lay down I remember you

Great song and an awesome way to remember Layne. This song is the best tribute I can think of.

i agree with all these interpretations of what 'black gives way to blue' means but something i do disagre with is how blue is necessarily better than black. theyre both very sad colours, blue is less absolute and debatebly less bearable. i agree theres a positivity in that lyric, it says something about the endurance and strength in bearing scars that never heal, but i think theres also the reality that chaos in all its horror is only transposed to melancholy, and flattened out, dulled down. its a different kind of horror, but what is worse.

i reckon this is aic giving up 'the ghost' as it were, a bit, of anger with layne, and reaching a sort of vaguely settled state by the end of the album.