Black Gold

I always interpreted it as being about the Gulf War. Seemed obvious to me. While bombast's interpretation is interesting, and I always enjoy looking at songs in a new light, I definitely don't look at the song as being about that.

I believe this is a song about the Gulf War. It seems th be from the perspective of a disabled soldier, a black soldier in a white fight. Meaning he felt he was an under privilaged means to line the pocketbooks of the rich with even more money.... and for what? To fill up the tank and go for a ride. He'd like to be proud of the work he did as a soldier of this country, but he in hindsight realises the ends don't always justify the means (this spot was a playground, this flat land used to be a town) And further trivializes the dispute to the likeness of children fighting on a playground. I believe it is about someone who feels that they were used, and is kinda pissed about it.

Best Soul Asylum song. This band is sooooo underrated. Pirner is a genius.

Yep, Oil and the Gulf War..."2 kids on a play ground...tryin to push each other 'round...see the crowd gather round...." is USA and Iraq.

Yes, this is an incredible song. And I had always thought about it as a gulf war song. I don't think the lyrics above are exactly correct. It seems to also be about racism, black soldiers fighting a racist war for oil. And there seems to be a wounded vet in a wheelchair who functions as the conscience of the song.

Reminds me of my hometown. Used to be booming with oil in the middle of the desert, now it is pretty ghetto.

Great song. It's about The Gulf War and race. I could provide an in-depth, line-by-line analysis and explanation of meaning, but I need to go to sleep

The meaning of the song has been the topic of many debates. Some fans state that it simply is about racism and/or black soldiers fighting in a war ("You're a black soldier, white fight"). Other disagree and claim it is about the greed for oil (Black Gold is another term for oil). One other theory maintains that it is about the Gulf War and the obvious references to the Persian Gulf in the music video supports this theory. Dave Pirner is shown in the reflection of a pool which mirrors the shape of the Persian Gulf. Many lyrics from the song do match this idea. The lyrics "Two boys on a playground/trying to push each other down" could possibly mean the USA and Iraq fighting over "Black Gold". It has been theorized that the lines "Keeps the kids off the streets/gives 'em something to do, something to eat" could mean young men and women ("kids") joining the military. And there is the fact that at about 1:56 various noises are heard: ambulance sirens, screams, cries, and what appears to be a news cast, which could represent the war. Pirner himself stated that the song was about war at the Dogwood Festival in Fayetteville, NC on April 24, 2010. He also stated that he was against war. Read more at http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/51471/#gJIQTORHuvhyePsZ.99

The songs meaning is simple. Its about the gulf war. Its just a political song. Think!!! black gold is another word for oil. Morons!!!

This is such a comforting song, I love it. It's meaning's not easy to read, but I'll give it a try...ahem... I think it's about starting a new change in one's life, and not letting past situations affect future possibilities. So it's not really about the sadness of letting something go, but more like having finished a page in a book and moving on to a new one. I don't know, though it's a hard song to try and analyze when it already makes you feel a certain way regardless of it's true meaning.