Back To Black Poem Analysis

While many songs explore the themes of love and heartbreak, “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse presents a unique perspective on the inner turmoil that may engulf individuals in the aftermath of a break-up. The speaker discusses their relapse into depression and substance abuse after the dissolution of their relationship, providing insight into the intimate, and often undisclosed adversities experienced. I argue that this effect is achieved through the creation of a speaker that evolves and experiences multiple shifts in perspective. The speaker provides this insight through metaphors such as “black” which represents a place of mental anguish and addiction. Finally, the speaker employs a simile to solidify their perspective on the world during …show more content…
It is used to represent a time of loneliness and desperation as well as a state of poor mental health experienced by the speaker. I’d like to begin by introducing the common connotations associated with the colour: black typically symbolizes darkness, isolation, and death among others. Additionally, black is not a colour, it is the lack of thereof, implying the absence of joy and liveliness. These negative associations signify that the speaker’s life has become barren and bleak perhaps triggering certain mental and emotional ailments including depression and addiction. This is evidenced by the speaker’s direct reference to substance abuse saying, “you love blow, and I love puff” alluding to heroin and smokable drugs respectively. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that addiction has been a chronic illness for the speaker since they mention “tread[ing] a troubled track” and that their “odds are stacked”, indicating that they have suffered with such illnesses in the past and are relapsing into their old patterns and habits. Perhaps most interestingly is the fact that nearly every time “black” is stated, it is preceded by “going back to”, further asserting the notion of a return to darker, more turbulent times in the speaker’s life. This simple word provided insight into the speaker’s past and present, deepening the reader’s understanding of the character’s mindset and outlook on