Black Gold (song)
Encyclopedia
"Black Gold" is a 1993
single performed by the Minneapolis rock band Soul Asylum
. It, along with the band's more famous hit "Runaway Train", helped bring their album, Grave Dancers Union
to a multi-platinum level.
The song was written by Soul Asylum's lead singer Dave Pirner
. It was the second single off of their album (see Soul Asylum discography
).
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 24th, 2010. He also stated that he was against war.
1993 in music
This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
single performed by the Minneapolis rock band Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in...
. It, along with the band's more famous hit "Runaway Train", helped bring their album, Grave Dancers Union
Grave Dancers Union
Grave Dancers Union is the official sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band Soul Asylum, released in 1992...
to a multi-platinum level.
The song was written by Soul Asylum's lead singer Dave Pirner
Dave Pirner
David Anthony "Dave" Pirner is an American songwriter, singer, and producer best known for being the lead vocalist and frontman for the alternative rock/grunge band, Soul Asylum.-Biography:...
. It was the second single off of their album (see Soul Asylum discography
Soul Asylum discography
This is the discography documenting albums and singles released by Soul Asylum.U.S. chart positions from Billboard magazine: Billboard Hot 100, Alternative Songs, Mainstream Rock Tracks, and UK chart positions from the UK Singles Chart.-Studio albums:...
).
Meaning
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 WarGulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
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 24th, 2010. He also stated that he was against war.