Black Parade

Album: single release only (2020)
Charted: 49 37
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Black Parade" is a bass-heavy anthem that starts off with Beyoncé singing about her Southern heritage.

    I'm goin' back to the South, I'm goin' back, back, back, back
    Where my roots ain't watered down, growin', growin', like a baobab tree


    The Texan songstress is proud of her black ancestry and culture.
  • Beyoncé released the song on Juneteenth (June 19), a day celebrating the end of slavery in the US. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Beyonce's home state of Texas to proclaim the freedom of all enslaved individuals. The 2020 Junteenth celebrations were especially poignant as they followed weeks of international mass-protests against police brutality and racism arising from the killing of George Floyd. Beyoncé reflects during the track on the deeply rooted racism in today's society.

    Being black, maybe that's the reason why they always mad
    Yeah, they always mad, yeah


    And the rough treatment of the protesters by the police.

    Rubber bullets bouncing off me

    Overall, the song is a celebration of blackness amidst their struggles.

    Put your fists up in the air, show black love
    Need peace and reparation for my people


    Beyoncé wrote on her website: "Being Black is your activism. Black excellence is a form of protest. Black joy is your right."
  • Beyoncé co-wrote the song with her husband Jay-Z, as well as Derek Dixie, Akil "Fresh" King, Rickie "Caso" Tice, Kim "Kadence" Krysiuk and Nova Wav. Dixie co-wrote eight The Lion King: The Gift tracks with Beyoncé including "Bigger" with Fresh and "Keys To The Kingdom" with Fresh and Kaydence.

    Beyonce and Derek Dixie produced the song.
  • The song shares its title with Beyonce's "Black Parade" project, which supports black-owned small businesses.
  • This won for Best R&B Performance at the Grammy Awards in 2021. It was Beyonce's fourth win of the night, following Best Music Video for "Brown Skin Girl" and two awards for her Megan Thee Stallion collaboration, "Savage." With 28 total, she surpassed Alison Krauss' 27 for most Grammy wins by any female.

Comments: 1

  • Cazz from NjLove
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.