Album: I'm Alive (1993)

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• In the calling out to one another
  Of the lovers up and down the strand
  In the sound of the waves and the cries
  Of the seagulls circling the sand
  
  In the fragments of the songs
  Carried down the wind from some radio
  In the murmuring of the city in the distance
  Ominous and low
  
  I hear the sound of the world where we played
  And the far too simple beauty of the promises we made
  
  If you ever need holding
  Call my name, and I'll be there
  If you ever need holding
  And no holding back, I'll see you through
  Sky blue and black
  
  Where the touch of the lover ends
  And the soul of the friend begins
  There's a need to be separate and a need to be one
  And a struggle neither wins
  
  But you gave me the world I was in
  And a place I could make a stand
  I could never see how you doubted me
  When I'd let go of your hand
  
  Yeah, and I was much younger then
  And I must have thought that I would know
  If things were going to end
  
  And the heavens were rolling
  Like a wheel on a track
  And our sky was unfolding
  And it'll never fold back
  Sky blue and black
  
  And I'd have fought the world for you
  (I'd have fought the world for you)
  If I thought that you wanted me to
  Or put aside what was true or untrue (true or untrue)
  If I'd know that's what you needed
  What you needed me to do
  
  But the moment has passed by me now
  To have put away my pride
  And just come through for you somehow
  
  If you ever need holding
  Call my name, I'll be there
  If you ever need holding
  And no holding back, I'll see you through
  
  You're the color of the sky
  Reflected in each store-front window pane
  You're the whispering and the sighing of my tires in the rain
  
  You're the hidden cost and the thing that's lost
  In everything I do
  Yeah and I'll never stop looking for you
  In the sunlight and the shadows
  
  And the faces on the avenue
  That's the way love is
  That's the way love is
  That's the way love is
  Sky, sky blue and black Writer/s: Jackson Browne
  Publisher: Jackson Browne/Swallow Turn Music/Night Kitchen Music/Open Window Music
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 34

• Max from OregonGiven the song's content and the time period in which it was written, and given that a lot of the "I'm Alive" album was inspired by his relationship and break-up with Daryl Hannah, it's obvious she is also the inspiration behind this song. But like so many of his songs, he expands this to be a more generalized discussion of how it hurts to leave a failed relationship, and look back on each others' failings not with anger, but with a mixture of passion, regret, and longing. That makes the song all the more powerful, because each of us feels like this song is about OUR lives and OUR lost loves. This song is brilliant for so many of its lyrical turns. But the song structure itself is magnificent. It moves back and forth between poetry and music. There are sections like the intro verses, that do not scan on an even beat or meter, but are more like poetry with chords under it. Then it moves to a verse with a more even beat, then to the guitar solo which is on a regular driving slow rock rhythm that builds and builds to the "I'd have fought the world for you" crescendo. Then after that middle section, sounding almost exhausted and beaten by his admissions of failure, he pulls back to more poetry with "The moment has passed by me now". Browne always writes musical poetry, but he outdoes himself with this song. One other thought: Mario from Jersey City seems to feel this song was somehow connected to Lowell George, but I can find no mention of that in Browne's comments on his solo acoustic album, and given that George died in 1979 and was already the subject of "Of Missing Persons", I can't see how that would be true. Additionally, the lyrics are too romantic in nature to be about a "good friend". When a man says, "If you ever need holding, I'll be there", or a "world where we played", and "promises we made", or that he sees your reflection in every window pane, he's talking about a lover, not a good friend.
• Nancy from Santa Barbara CaJackson has been singing my life's every emotion from the beginning. I was a naive 17 year old when I first heard him portraying what I could not even express myself. I love everything about his music and have seen him live numerous times at the SB Bowl, never disappointed. I have met him a few times and have much respect for his desire to write for we listeners who take meaning to apply within our own lives. This is one of my favorite songs from Jackson's wide reportois of amazing heartfelt ballads that have rocked me to my very soul.
• Steve Marriott from TasmaniaHello Karen. My song to you. Met you many years ago. Built our mud brick house together. Never gave you what a woman wants. A child. My lifetime regret.
• Enola from Mad City, WiThis is not only my favorite Jackson Browne song, this is my favorite love song ever. Browne is such an exceptional lyricist, he can tear your heart to pieces and leave you thanking him for doing so. No one will ever convince me that Jackson Browne could be violent with anyone. Daryl Hannah is a never-was, hanger-on, who flits from one relationship to the next hoping to fill her deep seated need to be famous and adored. The alleged assault was nothing more than a desperate attempt to become a Kennedy. As for the various interpretations of this song's title, IMHO 'sky blue and black" is a reference to day and night, as in loving continuously and unendingly.
• Roy from Tyne And WearI can't help but want this song to express two things for me. Having recently lost someone I loved dearly it speaks to me of our meeting, worlds apart, and my determination to unlock her defences, to come to know her and to find a way to be with her. And then of course the anguish of losing her. But fate took a hand, perhaps too soon, perhaps not. I met someone who was at first a comfort and before long after more. And now the song speaks of recovery but the need to confront another's fear of losing the separate to win the one I know she wants.
• Tim from Midwest While we interpret this song in our own way, Sky Blue and Black to me is about deeply loving someone and then losing them with the recognition that you’ve lost someone you really loved. But you accept it and move on. But you really haven’t moved on and realize you will always have the regrets…
• Eric from San FranciscoAlong with the Beatles, Jackson is by far my favorite artist. Late for the Sky is my #1 album. The I'm Alive album is somewhat of a return, stylistically. As far as this song, I mean, who really knows, but it is fairly evident that much of this album is about the break up with Daryl Hannah, particularly in the first and last songs. I'm Alive would seem to be his anger at her; Sky Blue and Black is, I think, seems to be his post-anger assessment, just looking back with hurt and regret, yet still wanting to be available to her. The reference to blue and black is I think his sarcastic comment about what he allegedly did; again, who really knows but them, but hitting her seems to be so totally out of character with everything JB has been about for the 45 or so years I have followed him. For what my opinions are worth.
• Chris Hughes from Leicester UkLouis from Ohio says he knows Browne didn't assault Hannah and so does just about everyone else. The thing is, no one actually KNOWS, apart from them. She's never publicly denied it, and he's never explained it.
  
  Sky Black And Blue is a beautiful song with seemingly sincere, yearning lyrics, but if it's about Hannah, you've got to wonder about blue and black/black and blue.
  
  (My two-pence-worth on the Browne-Hannah who-dunnit is at:
  https://soothfairy.wordpress.com/2015/03/29/jackson-browne-and-daryl-hannah)
• Mario from Jersey City, UtThis is more to do about Lowell George, not Daryl Hannah. Although this can be applied to romantic love, it is also about deep and abiding friendships from people who passed away and are no longer with us. So not just about a breakup or a separation/divorce, but also about losing someone through death, to include those of the same gender who are not gay (like a parent or sibling, a special friend of either sex). Jackson wrote a song called "Of Missing Persons", also about L. George, and this has tie-ins to him - Jackson's friendship with Lowell as well. Jackson explains more about this song in his intro to it on his live solo album. It has nothing to do with his relationship with Ms. Hannah. Also, he was no made, raving abuser of her, in fact Daryl has refused to ever denigrate Jackson since their breakup, so that says a lot about the veracity of its disfunction. He was never so bad that he should be looked down upon, Daryl won't even ever do that, in spite of what did or did not happen.
• Guy from Paris, Franceso many great comments here.. I too have been a fan of Jackson since The Pretender..then I went back to discover all that came before... such a treat when that happens! One thing about Jackson is that he always seems to capture that moment in my life. When this song came out I had just ended the greatest love affair of my life and was in denial. And there he was again, right on time !
• Blair from Norwich, United KingdomProbably the "truest" song ever
• Alex from New York, NySky Blue and Black is as close to perfect as a song can be (for me anyway). It sums up that feeling you have when you lose the person who was meant to be the one - when you can't fix it as the relationship is beyond repair - but there is no anger/bitterness - just sorrow. It describes the conflict between the need to be free, and the need for love - and the fact that the price for that freedom is the other person forever.
  
  Some of my favourite lyrics:
  "The far too simple beauty of the promises we made"
  "You're the hidden cost and the thing that's lost in everything I do"
  
  Trully beautiful song.
  
  
• Maryann from Warwick, RiThis is absolutely my favorite song because it reminded me of the search I was on to find my friend Patrick who lived in Ireland and moved to Canada. We lost touch and I was very sad and missed him. It wasn't until March of 2010 that I found him in Vancouver. Thank goodness for friends that we will always love. Jackson's songs are like this, a friend we will always love.
• Carolyn from St Pete, FlJoel, the name of the album is "Jackson Browne".
• Don from Aurora, OhThis is in my top say 3 songs ever! I have a signed copy of "Late For The Sky" in my office a friend of mine got for me at a benefit given BY Daryl Hanna after they split up!!! He told my friend he didn't like the picture of him on the back side. That should answer your question Pete, Birmingham, MI It seems she has been able to forgive him! I know that people can get control over that type of behavior as they get older and wiser. But it always haunts us...
• Louis from Youngstown, OhHey Pete from Birmingham, about whether the song came to him when beating the daylights out of Daryl Hannah - think of the color imagery (in reverse): black and blue (as in bruises). Ahhh....well, of course, I know Jackson DIDN'T hit her (and so does just about everyone else - even JFK, Jr [before he died]) but I think it's hilarious that this is the color imagery he uses. Hands down one of the most beautiful songs he's ever written.
• Kylie from Liverpool, EnglandAbsolutely fantastic song. If you listen to it when you're in a low place then it can really hit you.
  
  One of my all time favourites; so haunting.
• Nicole from Massapequa, NyThe first time I really listened to these lyrics my heart literally ached. Lost love, deep regret, asking for forgiveness, understanding...and the fact that "the moment has passed by me now..." can re-break the heart of anyone who's been in his shoes.
  
  
• Roger from Newfield, NjAfter 33 years I saw my high school sweetheart at a reunion. Instantly, I was broken hearted again and broke out the jackson brown. I wanted to hear "late for the sky" which is what I considered the best love song written. I listened to "sky blue and black" but moved on. After the second time it started to sink in. This song is easily the best song ever written about love lost. Honestly, I can't even listen to it. Maybe someday I'll be able to listen to it again.
• Jim from Glasgow, ScotlandThe greatest song by the greatest songwriter of my lifetime.Sheer brilliance i.m.o.
• Harry from Ayr, ScotlandI've been a big fan of Jackson Browne for more years than I care to remember. Across those years he has repeatedly stunned me with his ability to lay bare in such simple terms the deepest and most painful emotions the human heart can suffer. Additionally he never fails to find music that makes many of these songs so hauntingly beautiful. Sky blue and black takes him to a new high in terms of lyrical and musical quality following his own suffering at a new low and so many of us who can identify with this same low will feel as I do that this is a masterpiece that confirms that JB is probably the finest lyricist since Shakespeare.
• Vernon from Trinidad, Wi, OtherThis is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It has deep meaning for me. I see it as the true definition of love - Being there when needed. No questions asked.
• Mark from Washington, D.c.I shared this sing with the only girl I ever really loved, and even today, it makes me misty. After all these years she remains "the hidden cost and the thing that's lost in EVERYthing I do"
• Debi from Seattle, WaThis song haunts me, although I've been a fan over 20 years...he never ceases to amaze me with his ability to reach into the soul again and again...
• Mary from Phoenix, AzMy ex used this song for a "remberance video" about his ex-wife's brother who died in a double suicide back in like 96. It was so sad. They ended up using the video for the gathering after the funeral. I never heard this song till then.
• Joel from Kenilworth, NjI heard Jacksone Browne's first album (Saturate Before Using) some 35 years ago. I was a fan since that very day. He could always pull those strings, but this song tugs with every lover's lost love! It is simply magnificent.
  
• Jo from Kaneohe, Himost people think of this song as reflective of a past relationship now gone, but i feel it is more of a universal beckoning to all of us, alluding to something we all had with each other.
• Ej from Westerly, RiI love Luanne
• Pete from Birmingham, MiI too think it's one of the most touching songs that i have ever heard. I've always wondered if these lyrics came to him when he was beating the daylights out of Daryl Hanna.
• Ross from Independence, MoEveryone who likes Jackson Browne should also give a comment or two on Doctor My Eyes. Right now i am the only one who commented.
• Sam from Boise, IdThis is one of the great love ballads of all time. It is also the most visceral, poignant, and cathartic songs in the universe.
• Don from Dallas, TxJust another of the many great songs of Jackson Browne.
• Peter from Montrose, DcOne of the most beautiful songs ever.
• Mandi from Midwest, WiI've been a Jackson Browne fan since I first heard "Pretender", but I've just listened to "Sky Blue and Black" and don't think I've heard a more personal and emotional song. Jackson truly sounds like he's pouring this song out of his aching heart. Beautiful lyrics, beautiful melody. I can't stop playing this CD.

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