Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: k-pop
Song Meaning of “Gutter Black” by Hello Sailor
The song Gutter Black by Hello Sailor is a somber and reflective track that looks at the darker aspects of life. It speaks of the struggles of the everyday person, how life often falls apart despite our best efforts, and the struggles of being misunderstood and pushed aside. The song paints a portrait of a narrator who is struggling to cope with a life that is full of darkness, uncertainty, and pain.
The chorus speaks of loneliness and isolation, and the way that it can slowly wear away at a person’s spirit and soul. This idea of having nothing to turn to, and no one to give comfort and understanding, is a common theme in the song. The feelings of being alone in the world and misunderstood resonates heavily throughout the song, and the narrator’s sorrowful plea to be released from that loneliness serves as a powerful image.
The narrator’s journey to breaking out of the gutter blackness that envelops them is symbolized by the increasingly hopeful message in the song’s verses. The lyrics eventually become more uplifting, describing how the narrator wishes to move ahead and live a better life. This motif is reinforced by the slow guitar riff that has a slight but noticeable increase in its optimism as the song fades out. The message of the song then is that even when life is dark, it is possible to rise out of the depths of despair and find peace and hope once again.