"Black" Is A Song By The American Rock Band Pearl Jam. The Song Is The Fifth Track On The Band's Debut Album Ten 1991 . Featuring Lyrics Written By Vocalist Eddie Vedder And Music Written By Guitarist Stone Gossard "Black" Is A Soliloquy By A Broken-Hearted Man Who Is Remembering His Absent Lover. After Ten Became A Commercial Success In 1992 Pearl Jam's Record Label Epic Records Urged The Group To Release The Song As A Single. The Band Refused Citing The Song's Personal Nature. Despite The Lack Of A Commercial Release "Black" Received Airplay On American Radio Stations And Charted On The Mainstream Rock And Modern Rock Tracks Charts. A Remixed Version Of The Song Was Included On Pearl Jam's 2004 Greatest Hits Album Rearviewmirror Greatest Hits 1991–2003.