This mark is said to be permanent, since it is everywhere, at the time the protagonist sings and forever.

All the evidences of the existence of their love was 'tattooed' in black after everything went bad and his world descent into darkness. The unhappiness is also stated when not even the most beautiful and positive background can touch the protagonist's heart and make him blissful, because he feels pain holding the remains of the relationship.

Now, the person feels alone and standing before the past and sees that everything has gone dark. The protagonist states that the relationship was worthy, since both could learn from each other but unfortunately it had an end. The song deals with the main character singing about someone loved in the past and remembering moments of happiness. When they broke up, Vedder was pretty sad, and after that he moved to Chicago and his life started to change, specially in what deals with his family. It is also speculated that the woman whose song is based is Liz Gumble, Eddie's girlfriend on Junior Year, someone he had a deep and romantic relationship. Vedder stated on Pearl Jam Twenty that 'it's a true story, something that I really felt and I still feel every time I sing it'. The new song, now called 'Black' was a romantic, depressive, emotional and past love story. Eddie didn't send any composition to the trio about this specific Stone's demo, but on his way to Seattle, he wrote the lyrics. When Vedder received a tape with demos from Stone, Jeff and Mike, he recorded three songs and composed a trilogy ( The Momma-Son) but only sent it in another tape. There was another song, recorded by Gossard, named E Ballad. Liz Gumble, the possible inspiration for 'Black'.

Best love songs by pearl jam