Black Heart

## **Black Heart***Emotion (Deluxe)*

**Black Heart** is the thirteenth track on Carly Rae Jepsen's third studio album, Emotion (2015). It was released on June 24th 2015, through School Boy and Interscope Records.

## **Lyrics**

**Verse 1**

I don't care 'bout your good intentions

I care more 'bout your bad dreams

I wanna love on a new dimension

You know I'm gonna be

**Pre-Chorus**

Under the blossom tree

*(Come a little closer, won't you come a little closer to me?)*

You're my miracle, oh-oh-oh

Under the blossom tree

*(Come a little closer, won't you come a little closer to me?)*

'Cause you're my miracle, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

**Chorus**

In your black heart is where you'll find me

Cutting through the cracks of the concrete

In your black heart is where you'll find me waiting

**Verse 2**

You think love is a destination

Like a show on your TV

You're a cry to your generation

But don't you cry to me

**Pre-Chorus**

Under the blossom tree

*(Come a little closer, won't you come a little closer to me?)*

You're my miracle, oh-oh-oh

Under the blossom tree

*(Come a little closer, won't you come a little closer to me?)*

You're my miracle

**Chorus**

In your black heart is where you'll find me

Cutting through the cracks of the concrete

In your black heart is where you'll find me waiting

In your black heart is where you'll find me

Cutting through the cracks of the concrete

In your black heart is where you'll find me waiting

**Outro**

Everything you ever wanted

Now it's happening, now it's happening *(black heart)*

Everything you ever wanted

Now it's happening, under the blossom tree *(black heart)*

Everything you ever wanted

Now it's happening, now it's happening *(black heart)*

Everything you ever wanted

Now it's happening, under the blossom tree *(black heart)*

## **Song credits**

#### **Writing and production**

* **Written by:** Carly Rae Jepsen • Evan Bogart • Greg Wells
* **Produced by:** Greg Wells

#### **Instrumentation**

* **Drums:** Greg Wells
* **Synthesizer:** Greg Wells

#### **Additional credits**

* **Programming:** Greg Wells
* **Mixing:** Erik Madrid
* **Mix assistance:** Vincent Vu
* **Mastering:** Gene Grimaldi

#### **Studio info**

* **Recorded at:** Rocket Carousel Studio (Los Angeles, CA)
* **Mixed at:** The Mix Room (Burbank, CA)
* **Mastered at:** Oasis Mastering (Burbank, CA)

#### **Publishing info**

* **Published by:** Universal Music Corp • Jepsen Music Publishing (ASCAP) • Firehouse Cat Music • BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP) • All Rights Administered by BMG Rights Management (US) • LLC, Seven Summits Music (BMI) • o/b/o Itself • Casbah Kid (BMI)

## **Writing and development**

Black Heart was written and recorded during the development of Emotion, alongside songwriters Greg Wells and Evan Bogart, assumed to be sometime between 2014 and 2015. Jepsen revealed the song was written about a Canadian ex-boyfriend she had, most likely be Jordi Ashworth. The title of the song was inspired by a conversation Carly had with this partner, who stated he had a "true heart", to which she responded by saying he actually had a black heart.

Carly explained this ex-partner was somebody who found it "really hard for him to let loose and allow himself to be in love," which the lyrics, "cutting through the cracks of the concrete" were written in reference to. Jepsen stated she thought he had "been hurt in a big way before" and that she "worked at him," eventually getting him to open up to her, which is reflected within the narrative of the song.

## **Composition and lyricism**

Compositionally, Black Heart is an outlier on the album in terms of its experimental sound, featuring a glitchy techno beat made up of synths and drums. The song discusses a blossoming relationship between Jepsen and her partner, a man she describes has a black heart, something seen as fundamentally corrupt or evil. Although this man is good intentioned, his heart is blackened due to his past experiences.

Jepsen states she doesn't care about his intentions and instead invites his darker side, wanting a love she hasn't before experienced by understanding him on a deeper level. Jepsen wants to break through to him, past his hard exterior and allow him to open up to her; she describes herself as waiting for him inside his heart, suggesting they’re meant to be together and this is something meant to happen.

Jepsen also describes how her partner has traditional views of love based on its depiction on television and states that experiencing this is something that he's always wanted. By the end of the song, Jepsen has gotten through to him and now everything that he's always wanted is happening.

#### **Connection to Roses**

The lyricism in Black Heart is similar to that found in Emotion Side B track Roses, most notably including recurring themes of the colour black, blossom trees, and the idea of cutting through cracks. Whilst Black Heart discusses the beginning stages of a relationship, Roses revolves around a break-up; it's likely the songs are a continuation of one another, discussing Jepsen's relationship with her then-boyfriend.

## **Trivia**

* Black Heart was first revealed by Jepsen in April 2015 when she cited it as one of her personal favourite songs of the album.
* In September 2015, Jepsen stated Black Heart was also her brother's favourite song of the album.

## **References**

1. ↑ *Emotion* (album booklet). Carly Rae Jepsen. 604 Records, School Boy Records and Interscope Records. 2015.
2. ↑ Carly Rae Jepsen - Black Heart (Live Strawberry Festival 2015) YouTube
3. ↑ Gevinson, Tavi "The Next Adventure: An Interview With Carly Rae Jepsen" Rookie Mag. October 16th 2015. Retrieved May 18th 2021.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Carly Rae Jepsen Goes From Dinner to Dance Party September 5th 2015
5. ↑ @carlyraejepsen All That and a tune called Black Heart are two of my favs at the moment April 26th 2015 - via Twitter