Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: garage
Song Meaning of “Black Treacle” by Arctic Monkeys
The song “Black Treacle” by Arctic Monkeys is a song exploring the idea of feeling stuck in a black tar-like substance, unable to move forward and make progress. This dark and bleak image paints a picture of being unable to escape from a personal struggle. The lyrics suggest the narrator is having difficulty sticking to his values and beliefs while investigating the demons from his past.
The song hints at how being stuck in a mental rut can make it difficult to move forward and make meaningful progress. The “black treacle” stands for the muddy and viscous feeling of being trapped in this unwise state of mind. The lyrics imply that the narrator is unable to rid himself of his mental blocks, questioning why he is so hesitant to make a change in his life. No matter how much he tries to pull himself away, the “treacle” always pulls him back in, trapping him in a continuous cycle of struggle.
The song is about how a life spent in paralysis can feel like a tar-like “black treacle”, threatening to swallow oneself in a morass of mediocrity. It encourages the idea that the only way to break free from this kind of mental blockage is to face the demons of the past and make tangible progress towards a better future.