VERNON’s “Black Eye” Lyrics Meaning
Vernon is part of a K-pop act known as Seventeen which, in reality, boasts 13 members. In 2021, backed by their label Pledis Entertainment, the boys set off an initiative called “The Thirteen Tapes”, i.e. a series of solo mixtapes held down respectively by each individual member.
The title track of Vernon’s own project in that regard, “Black Eye”, was released on 23 December 2022. And on that note let it be known that even though “Black Eye” is being called a mixtape, in reality it’s just one song.
And whereas Vernon is one of Seventeen’s rappers, this track has been classified primarily under the pop-punk genre, even according to the vocalist himself. In fact it is so different from his established norm that the K-pop star concealed the song from his bandmates until it was officially released.
THE TEAM BEHIND “BLACK EYE”
According to Vernon, the composition of this track dates back to that of Seventeen’s 2022 LP “Face the Sun” and more specifically him working with Robb Roy, with both going on to co-write “Black Eye”. And its other composers are Hong Hun Gi and an artist known as Ohway!. Also to note, the lyrics of this piece are entirely in English.
Meanwhile the track’s music video, which was filmed while Seventeen were concurrently touring, was directed by Oh Eunho.
THE STORY BEHIND “BLACK EYE”
The title of this song references the final line of the chorus, whereas Vernon depicts himself as being “scarred and bruised with a black-eyed face”. What he is doing actually is portraying a character, one inspired by a friend he shares with Robb Roy who, according to the singer, has “a certain roughness, a sense of loneliness to him”.
And likewise, the vocalist proceeds to portray himself as sort of this loner bad boy, recklessly out in the world and in the process displaying ‘his worst behavior’.
It should be pointed out that there is what can be deemed an identifiable addressee who pops up briefly in the two verses. That is to say that it reads like the vocalist may well have a girlfriend, someone who is stuck on him despite his woefully rebellious ways. But his response is that she should “stop wasting time on” him, as Vernon appears fully committed to living what can be deemed, by K-pop standards, as a gangsta lifestyle.
“I’m on my worst behavior
Don’t stop me now
I f–king hate this world
So show me a way out
Wake me up from this nightmare, please
I can’t stand this reality
I’m on my worst behavior
How you like me now?
Put a muzzle on me
I’ll spit in your mouth
Wake me up from this nightmarе, please
I’m scarred and bruisеd with a black eyed face”
So deriving a thesis sentiment from this piece isn’t particularly easy. Here and there, the vocalist does imply that he is looking for someone to save him from himself, if you will. But as it currently stands, he obviously doesn’t have such an individual in his life.
And in the meantime, he seems to have no qualms with embracing his dark side so to speak, i.e. a lifestyle highlighted by the likes of the vocalist possessing a dogged acceptance of solitude and engaging all-night partying with no regard to tomorrow.
