Black Earth is, perhaps not too obviously, supposed to be about the 'terra preta,' or 'black earth' found in the Amazon rainforest. Originally written nearly a decade ago, it was inspired by a television programme, and quickly turned into a fun - if misleading, given the title - metaphor about everything that we have done to the planet over the last few hundred years.
The first demos of the track actually date back to 2003, around the time that Fateful Hour and Not in My Name (2004 b-sides on A Picture on the Wall) were being recorded. It was then recorded four years later with the intention of appearing on The End, but was dropped at the last minute, and finally the whole thing was re-recorded late last year as a b-side to the most recent album Transmission.
You might be interested to know that it was also featured on this week's episode of QI, Jungles. You can read more about the facts and the fiction behind the theory on their website here. The words follow...
Do we hold in our hands the answers to
All those timeless questions that we always knew?
Is this the solution to which we turn
Levelling the forest as we slash and burn?
We walk on the black earth of history
Where we have lived for years
Today it all adds to that mystery
Lost like forgotten tears
We have always lived for the present day
Let the future guide itself in its own way
It's time to learn from our past, so long ignored
Before the earth is dead with no future ensured
We walk on, ignoring our wisdom
And swallow all we're fed
One day we'll unlock the solution
To how we gain our bread
Maybe we've reaped this earth
One too many times
It's time to sow our legacy
For the good of all mankind
Maybe it's that black earth
That holds the days to come
The past will change the world again
For the good of everyone
We walk on the black earth of history
Where we have lived for years
Today it all adds to that mystery
Lost like forgotten tears
We walk on, ignoring our wisdom
And swallow all we're fed
One day we'll unlock the solution
To how we gain our bread
(R. Martin / S. Martin)
