Meaning of "Black Coffee" by Julie London

The lyrics of "Black Coffee" delve into the depths of heartache and longing. The singer is struggling with loneliness, insomnia, and the passing of time without their beloved. The mentioning of black coffee as a hand-me-down brew symbolizes the bitterness and despair that love has brought. The lyrics also touch upon traditional gender roles, highlighting the contrast between a man's freedom to love and a woman's societal expectations of staying home and dealing with regrets. The overall sentiment of the song is one of melancholy, longing, and a sense of hopelessness, captured beautifully by the repeated references to black coffee, nicotine, and waiting. The singer's yearning for their baby to come around portrays a sense of vulnerability and desperation, bringing to light the emotional toll of unrequited love.