Little Black Submarines

Little Black Submarines is a profound exploration of heartbreak, mental turmoil, and the feeling of being disconnected from reality. At its core, the song deals with the aftermath of a broken relationship and the psychological spiral that often follows.

The title and central metaphor, "little black submarines," are widely interpreted as intrusive dark thoughts or depression. Just as a submarine travels undetected beneath the water's surface, these negative feelings lurk in the subconscious, only surfacing to attack the narrator's peace of mind. The lyrics suggest a struggle to maintain mental clarity, with the narrator asking an "operator" to put him "back on the line," symbolizing a desperate desire to reconnect with the world or his former self.

The recurring line, "a broken heart is blind," serves as the thematic anchor. It explains the narrator's confusion and his failure to see the "glow" (warning signs or the truth) of his situation. He acknowledges that his pain has distorted his perception, causing him to lose track of his "plans" and "treasure maps"—metaphors for his life's direction and goals.

Musically and lyrically, the song mirrors the stages of grief. The quiet, acoustic first half represents the initial, depressive sorrow and introspection. The explosive, electric second half represents the anger, chaos, and overwhelming release of emotion that eventually breaks through the surface.

The narrative begins in a state of desperation and disorientation. A man calls out to an operator, pleading for a connection to be re-established, though it is unclear if he is trying to reach a former lover, a higher power, or simply his own sanity. He confesses that his mind has been wrecked by a separation, leaving him wandering blindly. He reflects on a promise he made to return to his partner, a promise that now hangs heavy in the air, unfulfilled.

As he introspects, he realizes he missed the warning signs—the "glow"—because his heartbreak had rendered him unable to see the truth. He describes a sensation of being picked up and let down, a cycle of hope and disappointment. He admits to having had plans and a sense of direction, symbolized as a "treasure map," but these have been obscured by "fallen trees," representing the obstacles and confusion that have overtaken his life. His friends feel "stolen," and he feels plagued by a metaphorical disease, isolating him further.

The central image of "little black submarines" emerges as a representation of insidious, unseen forces—perhaps dark thoughts or depression—that operate beneath the surface of his consciousness. These forces invade his mind, disrupting his peace and distorting his perception of time. The voices calling to him are distant and out of sync, emphasizing his detachment from reality. Ultimately, the story is one of a man besieged by his own internal darkness, begging to be patched back into a reality that makes sense, while acknowledging that his emotional pain has blinded him to the world around him.

Little Black Submarines was released on The Black Keys' seventh studio album, El Camino, in 2011. It was written by band members Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, along with producer Brian Burton (Danger Mouse).

The recording process, which took place at Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville, was famously difficult for this track. The band struggled to find the right arrangement, recording the song "four or five different ways," including a fully acoustic version and a louder, faster rock version. Neither version felt complete on its own.

In a moment of studio improvisation, they decided to combine the two distinct approaches. The acoustic intro was spliced directly onto a "live" electric take. According to drummer Patrick Carney, the heavy, explosive ending was actually the very first take they played of that arrangement. They were simply riffing and figuring out the part, which gave the recording its loose, raw, and energetic feel. This "quiet-to-loud" transition became the song's defining characteristic, leading to frequent comparisons to classic rock epics.

The song relies heavily on maritime and communication imagery to convey emotional distress.

• Little Black Submarines: The most potent symbol in the track. Submarines are stealthy, underwater vessels of war. Here, they represent depressive thoughts or hidden traumas that travel beneath the surface of the narrator's consciousness. They are "little" (perhaps seemingly insignificant at first) and "black" (ominous), but they possess the power to destroy his peace of mind.
• The Operator: A classic metaphor for connection. The narrator pleads with an operator, likely appealing to a higher power or simply begging for a return to sanity. He wants to be "put back on the line," suggesting he feels disconnected, dead, or lost in a void.
• Treasure Maps and Fallen Trees: The "treasure map" symbolizes the narrator's life plan or the path to happiness he thought he was on. The "fallen trees" represent the obstacles and chaos that have blocked this path, leaving him disoriented.
• Blindness/Glow: The "glow" likely represents the truth or the vitality of the relationship that he missed. His "blindness" is the emotional fog caused by heartbreak, preventing him from seeing reality clearly.

The song begins with a tone of melancholy, isolation, and regret. The sparse acoustic arrangement creates an intimate atmosphere, as if the listener is eavesdropping on a confession. The vocals are weary and resigned.

At the midpoint transition, the emotion shifts violently to anger, frustration, and catharsis. The explosion of electric volume represents the breaking point—the moment where sadness turns into a chaotic release of energy. The relentless drum beat and screaming guitar solos convey a sense of fighting back against the "submarines" in the mind. By the end, the listener is left with a sense of exhaustion after the emotional storm.

Little Black Submarines became one of The Black Keys' most enduring hits and a staple of 2010s rock radio. It reached #2 on the US Billboard Alternative Songs chart and was certified Platinum. The song is frequently cited as a modern rock classic due to its "Stairway to Heaven"-style structure, successfully bridging the gap between indie blues and arena rock.

The music video, filmed at the Springwater Supper Club in Nashville (a historic dive bar), solidified the band's image as authentic, working-class rockers. The song has been widely used in media, appearing in TV shows and commercials, and is a fan favorite in their live sets, often serving as a climactic moment in their concerts. It played a significant role in cementing the success of the El Camino album, which won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

The lyrics generally follow an AABB or ABAB rhyme scheme, though it is loose and conversational. For example, "mind/blind" and "line/time" provide strong end rhymes that anchor the verses.

Rhythm and Meter: The song is in 4/4 time. The first half is free-flowing and slightly rubato, driven by the strumming pattern of the acoustic guitar. The tempo is approximately 92 BPM but feels slower due to the sparse arrangement. When the electric section kicks in, the rhythm becomes rigid, driving, and heavy, locked in by the drums. The contrast between the swinging, folk-like rhythm of the intro and the stomping, four-on-the-floor rock beat of the outro emphasizes the shift from sadness to aggression.

Musical Dynamics (The "Stairway" Effect): The song is defined by its dramatic dynamic shift. It begins as a stripped-back, folk-blues ballad featuring only acoustic guitar and vocals. Roughly two minutes in, it abruptly explodes into a heavy, fuzz-drenched garage rock anthem. This technique mirrors the song's emotional trajectory from melancholic reflection to angry release.

Lo-Fi Aesthetics: The production, helmed by Danger Mouse, utilizes a raw, gritty sound. The electric section features Dan Auerbach's signature fuzz guitar tone and Patrick Carney's simple, stomping drum beat, which sounds intentionally unpolished and "live."

Literary Devices: The lyrics employ apostrophe, as the narrator directly addresses an "operator" who does not respond. Paradox is used in the phrase "voices calling me, they get lost and out of time," suggesting a distortion of reality where sound and time do not behave normally.

What is the meaning of 'little black submarines' in the song?

The 'little black submarines' are widely interpreted as a metaphor for dark, intrusive thoughts, depression, or emotional trauma. Like submarines, these feelings travel beneath the surface of the mind, undetected, before surfacing to cause distress and disrupt the narrator's reality.

Why does the song change from acoustic to electric halfway through?

The band recorded both an acoustic and a loud electric version but felt neither worked perfectly on its own. They decided to splice the two takes together to create a dynamic shift that mirrors the emotional journey from sad introspection to explosive anger and release.

Who is the 'operator' the singer is talking to?

The 'operator' is a metaphor for a connection to reality, sanity, or a higher power. By asking the operator to 'put me back on the line,' the narrator is expressing a desperate need to escape his isolation and reconnect with the world or a lost loved one.

Where was the music video for Little Black Submarines filmed?

The music video was filmed at the Springwater Supper Club in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a historic dive bar known for its gritty atmosphere, which perfectly matched the song's aesthetic.

What album is Little Black Submarines on?

The song is the fourth track on The Black Keys' seventh studio album, 'El Camino', which was released in 2011.