When A Blind Man Cries

Deep Purple's "When A Blind Man Cries" is a poignant ballad that delves into themes of loneliness, despair, and the search for meaning amidst personal turmoil. The song's narrator expresses a deep sense of abandonment, as indicated by the opening lines where he tells someone who is leaving to close the door, signaling a finality to their departure. The imagery of lying on the floor, possibly inebriated or in a state of numbness, paints a picture of someone who has given up on expecting anything from the world or the people around him.

The chorus introduces the metaphor of blindness, which serves as a powerful symbol for the narrator's emotional state. Being blind, in this context, represents an inability to see hope or color in life, suggesting a world that has become dull and devoid of joy. The repeated lines 'I'm a blind man' emphasize the depth of his emotional blindness, while the phrase 'When a blind man cries' evokes a sense of profound sadness, as it implies that the pain is so deep that it reaches beyond the physical limitations of sight.

The second verse reminisces about a past friendship and the fleeting happiness that came with it. The coldness of the room after the friend's departure mirrors the coldness the narrator feels within. The song suggests that the reasons for their actions and the paths they had to take were clear at the time, but now, in the aftermath, the narrator is left questioning and grieving. The song's emotional weight is carried by the soulful guitar solos and the melancholic melody, which complement the lyrics and deepen the listener's experience of the narrator's sorrow.