Beth I hear you calling
But I can't come home right now
Me and the boys are playing
And we just can't find the sound

Just a few more hours
And I'll be right home to you
I think I hear them calling
Oh Beth what can I do
Beth what can I do

You say you feel so empty
That our house just ain't our home
I'm always somewhere else
And you're always there alone

Just a few more hours
And I'll be right home to you
I think I hear them calling
Oh Beth what can I do
Beth what can I do

Beth I know you're lonely
And I hope you'll be alright
'Cause me and the boys will be playing all night


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Beth Lyrics as written by Peter Criss Stan Penridge

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Beth song meanings
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  • +2
    My Interpretation

    I think he's lying about being with the band at practice and trying to find the right sound to cover his the time during an affair? I think I hear them calling (the other woman pleading for him to stay all night) Oh Beth what can I do. (torn because he loves Beth but wants to be with other one. I think his general intent is to go home after having sex with her, but as is typical, she wants him to stay all night. He's wrestling with it and decides he'd better call home before Beth goes to the Studio/practice garage and discovers that the band isn't recording/rehearsing.

    You say you feel so empty (her gut feeling) That our house just ain't our home (loveless marraige) I'm always somewhere else (makes excuses) And you're always there alone (she feels unloved)

    Just a few more hours (buying time) And I'll be right home to you (His case of cheater's paranoia trying to reassure her that there's nothing going on, even if she hasn't come out and accused him of anything) NOTE:(touring would mean he'd be home in days or weeks - not hours. He's not far from home) I think I hear them calling (the other woman) Oh Beth what can I do (Asking both her and himself the question: wants to keep both going but ultimately has to decide to give in to the other lover's pressure or find something that he can say to get him off the hook after sex). Beth what can I do (It's almost as if he asks the question again in despair [muttering to self] after he's already hung up with her. He knows it's a hopeless situation)

    Beth I know you're lonely And I hope you'll be alright 'Cause me and the boys will be playing all night

    (In the end, he surrenders to his passion and stays with the lover as he truly bids Beth well and hopes that she will be alright. He has a love for Beth but it is not a passionate love - only residual, now platonic and somewhat emotionally dispassionate feelings. He does feel bad and deosn't want to hurt her, but doesn't love her .

    james10002on July 27, 2018   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    When Peter Criss sings this in concert, it's absolutely amazing.

    patchworkangelon June 09, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    gleams My name is Beth... hehe... this is an awesome song...

    twisted_fateon August 15, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    about his torn feelings between touring with kiss or staying at home with his family

    emmychloeon September 04, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    My favorite song ever...of course it could be because my name is Beth....

    dirty_pop_singer413on March 04, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's nice because it's really unlike what the rest of KISS's work is like. It's also really sweet. I like it.

    loversandliarson November 24, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Peter Criss (X-KISS drummer) wrote this song befor ehe was even in KISS. He wrote it to his wife at the time, and when he was in KISS the song was changed and modified a little, by peter and KISS' manager, and then it was recorded and put on the 1976 album 'Destroyer' , Peter origionally recorded this song with his Pre-KISS band 'Chelsea' and it was entitled 'Beck', presumed to mean 'Becky'

    GodessOfThunderon February 02, 2005   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    Before ya'll go after me about not having the "correct" interpretation (some of you say there is no deeper meaning, just emotion), I want to say this is how I felt when I first heard this song and it's my personal interpretation of the song.

    The speaker of Beth is a soldier fighting in the war and talking to his wife back home. "I can't come home right now / Me and the boys are playin'" The "boys" being the other soldiers and "playin'" being the fighting against the enemy.

    While this was not the intention of the song and some lyrics don't support this, I still feel this way after every listen. Anyone agree?

    xraindropsxon June 07, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    such a great song with some deep, deep meanings. one of my personal favorites from KISS.

    punkerinda808on September 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    such a great song with a lot of emotion. one of my personal favorites from KISS.***

    damn im too tired, this song doesnt have a lot of meanings because theres nothing to translate, the meaning of this song is in the lyrics as it is, so its just very emotional.

    punkerinda808on September 12, 2002   Link

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