The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I'd tell you a story but you won't listen
It's about a nightmare steeped in tradition
It's the story of a coked-up pansy
Who spends his nights in flights of fancy
Met two fellas over Gin and mixers
They talked for a while and soon got the picture
One was a souped up Soho mincer
And the other was a pikey with a knowledge for scripture
Then the conversation turned evil
(Evil)
Talked, talked and talked about people
Why did you do it to so many people?
Stumble left out of the boozer
Threw some shrapnel to the legless fusilier
An endless ceiling and another light
With a half-tenner smile and you're looking alright
That girl's out, way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
You've turned your back upon her
One too many times
Spent all her hard earned money
Getting high she sang
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
She's La Belle Et La Bete at the ball
La Belle Et La Bete at the ball
La Belle Et La Bete at the ball
You know she could have us all
You've turned your back upon her
One too many times
Spent all her hard earned money
Just getting high, she sang
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than she?
I'll tell you a story but you won't listen
It's about a nightmare steeped in tradition
It's the story of a coked-up pansy
Who spends his nights in flights of fancy
Met two fellas over Gin and mixers
They talked for a while and soon got the picture
One was a souped up Soho mincer
And the other was a pikey with a knowledge for scriptures
Then the conversation turned evil
(Evil)
Talked and talked and talked about people
Why did you do it to so many people?
That girl's out, way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
Out, way ahead of the game
You've turned your back upon her
One too many times
Spent all her hard earned money
Just getting high, she sang
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
It's about a nightmare steeped in tradition
It's the story of a coked-up pansy
Who spends his nights in flights of fancy
Met two fellas over Gin and mixers
They talked for a while and soon got the picture
One was a souped up Soho mincer
And the other was a pikey with a knowledge for scripture
Then the conversation turned evil
(Evil)
Talked, talked and talked about people
Why did you do it to so many people?
Stumble left out of the boozer
Threw some shrapnel to the legless fusilier
An endless ceiling and another light
With a half-tenner smile and you're looking alright
That girl's out, way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
You've turned your back upon her
One too many times
Spent all her hard earned money
Getting high she sang
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
She's La Belle Et La Bete at the ball
La Belle Et La Bete at the ball
La Belle Et La Bete at the ball
You know she could have us all
You've turned your back upon her
One too many times
Spent all her hard earned money
Just getting high, she sang
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than she?
I'll tell you a story but you won't listen
It's about a nightmare steeped in tradition
It's the story of a coked-up pansy
Who spends his nights in flights of fancy
Met two fellas over Gin and mixers
They talked for a while and soon got the picture
One was a souped up Soho mincer
And the other was a pikey with a knowledge for scriptures
Then the conversation turned evil
(Evil)
Talked and talked and talked about people
Why did you do it to so many people?
That girl's out, way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
Out, way ahead of the game
You've turned your back upon her
One too many times
Spent all her hard earned money
Just getting high, she sang
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
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pete wrote this song for kate. before her whole "cocaine kate scandal", vogue asked her to do a song with pete for her editorial in one issue of the magazines publication. he wrote "la belle et la bete" or "the beauty and the beast" based upon their relationship and her feelings. when he sings "You've turned your back upon her One too many times Spent all her hard earned money Just getting high... she sang..." he is refering to himself spending all her money on drugs. when kate sings "is she more beautiful than me" she is speaking of the drugs, asking pete if they are more beautiful than she is. if he wants them more than her.
*one correction is he says "the other was a pikey with a knowledge of scripture" not "another description". and i have no idea what he is saying after he stumbles out of the pub or "boozer", yet i like that i can't tell because it adds something to the song. almost like were not supposed to get it cause he's too fucked up to make sense when he leaves the pub. fuck forever!
biloman- i do agree with you. i think that when kate sings "is she more beautiful than me" she wonders if the drugs mean more to pete than she does. since she's a model and her appearance is her "all" he choose the word beautiful, no i actually had a better point in my mind but i lost it.
kcsongbird... how is this song "cute"? i mean yeahh theres good riffs and the lyrics are amazing as all of pete's are but drugs are not cute so this song is not cute.
This is my favorite from Babyshambles, surprised it hasn't recieved any comments yet.
You can see how each lyrics site just copies from the next when they all list:
Stumble left out of the boozer ... (?) ... another life (?) With a half tilted smile looking alright
Can anyone fill in the blanks? I think it's:
Stumble leapt out of the boozer A few things... (?) And then I see her in another light (?) With a half tilted smile looking alright
La Belle et La Bete is the french for the Beauty and the Beast, i.e. Kate Moss and Pete.
I like Kate Moss's line in this.
Kate is the beauty , the beast is the drugs, not pete.
it sounds like: 'stumble left out of the boozer filth strapped onto the leg of Suzie Leah Well maybe i'll see her in another life, with a hat and a smile, oh looking alright'
i see what bibilush means tho the fact he says slurs the words so much adds to the song.
this song is cute.
OK LISTEN UP EVERYBODY, I HAVE THE UNKNOWN LYRICS. they are:
Stumbled left out of the boozer, Threw some shrapnel to the legless fusilier, An endless ceiling and another light, With a half-tenner smile and you're looking alright.
And before you ask, a fusilier is some sort of British arm soldier. these are correct, don't dispute them Lol. love this song