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Beautiful Head Lyrics
You're walking taller than you should
The air is thin around your beautiful head
You're saying things with your mouth to me
That I don't recognize
You're aware of yourself lately
Redefining yourself
Designing yourself
You haven't looked at me forever
Got a diagram of your associations
A strategy
You're weighing your options
What would you trade me for?
You're measuring me lately
And I can tell
And I can tell I'm losing weight
You're measuring me lately
You're dressing me
Do not tell me I've changed
You're just raising your standards
Do not give me away
I am the same
I am the same
Have you found him?
Have you told him everything?
Does he say he feels bad about all this?
You've shown tenderness for me
Tenderness for me
To him
Do not tell me I've changed
You're just raising your standards
Do not give me away
I am the same
I am the same
The air is thin around your beautiful head
You're saying things with your mouth to me
That I don't recognize
You're aware of yourself lately
Designing yourself
You haven't looked at me forever
Got a diagram of your associations
A strategy
You're weighing your options
You're measuring me lately
And I can tell
And I can tell I'm losing weight
You're measuring me lately
You're dressing me
You're just raising your standards
Do not give me away
I am the same
I am the same
Have you told him everything?
Does he say he feels bad about all this?
You've shown tenderness for me
Tenderness for me
To him
You're just raising your standards
Do not give me away
I am the same
I am the same
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I love the cynicism and insecurity of the lyrics juxtaposed with the light and bouncy music.
"You're saying things with your mouth to me That I don't recognize You're aware of yourself lately
Got a diagram of your associations A strategy You're weighing your options"
It seems like maybe his partner is becoming successful in her career. He's seeing an ambitious side of her that he hasn't seen before and it intimidates him.
"You're measuring me lately And I can tell And I can tell I'm losing weight"
Love that lyric. Blaming your failures on someone else's successes.
"Have you found him? Have you told him everything? Does he say he feels bad about all this?"
Because he doesn't feel good enough for her anymore, he automatically assumes that she too has decided he isn't good enough and is now cheating on him with someone more her caliber.
"Do not tell me I've changed You're just raising your standards Do not give me away I am the same I am the same"
It's about having the mindset that change in a person is always bad, when the truth is probably that she's just growing up and he doesn't want to. There's something desparate and sad about the repeating of "I am the same" He feels like he's getting left behind.
@ Heardithere
@ Heardithere
Oddly enough I would have agreed with that interpretation a few years ago, but it's not always true that change in a person is a good thing. I believe that the song refers to success which has gone to the "beautiful head" - what was once good enough is not anymore - because of an inflated sense of worth from something external.
Oddly enough I would have agreed with that interpretation a few years ago, but it's not always true that change in a person is a good thing. I believe that the song refers to success which has gone to the "beautiful head" - what was once good enough is not anymore - because of an inflated sense of worth from something external.
I agree he seems insecure, but I think Berninger is pointing out how relationships are sometimes treated as "what's the best I can do?" Of course relationships should hold an intrinsic value moreso than a practical value. He's mocking the selfishness people exhibit when ditching friends or lovers that the deem no longer up to their standards.
I agree he seems insecure, but I think Berninger is pointing out how relationships are sometimes treated as "what's the best I can do?" Of course relationships should hold an intrinsic value moreso than a practical value. He's mocking the selfishness people exhibit when ditching friends or lovers that the deem no longer up to their standards.
Great song - it's from their left titled album. You can download this at emusic.com for super cheap.
To me this song is obviously about getting that feeling that the girlfriend wants to get rid of you. A few great lines in this one such as "You've been measuring me lately, and I can tell I've been loosing weight"
love it at the beginning of this song when the bass first comes in, i can't get enough of it.
not good lyrics- great lyrics
i'm just hearing this for the first time! i love it. the subtly in lyrics like these are what makes matt so great--"You've shown tenderness for me, Tenderness for me, To him"
My favorite line:
"Do not tell me I've changed; You're just raising your standards"
This band is brilliant.
I can't get enough of them. This track is freakin' brilliant! I love these lyrics.
DO NOT TELL ME I'VE CHANGED
good lyrics and all..but i can't find this song anywhere?
midwestproduct: insound has the free mp3 of 'beautiful head'. just click on 'free mp3s', search for 'the national', and it'll show right up.
matt's voice sounds so gritty and world-weary in this song. i'm really looking forward to when i get this album next month!