Album Song Stories: Beauty Survives

Post number eight of song stories from ‘Beauty Survives’ is the title song Beauty Survives.

The story behind this song is interesting because I kept a lot of the song from the original free-writing I did for it in the first place.  Along the way, I had to decipher what it was about exactly!  If you have a copy of the physical CD you’ll see on the inside sleeve there is some writing about what I wanted the song Beauty Survives to be about and how it didn’t really turn out as that song.  I wanted to write a song about our constant focus on external beauty, I touch on it slightly in the song, but I couldn’t really find the right words.  So, when I was having some time away in Spain I did some free writing, which I do often for my own flow.

At the time I was re-reading the Eckhart Tolle book The Power Of Now.  If anyone has read it you’ll know it’s not the easiest read.  It’s about spirituality, mindfulness, embracing the power of the present moment.  There are some references to spiritual beliefs in the song – “I’ll meet you in another life” which I’ll explain further later on.  I still think my analytical mind took over a bit, as not everything in this song is positive, but for me, it definitely feels uplifting.  So, the song represents my process of getting rid of what was in my mind first before I could get to a peaceful moment!

In Spain I was in a golf resort that was once lovely and thriving, but due to the economic circumstances had gone downhill a lot.  Lots of apartments were up for sale, even the one local shop had hardly any food to buy.

Empty rooms on empty streets, half stocked shelves and little feet.  Angry Moms and sheltered kids, it’s food for thought it’s how we live.

I wondered how we had got to this point, the inequality of life, the juxtaposition of no money for food coupled with things such as people wearing designer brands.  Even though I was surrounded by a failing place, a place some may not want to visit again, what I still saw was the natural beauty I was surrounded by.  I saw past the missing street lights in the resort and the lack of facilities and saw the dramatic colours in the flowers blooming, the beautiful fresh air and the blue skies.  I felt like I didn’t need anything else – I think that was the book talking!

Because the lyrics in this song are very representative of what I saw, it’s open to interpretation.  But being absolutely honest and reflective, this song is about my feeling towards bringing children into the world.  I had lost my grandparents in the previous years and it always felt like whatever you experience in life should be shared with family, but I started realising it’s not always going to be possible in the cycle of life.

There’s trouble on the way, I’m shattered by grief.

Having children to many people feels like the natural thing to do, but I started considering whether we do it as a matter of course just because it seems like the next step, or whether we actually consider our world and their future.  The song does say “I’ll meet you in another life” (meaning children may not happen in this one).  I believe that’s not meant as a sad statement as many may view it in the world we live in now, on the contrary; the song creates an uplifting feeling and the “another life” refers to (for me) where the people we’ve lost are, a place of beauty, whatever you may call it, a place where we no longer need to ask all the questions, and writing it felt good and very positive.

Where beauty survives

So for me, the song is full of hope, a reflection of where we are in reality versus where we hope to be, but contentment wherever we are and resolute that happiness is found within, not even in the living, maybe simply with the memories we hold and any future hopes and dreams are not real until they are here.  We don’t need to worry, beauty (referring to our hearts and our intentions towards one another) survives –  if that’s not too philosophical!  Thanks Eckhart Tolle!!

If you’ve never listened to the lyrics before, take a look below and see how you interpret it in your life. Thanks for reading!

Beauty Survives 

Music & Lyrics – Shelly Quarmby

Empty rooms on empty streets,

half-stocked shelves and little feet.

Angry Moms and sheltered kids,

it’s food for thought, it’s how we live.

 

No, this light does not exist,

it’s all gone and nothing lit.

No street lamp flickers where there once was a home,

no warning sign, no public phone.

 

Why did we move so far away

from the first moment we met this place?

Not made of love, just power and greed,

and they don’t see the mouths we feed.

I’ll meet you in another life,

where beauty survives.

 

It’s innocence and half led lives,

dressed in Juicy, Gucci, Prada and pride.

It’ll come and go like hunger and thirst,

not understood but voices heard.

 

Why did we move so far away

from the first moment we met this place?

Not made of love, just power and greed,

and they don’t see the mouths we feed.

I’ll meet you in another life,

where beauty survives.

 

Time is what we always think we need.

There’s trouble on the way.

I’m shattered by grief.

 

Why did we move so far away

from the first moment, we met this place?

Not made of love, just power and greed,

and they don’t see the mouths we feed.

I’ll meet you in another life,

where beauty survives.

Mmmm, woah, woah, woah. 

Mmmm, woah, woah, woah. 

Mmmm, woah, woah, woah. 

Mmmm, woah, woah, woah. 

Check out the song on the media or shop page of my website here. And follow the link below to Spotify.

Listen on Spotify

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