Alex Nelson stuns his listeners not so much as if he’s reading their minds … Read Full Bio ↴Alex Nelson stuns his listeners not so much as if he’s reading their minds but rather knowing their hearts without the usual smack of melodrama that tends to accompany music of this genre. “We all play scenarios of things that have happened or could have happened if we had just said something different or reacted a different way.” he says of the eleven tracks that manage to touch an ember of experience in anyone who’s ever had a relationship, completely dismissing the pleading sap and delivering the snap of reality we often need to finally take responsibility and make a new choice.

The lead track She Said unleashes the punch-in-the-gut of realization that “it’s over” and explores the absurdity of a last kiss and the struggle to keep composure until you can be alone to fall apart. From Mistake on through the entire CD all the songs make strong points, leaving no facet of the phases and faces of a break-up unexamined all while managing to beg the obvious question of why you wouldn’t want the person who has your heart to really know it in the moment it matters most.

From disbelief, shock, despair, acceptance, grief and longing , the prismatic spectrum of love had, lost, and better left behind are showcased and you’ll soon find yourself strumming along with Alex’s ‘Everyman’ journey; each melody stringing a story, taking you deeper into his pain and your own. After the dust settles and you collect the pieces of yourself, you’ll have the CD’s bonus eleven track mirror of instrumentals to reflect on as you try to move into the meantime of life-after -relationship.

With a stellar sense of humor fatefully paired with a lightning-fast wit, both onstage and off, Alex Nelson gets to the bottom of the human heart with all he says and does. His lyrics strip a person down to the soul to reveal a most universally undeniable factor: we all tend to think too much and hold back when we shouldn’t.

Beautiful
Alex Nelson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

as you stare
from here to the rest of your life
does it scare you?

somewhere
it became something less than alright
cause it was safe to

you've given up
you give a listen
your ears wide open but..
your eyes and mouth tight shut
you've made it up

i can see you turning nothing
into something good
into something true
into something that might be
beautiful

you sense
the pain that is breaking your back
and you notice

your defense
leaves you no room for attack
and you know this

you've given up
you drag yourself from year to weary year
till there's nothing left but fear
it's pretty clear

i can see you turning nothing
into something good
into something true
into something that might be
beautiful

[break 1]

you place
a bookmark and swear you'll return
but somehow

you can't face
the thought of when you get your turn
you might not know how

you've given up
on everything that makes you feel alive
pretend your satisfied
and let it slide

i can see you turning nothing
into something good
into something true
into something that might be
beautiful

[break 2]

[end]

Overall Meaning

The song "Beautiful" by Alex Nelson deals with the theme of self-doubt and the fear of failure that keeps individuals from achieving their true potential. The lyrics are a reflection of the struggles that people go through while trying to find their passion and purpose in life. It begins with a question - "as you stare from here to the rest of your life, does it scare you?" - which sets the tone for the rest of the song. It is a rhetorical question that is all too relatable as most people at some point in their lives have experienced this fear of uncertainty in their future.

The lyrics go on to suggest that somewhere down the road, the individual stopped believing in themselves and their abilities. They have become so comfortable in their complacency that they have given up on their dreams and aspirations. The lines "you've given up, you give a listen, your ears wide open but.. your eyes and mouth tight shut" highlights the idea of listening to others' opinions and advice but not taking any action. The lyrics also express an understanding that while the individual knows that they are not fulfilling their potential, they cannot seem to find the courage or strength to change their life.

The chorus highlights the message of the song, that there is beauty in turning "nothing into something good, into something true, into something that might be beautiful." It is a message of hope that even when one has lost their sense of direction, they can still find their way and create something beautiful out of their situation.

Line by Line Meaning

as you stare
As you gaze ahead

from here to the rest of your life
At your entire future

does it scare you?
Does it frighten you?

somewhere
At some point in time

it became something less than alright
It became worse than okay

cause it was safe to
Because it was easy

you've given up
You've abandoned all hope

you give a listen
You pay attention

your ears wide open but..
Your ears are alert but...

your eyes and mouth tight shut
Your eyes and mouth are closed tightly

you've made it up
You've created your own version of reality