The three were subsequently joined by Steve LaFolette (bass & vocals), Pat Noel (keyboards & guitar), Steve St. Cin (drums), and Ana Pitchon, who toured as Beulah in 1998, before recording When Your Heartstrings Break. Bill Evans (keyboards) then joined the band to play live. Steve St. Cin left the band to be replaced by Danny Sullivan, before The Coast is Never Clear was released in 2000. Bill Evans and Steve LaFolette then left, to be replaced by Pat Abernathy and Eli Crews respectively. Beulah went on to record 2003's Yoko, then toured North America and Europe before a goodbye show on August 5th 2004, in New York.
A DVD, A Good Band is Easy to Kill was released in 2005 and features documentary footage from Beulah's 2003 tour.
Matter Vs. Space
Beulah Lyrics
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Parties fade and your makeup starts to smear
Only scene is a grand entrance
Silver screen is another brand new year
In a sea of talcum power
Kids swim and they lose their color
Clock strikes twelve
As the confetti falls
Timed with the tears
No one wants to hear
about your hardwood floors
In stalls of the magic markers
Boys and girls come and go like coats of paint
All you've got is a pretty name
You shouldn't be killed off in the very first scene
On the porch with the smokers
Party talk gets much older
Clock strikes twelve
Say, don't ya feel so well?
As the confetti falls
Timed with the tears
No one wants to hear
about your hardwood floors
The song “Matter Vs. Space” by Beulah is a reflection on the transitory nature of life and the illusions we create to cope with it. The song starts with a description of the fading glamour of parties as the dawn approaches and the makeup starts to smear. The only remaining scene is a grand entrance that fades away on the silver screen. The line "silver screen is another brand new year" suggests that the cycle of life and death goes on as endlessly as the continuity of cinema.
The next verse describes a sea of talcum powder, where kids swim and lose their color. The clock strikes twelve, signaling the end of the year, and the hint of hope and renewal it brings. However, the singer suggests that life often falls short of expectations. The confetti falls in time with the tears, representing the bittersweetness of life's celebrations. The line "No one wants to hear about your hardwood floors" implies that possessions and superficial achievements don't matter in the grand scheme of things.
The final verse describes the scene on the porch, where party talk gets older, and the clock strikes twelve once more. The singer seems resigned to the inevitable aging and decay of life, as represented by the smokers on the porch. The final stanza is a plea from the singer to spare those with potential; however, the line "you shouldn't be killed off in the very first scene" suggests that this is unlikely, and that the randomness of life often deals a cruel hand.
Line by Line Meaning
Nose down, what you gonna do when
What will you do when things start to go wrong?
Parties fade and your makeup starts to smear
When the good times end and reality sets in
Only scene is a grand entrance
Life is like a movie where everyone wants to make a big impression
Silver screen is another brand new year
New beginnings come with each passing year
In a sea of talcum power
In a world filled with conformity and sameness
Kids swim and they lose their color
Children lose their individuality in such an environment
Clock strikes twelve
The passage of time
Say, don't ya feel so well?
Do you feel alright about where you are in life?
As the confetti falls
As the celebration ends
Timed with the tears
With mixed emotions
No one wants to hear
Others might not appreciate or care about the things you value
about your hardwood floors
The material possessions you have
In stalls of the magic markers
In a world of creativity and expression
Boys and girls come and go like coats of paint
People come in and out of our lives, often changing our perspectives
All you've got is a pretty name
Your identity might be reduced to your outward appearance
You shouldn't be killed off in the very first scene
Your story is still unfolding, don't give up too soon
On the porch with the smokers
Amid social groups or cliques
Party talk gets much older
Small talk can become tiresome
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KUROSKY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind