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.
What Will You Do When Your Suntan Fades?
Beulah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better hold on tight
You know, all those drugs you take
Cannot help you save your soul
Smile a Sunday smile, kid
You're fragile as a seam
You know, all those things you have
Tell me, tell me you'll be all right
When you're in the shade
Tell me, tell me you'll be all right
When you start to fade
Who's your only friend, kid?
There's no one else
You know, all those girls you love
Doesn't mean you feel a thing
Tell me, tell me you'll be all right
When you're in the shade
Tell me, tell me you'll be all right
When you start to fade
Softly sway
Or have you lost your way?
Well, I could give you a map
But you know you'd have to stay
You can clarify
Or you can say goodnight
Well if you think it's a joke
Then why do you always cry?
Tell me, tell me you'll be all right
When you're in the shade
Tell me, tell me you'll be all right
When you start to fade
Have you heard
The days are getting shorter?
What will you do when your suntan is faded and the summer's gone?
Do you feel afraid?
The days are getting shorter
What will you do when your suntan is faded and the summer's gone?
Do you feel afraid?
The days are getting shorter
What will you do when your suntan is faded and the summer's gone?
Do you feel afraid?
The days are getting shorter
What will you do when your suntan is faded and the summer's gone?
Will it fade away?
Will it fade away?
Will you fade away?
Will you fade away?
Will you fade away?
The lyrics of Beulah's song "What Will You Do When Your Suntan Fades?" talks about the consequences of reckless behavior, the inevitability of aging, and the importance of being true to oneself. The first line warns the listener that the upcoming message is going to be hurtful and suggests that they hold on tight. The next line acknowledges that while drugs may provide temporary relief, they cannot save one's soul. The song continues with the idea that material possessions and relationships are not enough to make one happy or fulfilled. The chorus asks the listener to commit to being okay – to acknowledge their fragility and to admit when they need help. As the song ends, the singer reflects on the fact that time marches on, and things will change. The sun will eventually fade, and summer will end. The question is, will the listener fade away as well?
Overall, the song explores the idea of accepting one's mortality and cherishing what is truly essential in life. It also hints at the idea that if we do not take care of ourselves, we will not be able to enjoy life's simple pleasures fully.
Line by Line Meaning
This is gonna hurt, kid
The message about to be delivered may be unpleasant, brace yourself
You better hold on tight
Be prepared to withstand whatever is coming
You know, all those drugs you take
Cannot help you save your soul
No amount of drugs can redeem your soul
Smile a Sunday smile, kid
Put up a brave front even when things seem bleak
You're fragile as a seam
You're vulnerable to breaking apart just as easily as a seam
You know, all those things you have
Will not make you come undone
Your possessions cannot keep you from falling apart
Tell me, tell me you'll be all right
When you're in the shade
You need to reassure yourself that you'll be okay when times get tough
Tell me, tell me you'll be all right
When you start to fade
You need to reassure yourself that you'll be okay when things start falling apart
Who's your only friend, kid?
Identifying who truly cares for you is important
There's no one else
There's nobody else who cares for you the way your true friend does
You know, all those girls you love
Doesn't mean you feel a thing
Loving others doesn't necessarily mean they'll love you back, or fill the void you feel inside
Softly sway
Or have you lost your way?
Are you still keeping it together or have you fallen apart?
Well, I could give you a map
But you know you'd have to stay
There's guidance available to help you stay on track, but you must choose to follow it
You can clarify
Or you can say goodnight
You must choose to either find clarity or give up the fight
Well if you think it's a joke
Then why do you always cry?
It's hard to maintain when everything is going wrong, even if you try to make a joke out of it
Have you heard
The days are getting shorter?
Time is fleeting and life is short
What will you do when your suntan is faded and the summer's gone?
When life's pleasures have passed what will be left of you?
Do you feel afraid?
Are you worried about facing what comes next?
Will it fade away?
Will it all disappear and mean nothing in the end?
Will you fade away?
Will you disappear and mean nothing in the end?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind