Blue Öyster Cult have been described as heavy metal, light metal, psychedelic rock, occult rock, acid rock, and progressive rock. They have also been recognized for helping pioneer genres such as stoner metal and speed metal.
The band is influenced by artists such as Alice Cooper, Grateful Dead, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, MC5, The Blues Project, Jimi Hendrix, and Black Sabbath.
While Blue Öyster Cult has been noted for heavy rock, they would often add their own tongue-in-cheek style. Keeping with their image, the band would often include out-of-context fragments of Pearlman’s The Soft Doctrines of Imaginos into their lyrics, giving their songs cryptic meanings. Additionally, the band would keep a folder of Meltzer’s and Pearlman’s word associations to insert into their music.
Blue Öyster Cult's longest-lasting and most commercially successful lineup included Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (lead guitar, vocals), Eric Bloom (lead vocals, "stun guitar," keyboards, synthesizers), Allen Lanier (keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Joe Bouchard (bass, backing vocals), Albert Bouchard (drums, percussion, backing vocals). The band's current lineup includes Roeser and Bloom, as well as Danny Miranda (bass, backing vocals), Jules Radino (drums, percussion) and Richie Castellano (keyboard, rhythm guitar, backing vocals).
Mirrors
Blue Öyster Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a place for your face
It reveals, what the rest of us see
It conceals, what you'd like it to be
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
Pretty girls, have a love affair
With their eyes, and their shining hair
Fantasize, that the world adores
Tantalize, like the cover girl
Mirrors, are the basis of beauty
They arise, to sell love their self
Then they are tries, if a woman is pretty
She tries, like a super star Hollywood girl
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
Vanity's a deadly sin
It's what the flesh is packaged in
Vanity's a deadly sin
It's what the flesh is packaged in
Pretty girls, have a love affair
With their eyes, and their shining hair
Fantasize, that the world adores
Tantalize, like the cover girl
A mirror, is a negative space with a frame,
And a place for your face
It reveals, what the rest of us see
It conceals, what you'd like it to be
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
Vanity's a deadly sin
It's what the flesh is packaged in
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
(pretty girls they know the way)
The song "Mirrors," by Blue Öyster Cult, is a commentary on the deceptive nature of vanity and the obsession with physical appearance. The opening lines describe the mirror as a negative space with a frame and a place for one's face, which reveals what others see but conceals what you'd like it to be. The following lines discuss the love affair that pretty girls have with their own appearance. These women fantasize that the world adores them and tantalize like a cover girl. However, the song suggests this quest for beauty and acceptance is futile and only leads to vanity, which is a deadly sin.
The chorus repeats the line "pretty girls they know the way" over and over again, further emphasizing the focus on physical beauty. However, the last two lines of the song suggest that vanity is what the flesh is packaged in, implying that it is ultimately unimportant and superficial. In the end, the song seems to be warning against the dangers of valuing one's physical appearance above all else, and the consequences that can come from an obsession with beauty.
Overall, "Mirrors" is a thought-provoking critique of a society that places too much importance on physical appearance and the dangers of obsessing over beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
A mirror, is a negative space with a frame,
Mirrors are empty spaces surrounded by a border that show both what is in front of it and what is behind it.
And a place for your face
The mirror exists to provide a place for your countenance.
It reveals, what the rest of us see
The mirror displays your appearance as it appears to others.
It conceals, what you'd like it to be
The mirror masks what you don't want people to know or see about you.
(pretty girls they know the way)
Beautiful women understand the art of using mirrors.
(pretty girls they know the way)
Attractive ladies are skilled in using mirrors to their advantage.
(pretty girls they know the way)
Gorgeous women know how to use mirrors for their own benefit.
(pretty girls they know the way)
Good-looking girls understand how to manipulate mirrors.
Pretty girls, have a love affair
Beautiful ladies are infatuated with their physical appearance.
With their eyes, and their shining hair
Women who are stunning have an obsession with their eyes and hair.
Fantasize, that the world adores
They imagine a world where everyone loves them because of their appearance.
Tantalize, like the cover girl
They want to be admired, just like how models are desired.
Mirrors, are the basis of beauty
Mirrors are intrinsically connected to the beauty industry.
They arise, to sell love their self
Mirrors come into being to promote self-love.
Then they are tries, if a woman is pretty
In turn, mirrors are attempted by women often deemed as attractive.
She tries, like a super star Hollywood girl
They utilize the mirror often, much like celebrities in Hollywood do.
Vanity's a deadly sin
Excessive pride is a potentially fatal flaw.
It's what the flesh is packaged in
The embodiment of human beings is defined by such hubris.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ABBOTT, ROESER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andy Terrell
Lyrics:
A mirror is a negative space
With a frame and a place for your face
It reveals what the rest of us see
It conceals what you'd like it to be
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls have a love affair
With their eyes and their shining hair
Fantasize that the world adores
Tantalize like a cover girl
Mirrors are the basis of beauty
Give rise to self love or self pity
The prize if a woman is pretty
She tries like a superstar Hollywood girl
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Vanity's a deadly sin
It's what the flesh is packaged in
Vanity's a deadly sin
It's what the flesh is packaged in
A mirror is a negative space
With a frame and a place for your face
It reveals what the rest of us see
It conceals what you'd like it to be
Vanity's a deadly sin
It's what the flesh is packaged in
Desdinova69
A mirror is a negative space
With a frame and a place for your face
It reveals what the rest of us see
It conceals what you'd like it to be
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls have a love affair
With their eyes and their shining hair
Fantasize that the world adores
Tantalize like a cover girl
Mirrors are the basis of beauty
Give rise to self love or self pity
The prize if a woman is pretty
She tries like a superstar Hollywood girl
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Vanity's a deadly sin
It's what the flesh is packaged in
Vanity's a deadly sin
It's what the flesh is packaged in
Pretty girls have a love affair
With their eyes and their shining hair
Fantasize that the world adores
Tantalize like a cover girl
Mirrors are a negative space
With a frame and a place for your face
They reveal what the rest of us see
They conceal what you'd like it to be
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Ohhh yeahhhhh !!!
Vanity's a deadly sin
It's what the flesh is packaged in !!!
(Pretty girls can't look away)
(Pretty girls can't look away)
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away
Pretty girls can't look away.......
Bruce Abbott
I wrote these lyrics in 1978. I am now 69 years old. Thanks to all those who appreciate them!
Tobia Tesan
And sing it randomly under the shower and while grocery shopping. These lyrics are so hard to get out of your head.
woreoutdrummer
And a damn fine job you did, sir! My favorite track from my favorite BOC album. A couple of interesting side notes that I read, the background singers on this album included Ellen Foley, Meat Loaf's "girlfriend" on "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" and Genya Ravan, who wrote "Love is a Fire", a song on "The Warriors" soundtrack. (Love that movie!) Isn't the internet grand? :)
Jim E
wow... well ty Bruce. and thanx to Suzi
Robert McLernon
BOC is awesome!
Bruce Abbott
Thank you for all the nice comments! Here's how the song happened. I became close friends with Buck in engineering school freshman year. We formed a band, "The Travesty," with Al Bouchard. Buck and Al took off for Long Island before graduating and formed Soft White Underbelly. About ten years later, I submitted the lyrics to "Golden Age of Leather" to Buck and he turned it into a song. A year or so later, he sent me a cassette with a bunch of guitar doodlings on it. A riff that I liked became the chorus: "Pretty girls can't look away." I was listening over and over to the tape when I picked up my wife's Vogue magazine off the table next to me. He next day, I sent the lyrics to Buck, and again, he made a song out of them. So, this time, the tune preceded the lyrics. It's been a fun friendship and he's a very talented guy!
Greg Jamison
Bruce, thank you for giving us a little insight into this song. It's a great one, and Mirrors is my favorite BOC album. Also, Golden Age of Leather is another of my favorites, so your part in that song is appreciated as well. Cheers my friend!
Steven Wilkinson
Thanks Bruce, nice to hear how BOC's great songs come together, often in very strange ways but always with incredible final outcomes ... that's talent for you.
Ellie Jac
Bruce Abbott My dad saw Travesty perform (I think it was at one of his school dances-) when he was very young. What a small world!
Del Shoemaker
did you write all of the lyrics?