Belle Of The Ball
Eliza Gilkyson Lyrics


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After the crash and the broken glass
And the nightmare memorial
I wanted to end it all, end it all
You came into my room and you sat on my bed
I threw the blankets over my head
I turned my face to the wall, to the wall
You said I'd see you again
When I checked out of my room at the end of the hall
I'd recognize you
Belle of the Ball

I saw you again in a halfway place
Your green satin dress,
Your beautiful face
I thought you were dead you said that's not the case
But it's a kind of a wall
And then you faded you faded away
The fairest of all, I begged you to stay
It's been so long now I can't really say
I ever knew you at all
You said I'd see you again
When I checked out of my room at the end of the hall
I'd recognize you
Belle of the Ball

The last time I saw you you were heading out to sea
You were hauling up sails
The sunset would swallow you
I wanted to follow you
You said not yet, not yet
And my feet they were sinking into the sand
I was resoundingly rooted to land
But I heard you call to me
Don't forget, don't forget

I'll see you again when I leave this hotel
It'll be so entrancing the music will swell




And we'll all be dancing
You'll be the belle of the ball

Overall Meaning

The song "Belle of the Ball" by Eliza Gilkyson is a touching and poignant exploration of the complexities of grief, loss, and memory. The lyrics describe a narrator who is struggling to come to terms with a traumatic event, possibly an accident or a tragic loss, and who is on the brink of giving up altogether. However, in their darkest moment, the singer is visited by a mysterious woman who becomes a symbol of hope and resilience.


The woman, who is referred to as the "belle of the ball", appears at different points in the singer's life, offering comfort and guidance. Despite their brief encounters, she leaves a lasting impression on the singer, who becomes fixated on her memory. The last time they see each other, the woman is heading out to sea, leaving the singer with a sense of longing and a promise of a future reunion.


Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of profound loss and longing, but also of hope and resilience in the face of tragedy. The singer's relationship with the "belle of the ball" is a metaphor for their own journey of healing and acceptance.


Line by Line Meaning

After the crash and the broken glass
Following a terrible incident with destruction and shattered objects.


And the nightmare memorial
Evoking a devastating memory that haunts the singer.


I wanted to end it all, end it all
Feeling overwhelmed and desperate enough to consider suicide.


You came into my room and you sat on my bed
A comforting presence appeared in the artist's time of need.


I threw the blankets over my head
Attempting to hide and escape the reality of the situation.


I turned my face to the wall, to the wall
Avoiding facing the truth from the comfort of a wall.


You said I'd see you again
Offering hope and assurance of another encounter.


When I checked out of my room at the end of the hall
A specific location and condition under which the two will reunite.


I'd recognize you
Confident in the artist's ability to identify this person.


Belle of the Ball
A term of endearment towards the person being addressed.


I saw you again in a halfway place
Encountered this person in a transitional space.


Your green satin dress,
Describing the person's appearance and attire.


Your beautiful face
Complimenting this person's physical features.


I thought you were dead you said that's not the case
Assumed this person had passed away but were corrected.


But it's a kind of a wall
Referring to a figurative barrier between them.


And then you faded you faded away
Disappeared from sight and presence.


The fairest of all, I begged you to stay
Expressing a desire for this person to remain with the artist.


It's been so long now I can't really say
Time has passed and details have become fuzzy.


I ever knew you at all
Doubting the depth and authenticity of their previous relationship.


The last time I saw you you were heading out to sea
The latest observed memory of the person involved the setting of a seaside.


You were hauling up sails
Engaged in the activity of operating a boat's sails.


The sunset would swallow you
Describing the visual image of the person becoming obscured as the sun set in the distance.


I wanted to follow you
Desiring to pursue this person but being unable to do so.


You said not yet, not yet
Requesting patience and delay in the pursuit of the artist's desire.


And my feet they were sinking into the sand
Being literally unable to move due to the physical conditions of the setting.


I was resoundingly rooted to land
Unable to move and feeling solidly connected to the earth.


But I heard you call to me
Hearing this person's voice even though they were physically gone.


Don't forget, don't forget
Leaving the artist with the reminder to hold on to this precious memory.


I'll see you again when I leave this hotel
Confirming a future encounter in a specific location.


It'll be so entrancing the music will swell
Anticipating an emotionally overwhelming experience.


And we'll all be dancing
Painting a picture of an enjoyable and lively setting.


You'll be the belle of the ball
Elevating this person's status as being the most beautiful and admired at that event.




Contributed by Hudson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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