But Beautiful
Frankie Laine Lyrics


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Love is funny or it's sad,
Or it's quiet or it's mad;
It's a good thing or it's bad,
But beautiful!

Beautiful to take a chance
And if you fall, you fall,
And I'm thinking I wouldn't mind at all.
Love is tearful or it's gay.
It's a problem or it's play,
It's a heartache either way,
But beautiful!

And I'm thinking if you were mine




I'd never let you go,
And that would be but beautiful I know.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Frankie Laine's "But Beautiful" make a poignant observation about the many complex facets of love. Love can be "funny or sad," "quiet or mad," "good or bad," but it remains beautiful in all its forms. It can lead to joy or heartbreak, laughter or tears, but it remains a defining characteristic of the human experience. The lyrics muse that love is a risk worth taking, even if it means falling and experiencing pain, for it is still a beautiful and worthwhile experience. The singer expresses a desire to hold onto their loved one and not let them go, knowing that it would be a beautiful thing to do.


The above lyrics come together through teamwork from two notable songwriters. Johnny Burke wrote the lyrics and Jimmy Van Heusen composed the music, bringing out the feel of the song's emotional depth in style. James Van Heusen and Johnny Burke were a celebrated songwriting team for decades. They worked together from the early '40s through the early 1950s, writing songs for films and Broadway shows. They went on to win the Oscar for Best Original Song for the tune "Swinging on a Star," which was introduced by Bing Crosby in the movie Going My Way. With their collaboration, they express the bittersweet emotions of love in "But Beautiful," in which the feeling of love is acknowledged despite its many forms.


Line by Line Meaning

Love is funny or it's sad,
Love can be unpredictable and bring joy or sadness.


Or it's quiet or it's mad;
Love can be mild or intense.


It's a good thing or it's bad,
Love can bring happiness or pain.


But beautiful!
Despite the ups and downs of love, it's still beautiful.


Beautiful to take a chance
Taking a chance on love can lead to beautiful things.


And if you fall, you fall,
There's a risk of getting hurt, but that's just part of the experience.


And I'm thinking I wouldn't mind at all.
The singer is open to taking that risk for the chance at love.


Love is tearful or it's gay.
Love can bring tears of joy or sadness.


It's a problem or it's play,
Love can be serious or fun.


It's a heartache either way,
Love can be painful, no matter what.


But beautiful!
Despite the challenges of love, it's still beautiful.


And I'm thinking if you were mine
The singer is thinking about someone special.


I'd never let you go,
The singer wants to keep that person in their life forever.


And that would be but beautiful I know.
Having that special someone in their life would be a beautiful thing.




Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sentric Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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