The Beast
Laura Marling Lyrics


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Where did our love go, you will never know
How did you get home, you will never know
Did you catch yourself in the mirror?
It's a sight I understand
You considered it all for a second
And put it down to slight of hand

You know I've been running 'round for hours
Calling my Egyptian blood to bear me flowers
Calling Sophia, goddess of power

Instead I got the beast
And tonight he lies with me
Tonight he lies with me
Tonight he lies with me
And here comes to beast

You're okay now, I suppose
You're not pulled by the rope
I'm pulled by the pull on my throat
I'm pulled by the rope
I swing from the trees into the slope
Hold my head high, just by the tip of my toes
And he lies, he lies so sweet that I choke

Tonight I choose the beast
Tonight he lies with me
Tonight he lies with me
Tonight he lies with me
And here comes the beast

Put your eyes away
If you can't bear to see your (the?) old lady
Laying down next to the beast
Tonight he lies with me
Tonight he lies with me
And here comes the beast

Look at yourself in the mirror
It's a sight I understand
You consider it all for a second
And put it down to slight of hand
I give you the best, the best that I can

I suggest that you be grateful
That it's your blood on my hands?
And assume yourself weaker, the fall of man
And look out for the beast
Tonight he lies with me
Tonight he lies with me
And here comes the beast

Put your eyes away
If you can't bear to see your the old lady
Laying down next to the beast
Tonight he lies with me




Tonight he lies with me
And here comes the beast

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Laura Marling's "The Beast" are open to interpretation, but perhaps one possibility is that they convey a sense of guilt, desire, and surrender. Lines like "Where did our love go, you will never know" and "Did you catch yourself in the mirror? It's a sight I understand" suggest a clandestine relationship, perhaps an affair, that is hidden from someone else. The lines "You considered it all for a second / And put it down to slight of hand" suggest that the singer is aware of the moral ambiguity of the situation but chooses to indulge in it nonetheless.


Line by Line Meaning

Where did our love go, you will never know
The singer wonders where their love went, but realizes they will never receive an answer.


How did you get home, you will never know
The singer is curious about their partner's arrival but knows they will not receive an answer.


Did you catch yourself in the mirror?
The singer questions if their partner has seen themselves in the mirror.


It's a sight I understand
The singer can relate to the feeling of seeing oneself in the mirror.


You considered it all for a second
The singer imagines that their partner has thought about their actions.


And put it down to slight of hand
The singer thinks their partner explains away their behavior with flimsy excuses.


You know I've been running 'round for hours
The singer has been searching for something for hours.


Calling my Egyptian blood to bear me flowers
The singer is calling on her ancestry to bring her peace or comfort.


Calling Sophia, goddess of power
The singer prays to a goddess figure.


Instead I got the beast
The singer has not found peace, but rather something wild or dangerous.


And tonight he lies with me
The singer has chosen to embrace the dangerous thing.


You're okay now, I suppose
The singer assumes that their partner is doing well.


You're not pulled by the rope
The singer imagines that their partner is not controlled by a certain external force in the way they are.


I'm pulled by the pull on my throat
The singer feels a physical and emotional tension, that is hard to bear.


I swing from the trees into the slope
The singer feels like they are propelled quickly or recklessly through life.


Hold my head high, just by the tip of my toes
The singer has to try very hard to keep their head up and maintain a positive attitude.


And he lies, he lies so sweet that I choke
The dangerous thing the singer has chosen to embrace is attractive, but also hard to handle.


Put your eyes away
The singer suggests that it may be better for their partner not to see what is happening.


If you can't bear to see your (the?) old lady
The singer refers to herself as being old and unappealing.


Laying down next to the beast
The singer is embracing the dangerous thing, and her partner may not want to witness it.


Look at yourself in the mirror
The singer encourages her partner to examine themselves thoroughly.


I give you the best, the best that I can
The singer reassures her partner that she is doing everything in her power to provide for them.


I suggest that you be grateful
The singer thinks that her partner should be thankful for her sacrifices.


That it's your blood on my hands?
The singer suggests that her partner may be responsible for something negative that has occurred.


And assume yourself weaker, the fall of man
The singer implores her partner to recognize their own fallibility and humanity.


And look out for the beast
The singer warns her partner to be aware of the dangerous thing she has embraced.


And here comes the beast
The singer prepares for the return of the dangerous force.




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LAURA BEATRICE MARLING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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