New Riders of the Purple Sage was an American country rock band. The group … Read Full Bio ↴New Riders of the Purple Sage was an American country rock band. The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco, California in 1969. The band's mainstays were David Nelson, John Dawson, and Jerry Garcia, and many future members of Grateful Dead rotated through.

She's Looking Better Every Beer
New Riders Of The Purple Sage Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Shine

Well I guess it's been at least an hour, and I didn't plan to stay
I only dropped in to drink a beer, and float off on my way
It was a pale and rather plain girl over in the corner sipping wine
When I did not sit down at her table, she sat down at mine

And she's looking better every beer

Her hair is soft and shiny now, her eyes are bright and clear
How could it be I didn't notice her when I first came in here
Now she's looking better every beer

Well the bar lights and the candles throw a little color on the chin
And two by two the people leave who one by one came in
The jukebox plays and the coke-filled ashtrays warns the time that flies
And every time I drain my mug I can't believe my eyes

She's looking better every beer
Her hair is soft and shiny now, her eyes are bright and clear

How could it be I didn't notice her when I first came in here
Now she's looking better every beer

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "She's Looking Better Every Beer" by New Riders Of The Purple Sage speak about a man who didn't plan to stay at a bar for very long, but ends up staying longer than expected when he is joined by a woman who catches his attention. At first, he didn't notice her when he walked in, but throughout the night, as he drinks more and more beer, she starts to look better and better to him. He is able to see her in a new light, noticing things like her soft hair and bright eyes that he didn't see before. As the night goes on and people start to leave, the man can't help but notice how much more attractive the woman has become to him.

The song is an interesting commentary on how alcohol can change a person's perception of someone else. It suggests that inhibitions lower as you drink more, making it easier to see people in a different light. The woman in the song is described as "pale and rather plain" to begin with, but as the drinks start flowing, she becomes more attractive in the eyes of the man. The song seems to be making a statement about how alcohol affects our perceptions and can lead us to make decisions we wouldn't make when sober.

Overall, "She's Looking Better Every Beer" is a catchy and fun song, but it also has a deeper message about how we view others under the influence of alcohol.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I guess it's been at least an hour, and I didn't plan to stay
I had no intention of staying here for so long, but it seems like an hour has passed

I only dropped in to drink a beer, and float off on my way
I just wanted to have a beer and leave afterwards

It was a pale and rather plain girl over in the corner sipping wine
I noticed a girl who was unremarkable in appearance sitting by herself and drinking wine in the corner

When I did not sit down at her table, she sat down at mine
After I ignored her, she decided to come over and sit with me

And she's looking better every beer
As I keep drinking, I find her increasingly attractive

Her hair is soft and shiny now, her eyes are bright and clear
With every passing drink, she appears more alluring, with her hair and eyes captivating me

How could it be I didn't notice her when I first came in here
I can't believe that I didn't find her attractive when I first arrived

Well the bar lights and the candles throw a little color on the chin
The lighting in the bar adds a new level of radiance to her complexion

And two by two the people leave who one by one came in
As the night goes on, people start to leave the bar

The jukebox plays and the coke-filled ashtrays warns the time that flies
The music from the jukebox and the overflowing ashtrays remind me how quickly time is passing

And every time I drain my mug I can't believe my eyes
Each time I finish another beer, I'm surprised by how much more I find her attractive

Contributed by Harper N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS