She released four albums and three EPs without any label support via Bandcamp from 2012-2014, and gathered a large following on blogging platform Tumblr, where she would also post song demos and covers. In 2015, Canadian artist Grimes discovered her music via the site, and created Eerie Organization, an artist collective/incubator for the release of Dollanganger's fifth album Natural Born Losers, stating that it was a crime for it not to be heard, and that Dollanganger is North America's greatest living songwriter. Grimes also invited Dollanganger on her Rhinestone Cowgirls tour, where they both opened for Lana Del Rey. Natural Born Losers also marked the beginning of Dollanganger's collaboration with Matthew Tomasi, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and co-founder of indie label Homie Shit Magazine.
Following these successes, Dollanganger's first four albums were re-released digitally via GTR Records, and physically via Run for Cover Records, in 2016. In 2018, she released her sixth album, Heart Shaped Bed, through Eerie Organization. It was co-produced by Matt Tomasi, and included a finished version of her song "Chapel," which made an appearance in TV series The Walking Dead in 2016 and remains one of her most popular songs. In order to promote the album, she also released music videos for her songs Lemonade, Heart Shaped Bed, and Lacrymaria Olor, all directed by Mac Boucher, brother of Grimes.
In 2019, Nicole Dollanganger befriended Ethel Cain after hearing her cover of "Poacher's Pride" on Tumblr, and invited her to open for her performance at Beat Kitchen in Chicago. Through Dollanganger, Ethel Cain met Matt Tomasi, who later released two of her EPs on CD and cassette through his label, and co-produced the tracks "Ptolemaea" and "August Underground" on her debut album.
In January 2023, Nicole Dollanganger released her highly-anticipated seventh album, Married in Mount Airy.
Beautiful & Bad
Nicole Dollanganger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to be your gun
Blow the jaw right off
That handsome face
A .44 magnum
I've been cruising ′round these parts
Been looking for some fun
Don't belong to anyone
Lean in close and whispered at you
"Let′s go for a ride, big guy, let′s cruise"
Look me in the eye
And know what I'm gonna do
Baby, I am beautiful and bad
And I destroy everything you, you have
I don′t want to be your girl
I want to be your bike
Riding down the highway's endless spine
Hot wired with a knife
I don′t give a fuck about love
Never did, never will
Wanna take you out on a date with death
Kiss you with a power drill
'Cause beauty don′t mean shit to me
Only when it's a weapon and deadly
Think you're big and bad but you
Got nothing on me
And the next time you hit, I hit back
Do you hear me, motherfucker?
Can you dig that?
Baby, I am beautiful and bad
And I destroy everything
Baby, I am beautiful and bad
And I destroy everything you have
The song "Beautiful & Bad" by Nicole Dollanganger is a dark and intense expression of desire and empowerment. The lyrics convey a sense of rebellion and a desire to break free from societal norms and expectations. The opening lines, "I don't want to be your girl, I want to be your gun, blow the jaw right off that handsome face, a .44 magnum," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer doesn't want to be objectified or controlled by a man; instead, she wants to be the one in control, to have the power to destroy.
The lyrics also contain a sense of danger and risk-taking, with lines such as "Hot wired with a knife" and "Wanna take you out on a date with death." The singer is not looking for love or affection, but rather a thrilling and dangerous experience. The chorus, "Baby, I am beautiful and bad, and I destroy everything you have," encapsulates this attitude perfectly. The singer sees herself as a force to be reckoned with, a beautiful and dangerous woman who is not to be messed with.
Overall, "Beautiful & Bad" is a powerful song about rejecting societal norms and expectations, taking control of one's life, and embracing danger and risk-taking as a way of finding empowerment.
Line by Line Meaning
I don’t want to be your girl
I don’t want a romantic relationship with you.
I want to be your gun
I want to be your weapon.
Blow the jaw right off
Cause fatal harm to your handsome face.
That handsome face
Your attractive appearance makes you vulnerable.
A .44 magnum
A powerful and deadly firearm.
I’ve been cruising ′round these parts
I’ve been exploring this area for some entertainment.
Been looking for some fun
Looking for something exciting to do.
I was born way back in '58
I come from a different time and mindset.
Don't belong to anyone
I am independent and do not answer to anyone.
Lean in close and whispered at you
I approach you intimately and whispered seductively.
“Let′s go for a ride, big guy, let′s cruise”
Let’s go on a dangerous adventure together.
Look me in the eye
Face me with confidence.
And know what I'm gonna do
Be aware of the violent and aggressive actions I am capable of.
Baby, I am beautiful and bad
I am an attractive but dangerous person.
And I destroy everything you, you have
I am capable of taking everything from you.
I don’t want to be your girl
I don’t want a romantic relationship with you.
I want to be your bike
I want to be your mode of transportation, driven recklessly.
Riding down the highway's endless spine
Recklessly driving with no destination.
Hot wired with a knife
I am a dangerous rider.
I don’t give a fuck about love
I don’t care for romantic affections.
Never did, never will
I have never cared for love, and I never will.
Wanna take you out on a date with death
I want to take you on a life-threatening adventure.
Kiss you with a power drill
Violently harm you with a power tool.
'Cause beauty don’t mean shit to me
Physical attractiveness is insignificant to me.
Only when it's a weapon and deadly
Beauty is only significant to me if it can be used as a weapon.
Think you're big and bad but you
You believe you're tough and intimidating, but you’re not.
Got nothing on me
I am more intimidating than you.
And the next time you hit, I hit back
If you come at me, I'll come back with more force.
Do you hear me, motherfucker?
Do you understand the severity of my threat?
Can you dig that?
Do you comprehend the gravity of my words?
Baby, I am beautiful and bad
I am an attractive but dangerous person.
And I destroy everything
I am capable of leaving nothing in my wake.
Baby, I am beautiful and bad
I am an attractive but dangerous person.
And I destroy everything you have
I am capable of taking everything from you.
Writer(s): Matthew Tomasi, Nicole Bell
Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@leebandfan4592
The song is about Aileen wournos, she was a female serial killer. She had been used in the past (sexually) so she got revenge by luring men in by promising sex and she'd kill them, and a power drill has actually come to play in some murders so it explains the kissing part. And she did a lot of hitchhiking. This song is definitely about her since Nicole has a pattern of writing songs about true crime and real life murders
@rosie7640
intersting analysis
@jakeweldy892
she was also born in '56 but 58 just seems to fit the song better so i agree
@zenx2832
That’s scary but also super badass
@lillyknox254
Yup she lived (and did most of her killing) in my state
@madisongeronimo6859
yeah but still, killing people is not good@@zenx2832
@Venus-zn3qo
This song makes me feel things I shouldn’t describe
@Dloogii
Heh 69 nice
@kevink7534
I feel like that was the exact thing that was felt right before this song was written
@Zoe-wg3uc
I like this version more than the heart shaped bed version :(