Polly Jean "PJ" Harvey is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Prima… Read Full Bio ↴Polly Jean "PJ" Harvey is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments.

Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined local band Automatic Dlamini as a vocalist, guitarist and saxophonist. The band's frontman, John Parish, became her long-term collaborator. In 1991, she formed an eponymous trio called PJ Harvey and subsequently began her career as PJ Harvey. The trio released two studio albums called Dry (1992) and Rid of Me (1993) before disbanding, after which Harvey continued as a solo artist. Since 1995, she has released a further nine studio albums with collaborations from various musicians including Parish, former bandmate Rob Ellis, Mick Harvey and Eric Drew Feldman, and has also worked extensively with record producer Flood.

Among the accolades Harvey has received are both the 2001 and 2011 Mercury Prize for Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) and Let England Shake (2011), respectively, making her the only artist to have been awarded the prize twice. She has also garnered eight Brit Award nominations, seven Grammy Award nominations and two further Mercury Prize nominations. Rolling Stone awarded her three accolades: 1992's Best New Artist and Best Singer Songwriter, and 1995's Artist of the Year. Rolling Stone also listed Rid of Me, To Bring You My Love and Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea on its list of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In 2011, she was awarded for Outstanding Contribution To Music at the NME Awards. In the 2013 Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to music.

Beautiful Feeling
PJ Harvey Lyrics

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Sometimes I can see for miles
Through water and fire
From England to America
I feel life meet my eyes

And it's the best thing
It's the best thing
It's the best thing

A beautiful feeling

A smile from San Diego
He's still a boy
Two ends to every rainbow
And a train from Mexico

And he's the best thing
He is the best thing
He is the best thing
A beautiful feeling

And when I watch you move
And I can't think straight
And I am silenced
And I can't think straight

And it's the best thing
It's the best thing

The best thing
Such a beautiful feeling

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to PJ Harvey's song Beautiful Feeling describe a sense of euphoria and wonder that the singer experiences in their travels throughout the world. The first stanza speaks to the singer's ability to see great distances despite obstacles like water and fire, showing that they feel an almost superhuman sense of clarity and vision. They mention that they feel life meet their eyes, a statement that speaks to their connection to the world around them and their ability to find meaning in even the smallest things.

The song then shifts focus to a specific person, a boy from San Diego who is described as a source of joy and light in the world. This person, and the feeling of being around them, is referred to as the "best thing" and a "beautiful feeling." The singer then describes being entranced by this person's movements, and how their presence makes it difficult to think straight or form coherent thoughts.

Ultimately, the lyrics to Beautiful Feeling are an ode to the ability to find beauty and joy in the world, no matter where you go or who you meet. The song speaks to the transformative power of connecting with others, and the way that certain people or experiences can make life feel magical and full of wonder.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I can see for miles
Occasionally my line of sight extends for an incredibly long distance

Through water and fire
In spite of the challenges and obstacles in my way

From England to America
From one side of the world to another

I feel life meet my eyes
I have a profound sense of being alive and present in the moment

And it's the best thing
This experience is absolutely amazing

A beautiful feeling
It fills me with joy and happiness

A smile from San Diego
Receiving a grin from someone in San Diego

He's still a boy
Even though he may be a grown man, he retains a sense of youthful vitality

Two ends to every rainbow
There are always two sides to every story, two different perspectives to consider

And a train from Mexico
A locomotive arriving from Mexico

And he's the best thing
This person is truly awesome and brings me so much happiness