The Beautiful Ones
Prince Lyrics


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Baby, baby, baby
What's it gonna be?
Baby, baby, baby
Is it him or is it me?
Don't make me waste my time
Don't make me lose my mind, baby

Baby, baby, baby
Can't you stay with me tonight?
Oh baby, baby, baby
Don't my kisses please you right?
You were so hard to find
The beautiful ones, they hurt you every time

Paint a perfect picture
Bring to life a vision in one's mind
The beautiful ones
Always smash the picture
Always, every time

If I told you baby
That I was in love with you
Oh baby, baby, baby
If we got married
Would that be cool?

You make me so confused
The beautiful ones
You always seem to lose

Baby, baby
Baby (baby)
What's it gonna be baby?
Do you want him?
Or do you want me?

'Cause I want you
Said I want you
Tell me, babe
Do you want me?
I gotta know, I gotta know
Do you want me?
Baby, baby, baby, listen to me

I may not know where I'm going, babe, woo, oh yeah
I said I may not know what I need
One thing, one thing's for certain, baby
I know what I want, yeah
And if it please you, baby
Please you, baby
I'm begging down on my knees
I want you
Yes, I do
Baby, baby, baby, baby
I want you, woo





Yes, I do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "The Beautiful Ones" by Prince can be interpreted to express the desperation and confusion of a man in love. The song tells the story of a man who is uncertain of his place in his loverโ€™s life. He pleads with her to choose him over another man, urging her not to waste his time or drive him insane. The singer is haunted by the memory of past hurts inflicted by โ€œthe beautiful ones,โ€ whom he still finds irresistible even as he acknowledges that they always end up hurting him.


As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly desperate in his attempts to win over his lover. He offers to marry her and begs for her affection, promising to do anything she wants. However, despite his best efforts, he cannot shake the feeling that he will always end up losing to the โ€œbeautiful onesโ€ of the world.


The song is a powerful ballad that captures the complex emotions of love and loss. The lyrics are poetic and full of imagery, and Prince's passionate delivery adds to the intensity of the song. Overall, "The Beautiful Ones" is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby, baby, baby
Repeatedly questioning the person of their choice between him and someone else.


What's it gonna be?
Asking the person to make a choice.


Is it him or is it me?
Asking whether the person wants the singer or the other individual.


Don't make me waste my time
Hinting the person to make a quick decision to avoid wasting time.


Don't make me lose my mind, baby
Implying that indecision is driving the singer crazy.


Can't you stay with me tonight?
Requesting the person to spend the night with him.


Don't my kisses please you right?
Asking the person if his kisses are not satisfactory.


You were so hard to find
Implying that the person is special and hence hard to find.


The beautiful ones, they hurt you every time
Implying that attractive people could be emotionally harmful.


Paint a perfect picture
Asking to create a beautiful image.


Bring to life a vision in one's mind
Asking to make the vision alive and real.


Always smash the picture
Implying that beautiful people always ruin the created image.


If I told you baby that I was in love with you
Asking if the person will accept if the singer confesses his love.


If we got married, would that be cool?
Asking if marriage will make the relationship cool.


You make me so confused
Implying that the person's indecision is confusing the singer.


You always seem to lose
Implying that the person always ends up losing beautiful relationships due to indecision.


Do you want him?
Asking if the person wants the other person more than the singer.


Or do you want me?
Asking if the person wants the singer.


'Cause I want you
Confessing love and desire for the person.


Said I want you
Reiterating that the singer wants the person.


Tell me, babe
Asking the person to clarify their choice.


Do you want me?
Asking the person if they want the singer.


I may not know where I'm going, babe, woo, oh yeah
Admitting to being directionless.


I said I may not know what I need
Admitting the uncertainty around needs.


One thing, one thing's for certain, baby
However, one thing is certain.


I know what I want, yeah
Singer knows what he desires.


And if it please you, baby
Asking the person if his desire will please them.


Please you, baby
Asking the person to comply.


I'm begging down on my knees
Singer is imploring desperately.


I want you
Plainly expressing the singer's desire.


Yes, I do
Reiterating his desire.




Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Prince Rogers Nelson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@turning007anime

@MegaDg3, I was 28 once, Asians donโ€™t raisin.

His music transformed my ๐ŸŸฃ๐ŸŸฃ๐ŸŸฃ life.

Here is a jem of a jam you should listen 2 at least twice.

Itโ€™s called, โ€˜Crucial,โ€™


https://youtu.be/pOdjRm9Cq_A?si=gAzpNEcGZI-DA-hM



All comments from YouTube:

@Grendel1018

Everyone forgets this monster of a song. It might be one of the best ballads ever written.

@dianette19

I never knew it was his. I've always listened to the mariah dru hill version and i put it on repeat. I was pregnant from my second daughter when this classic was in the theaters and my all time favorite from him is lets get crazy especially the solo at the end, it electrifies me.

@user-gm5tu4sk4x

Might be?

@KP-ww3zy

Dead on balls accurate. We sure do miss Prince.

@gdpiirock

that part!

@tonyrogers865

This ballad is up there too but I got to go with "Adore"; the extended version.

27 More Replies...

@ladycop4200

You canโ€™t do this song without the โ€œ do you want him, or do you want me, cause I want you โ€œ pointing โคโค

@AyeYoTrudy

Literally

@papi_chulo-

Before I saw the music video I always did that in the mirror ๐Ÿ˜‚

@shaunkowlessar7469

I just did it. Always do

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