The Dunwells is a British pop/rock band formed in Leeds, Yorkshire, England… Read Full Bio ↴The Dunwells is a British pop/rock band formed in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, in 2009. The group consists of brothers Joseph Dunwell (vocals) and David Dunwell (guitar, vocals), along with friends Adam Taylor (drums, vocals) and Rob Clayton (bass, vocals). Their music is the result of fusing acoustic instrumentation and electronics with down to earth songwriting and big choruses.

Consisting of two siblings and two close school friends, the hardworking quartet from Leeds released their EP, LUCKY ONES, which Record of the Day has called “big, bold and even, at times, heroic…both inspiring and anthemic,”adding “[The Dunwells] have the tenacity and spirit to become a very big band.”

Indeed, that tenacity and spirit have brought the band members a long way since their school days. Joe Dunwell and his elder brother Dave grew up in a musical household and fondly recall flipping through their dad’s Bob Dylan and Beatles records, as well as hearing their mum singing along to Motown. Bassist Rob Clayton has been Dave’s best friend since childhood—in fact it was the Dunwell brothers’ dad who taught Rob how to play bass. Drummer Adam Taylor met Joe at college, where they bonded over their love of music. Joe explains, “When you put us together, our music becomes bigger than the four of us. There are moments when it stops being about how to put a song together, and we get a sudden feeling that something magical is happening around us.”

The Dunwells’ songwriting has grown over the years since school, enriched by extensive US and UK touring in support of the band’s 2013 debut, Blind Sighted Faith. “There were so many euphoric moments on tour, and we’ve tried to capture those feelings in the new songs,” says Dave. Those memorable moments included an appearance on Late Night With Jay Leno and performances at Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Fest and the Bonnaroo Festival, as well as sold out shows across the UK.

Helping The Dunwells capture their best ideas on the new songs were producer Stephen Harris (U2, Kaiser Chiefs and The Wombats), songwriters Blair MacKichan (Sia) and James Flannigan (Kodaline), and Manny Marroquin (Kanye West, Rihanna, Pink), who mixed title track “Lucky Ones.” After being on tour for such a long stretch of time, the band had a renewed sense of self, which inspired much of their writing for this new EP. “Being away from home re-affirmed our identity,” remembers Dave. This sentiment was reinforced in Harris’ studio, an hour north of Leeds. “We felt at home there,” recalls Joe. “That northern feel was important. Not because we’re ‘a northern band,’ but there’s something about Stephen’s production that gives our songs a sense of place.” That strong sense of local pride shines through in songs like “Lucky Ones,” whose sentiment is universal but which is underpinned by a very English-strutting sound. “It’s about saying ‘Yeah, we are the lucky ones, come over here and look at us,’” explains Dave. “It’s not arrogance, but a reminder of how lucky we all are to be alive and how great life can be.”

So Beautiful
The Dunwells Lyrics

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Sometimes,
All that's left to fight for is the one thing that you wanted
And sometimes,
You feel closer to the moments that you've always really wanted

And I don't have the words to say

In my mind,

It's clear I've found a home that I finally call my own
But this time
I'm going to hold onto these moments with the grace that they've been given

But I don't have the words to say
The only words I have today

Oh, look at you now, look at you now
So beautiful, oh so beautiful
Now, look at you now, look at you now
So beautiful, oh so beautiful

Sometimes,
My eyes aren't even open, live life with pure emotion
But this time,
My eyes are truly open, can't believe it's you I'm holding

And I don't have the words to say
The only words I have today

Oh, look at you now, look at you now
So beautiful, oh so beautiful
Now, look at you now, look at you now
So beautiful, oh so beautiful

When you're lost in a moment, (And I don't have the words)
I know that we both feel the same
Let's hold each other closer (The only words I have)
When the lights go out, do you feel the words that I say?

Oh, look at you now, look at you now
So beautiful, oh so beautiful
Now, look at you now, look at you now
So beautiful, oh so beautiful
Now, look at you now, look at you now
So beautiful, oh so beautiful
Now, look at you now, look at you now
So beautiful, oh so beautiful
So beautiful, oh so beautiful

So beautiful now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Dunwells's song So Beautiful express a feeling of gratitude and awe towards a precious moment or relationship. The singer seems to have found something worthy of fighting for, something that makes life worth living. He cherishes the feelings and memories he associates with this moment or relationship, and wishes he had the words to express how he feels. The repeated refrain "look at you now, so beautiful" suggests that the singer may be addressing a person, perhaps a lover or a child, who embodies the beauty and wonder of life for him. The song celebrates the joy of being fully present in the moment and appreciating the beauty around us.

One interesting aspect of the song is its catchy melody and sing-along chorus. The Dunwells are known for their upbeat and soulful sound, drawing on influences from folk, pop, and rock music. The band is known for their tight harmonies and infectious energy, and So Beautiful showcases these qualities in full force. Another interesting detail is the use of contrast and repetition in the lyrics. The lines "sometimes/all that's left to fight for is the one thing that you wanted" and "sometimes/my eyes aren't even open, live life with pure emotion" highlight the duality of human experience: we can be both focused and distracted, feeling and numb, determined and hopeless. The repeated phrase "look at you now, so beautiful" captures the essence of the song in a simple and powerful way, emphasizing the beauty and wonder of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes, All that's left to fight for is the one thing that you wanted And sometimes, You feel closer to the moments that you've always really wanted
At times, you may feel like there's only one thing worth fighting for and that's what you truly desire. However, there are moments where you feel like you're closer to what you've always wanted.

And I don't have the words to say
I can't find the right words to express my emotions.

In my mind, It's clear I've found a home that I finally call my own But this time I'm going to hold onto these moments with the grace that they've been given
I've found a place where I belong, and I'm going to cherish these moments with all the grace that's been bestowed upon me.

Oh, look at you now, look at you now So beautiful, oh so beautiful Now, look at you now, look at you now So beautiful, oh so beautiful
You're absolutely stunning right now, and I can't help but admire how lovely you look.

Sometimes, My eyes aren't even open, live life with pure emotion But this time, My eyes are truly open, can't believe it's you I'm holding
Usually, I go through life with my eyes closed, not fully embracing the emotions that surround me. This time, however, my eyes are wide open and I can't believe that it's you that I'm holding onto.

When you're lost in a moment, (And I don't have the words) I know that we both feel the same Let's hold each other closer (The only words I have) When the lights go out, do you feel the words that I say?
When we get lost in a moment, I know that we're both feeling the same way. Let's hold onto each other tightly. When it's dark and quiet, can you feel the love that I'm expressing to you?

So beautiful, oh so beautiful
You're incredibly beautiful and I can't stop admiring you.

Writer(s): DAVID DUNWELL, ROB CLAYTON

Contributed by Cole M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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