Written in a shotgun shack in Austin, Texas in 2006 or 7 while watching Jailhouse Rock, "Beauty Never Dies" was lost in the production graveyard that is Vampire Cats. Since it's not the kind of song that needs much production to begin with, "Beauty Never Dies" works better than most of the other musical taxidermy projects on that album. It's hard to believe the song is almost 20 years old. I used to revel in subverting things like "love songs;" while I wouldn't go anywhere near a girl slamming tequila like a broken pinball machine these days, it's amusing to look back and see that the "red pill" theme that runs through the lyrics like a river of spilled razor blades has in fact become my default setting when it comes to "relationships." I'm sorry, but like all non-existent mythological things, I have no choice but to put words like "relationship" in scare quotes. Though who knows, maybe love does exist. I've seen it, from a distance. Whatever the case, the facts are obvious:
Brains fade away, but beauty never dies.
Thanks for listening.
Beauty Never Dies
she's my baby
she's my cutie pie
brains fade away
but beauty never dies
I never once stop and wondered
my skirt-hopping days are numbered
and all it took
was one look into her eyes
she's standing over by the pinball machine
she looks weary, jaded, sad,
and a little bit mean
she's drinking tequila double-fisted
I like my beauty a little bit twisted
so darling, won't you dance a little while
with me?
your reputation ain't so good
get off the broom we can use the wood
she held my hand by the waterfront
she's more than a man like me
could ever want
the sun sinks into the ocean
I search my heart for some emotion
I've been in love so many times,
but none of it was true
I've been waiting all my life
for a girl like you
to be my wife
but I've got so many better things to do
she broke down on the highway
but her engine's running fine
dry your eyes and keep on going
the future is bright and all-unknowing
there ain't no telling what a new day may bring
there ain't no telling what a new day may bring
©2007 Nathan Payne
