"Beautiful Boy" is the sixth track on The Last Dinner Party's debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy.
Background[]
The song was written by Abigail Morris about a friend of hers that’s a very "beautiful boy", and how when he went hitchhiking through Spain on his own and lost his phone and was relying on the kindness of strangers, going on this beautiful Hemingway-esque trip.[1]
- “I remember being so jealous of him because I was like, ‘Well, I could never do that—as a woman I’d probably get murdered or something horrible.’ He made me think about the very specific doors that open when you are a beautiful man. You have certain privileges that women don’t get. And if you’re a beautiful woman, you have certain privileges that other people don’t get. I don’t resent him—he’s a very dear friend. Also, I think it’s important and interesting to write, as a woman, about your male relationships that aren’t romantic or sexual.”
- ―Abigail Morris for Apple Music
Speaking about the flute part of the song, Lizzie Mayland explained to Apple Music:[1]
- “The flute was a turning point in this track. It’s such a lonely instrument, so vulnerable and so expressive. To me, this song is kind of a daydream. Like, ‘I wish life was like that, but it’s not.’ It feels like there’s a deeper sense of acceptance. It’s sweetly sad.”
- ―Lizzie Mayland for Apple Music
Lyrics[]
The best a boy can ever be is pretty
He launches ships on which he rides to safety
And what I’m feeling isn’t lust, it’s envy
He has the earth, makes love to her to spite me
I am held captive by the ribbon round my neck
Every course I chart determined by a wreck
The power in my hips is useless in the dark
What good are red lips when you’re faced with something sharp?
Beautiful boy
Beautiful boy
Beautiful boy
I wish I could be a beautiful boy
Beautiful boy
Beautiful boy
I wish I could be a beautiful boy
Videos[]
Credits[]
The Last Dinner Party[]
- Abigail Morris - Vocals
- Georgia Davies - Bass, Additional Vocals
- Emily Roberts - Lead Guitar, Flute, Additional Vocals
- Aurora Nishevci - Piano, Additional Vocals
- Lizzie Mayland - Guitar, Flute, Additional Vocals
Additional personnel[]
- James Ford - Production, Drums
- Jimmy Robertson - Engineer
- Pasha Mansurov - Flute
- Alan Moulder - Mixed
- Chris Gehringer - Mastering
References[]
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Tracklist
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Acoustics and Covers
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Other Eras
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| Prelude to Ecstasy ❦ Second studio album | |||||
Live
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Extras
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| Poems | Heather | ||||
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| Scrapped songs | Godzilla | ||||
| Other | In Store Signings ❦ Short Film | ||||
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