Writers: M. Mathers, L. Resto, J. Bass, D. Black, A. Hill
Producer: Eminem
Album: Relapse (Eminem)
Label: Aftermath, Interscope, Shady
Year: 2009
After a five year break rapper Eminem recently released his sixth album Relapse. "Beautiful" is a ballad and stands out to me amidst all of the rest. It was the only song to appear on the album that was recorded while Eminem was dealing with depression and serious addiction. "Beautiful" starts with a powerful sample of Paul Rodgers from Rock Therapy singing "Reaching Out".
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Beautiful - Eminem lyrics
PAUL RODGERS:
Lately I've been hard to reach,
I've been too long on my own.
Everybody has a private world where they can be alone.
Are you calling me, are you trying to get through?
Are you reaching out for me like I'm reaching out for you?
EMINEM:
I'm just so fuckin' depressed.
I just can seem to get out this slump.
If I could just get over this hump,
But I need something to pull me out this dump.
I took my bruises, took my lumps.
Fell down and I got right back up,
But I need that spark to get psyched back up
In order for me to pick that mic back up.
I don't know how or why or when
I ended up in this position I'm in.
I'm starting to feel distant again.
So I decided just to pick this pen
Up and tried to make an attempt to vent
But I just can't admit or come to grips
With the fact that I may be done with rap.
I need a new outlet.
I know some shit's so hard to swallow,
But I just can't sit back and wallow in my own sorrow,
But I know one fact - I'll be one tough act to follow,
One tough act to follow.
I'll be one tough act to follow.
Here today, gone tomorrow,
But you'd have to walk a thousand miles in my shoes,
Just to see what it's like to be me.
I'll be you.
Let's trade shoes,
Just to see what it'd be like to feel your pain.
You feel mine.
Go inside each other's mind,
Just to see what we find.
Look at shit through each other's eyes,
But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)
I think I'm starting to lose my sense of humor.
Everything is so tense and gloom.
I almost feel like I gotta check the temperature of the room.
Just as soon as I walk in it's like all eyes on me.
So I try to avoid any eye contact
'Cause if I do that then it opens a door for conversation,
Like I want that.
I'm not looking for extra attention.
I just wanna be just like you,
Blend in with the rest of the room.
Maybe just point me to the closest restroom.
I don't need no fucking man servin'
Tryin' to follow me around and wipe my ass.
Laugh at every single joke I crack,
And half of 'em ain't even funny like
Ahh Marshall, you're so funny man!
You should be a comedian, god damn!
Unfortunately I am,
I just hide behind the tears of a clown.
So why don't you all sit down,
Listen to the tale I'm about to tell.
Hell, we don't gotta trade our shoes
And you ain't gotta walk no thousand miles
In my shoes just to see what it's like to be me.
I'll be you.
Let's trade shoes,
Just to see what it'd be like to feel your pain.
You feel mine.
Go inside each other's mind,
Just to see what we find.
Look at shit through each other's eyes,
But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)
Nobody asked for life to deal us
With these bullshit hands we're dealt.
We gotta take these cards ourselves and flip 'em,
Don't expect no help.
Now I could have either
Just sat on my ass and pissed and moaned,
But take this situation in which I'm placed in
And get up and get my own.
I was never the type of kid to wait by the door
And pack his bags and sat on the porch and hoped
And prayed for a dad to show up who never did.
I just wanted to fit in every single place,
Every school I went.
I dreamed of being that cool kid
Even if it meant acting stupid.
Aunt Edna always told me,
Keep making that face 'til it gets stuck like that.
Meanwhile I'm just standing there
Holding my tongue up trying to talk like this.
'Til I stuck my tongue on that frozen stop sign poll
At 8 years old I learned my lesson then
'Cause I wasn't tryin' to impress my friends no more,
But I already told you my whole life story
Not just based on my description.
'Cause where you see it from where you're sitting
It's probably 110% different.
I guess we would have to walk a mile
In each other's shoes, at least.
What size you wear?
I wear tens,
Let's see if you can fit your feet
In my shoes just to see what it's like to be me.
I'll be you.
Let's trade shoes,
Just to see what it'd be like to feel your pain.
You feel mine.
Go inside each other's mind,
Just to see what we find.
Look at shit through each other's eyes,
But don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)
Don't let 'em say you ain't beautiful.
(Oh) They can all get fucked,
Just stay true to you. (So)
PAUL RODGERS:
Lately I've been hard to reach,
I've been too long on my own.
(Oh) Everybody has a private world where they can be alone.
(So) Are you calling me, are you trying to get through?
(Oh) Are you reaching out for me like I'm reaching out for you? (So)
EMINEM:
Yeah, to my babies, stay strong.
Daddy will be home soon
And to the rest of the world,
God gave you the shoes that fit you,
So put 'em on and wear 'em
And be yourself man, be proud of who you are.
Even if it sounds corny, don't ever let no one tell you,
You ain't beautiful.
