Know something about this song or lyrics?
Add it to our wiki.
You were once a sweet little girl
So innocent and pure
Your eyes were open and sure
Anyone could look right in
And I followed closely your gaze
You looked up towards the sky
And I watched your face drift away
Other things had caught your eye
Oh, the magazines and media supplied you with their plastic protocol
Oh, and maybe music television really is the devil after all
But all I can say is I knew you before you were beautiful back then
Before you grew up, before you gave in
And you dream of sharing your heart
Instead you share your bed
And your heart beats empty and cold
With all the tears you have shed
And you dream of baring your soul
Instead you bare more skin
And you wear dark glasses to keep
Anyone from looking in
Oh, the magazines and media supplied you with their plastic protocol
Oh, and maybe music television really is the devil after all
But all I can say is I knew you before you were beautiful back then
Before you grew up, before you gave in
And all you want is to hear the words
"Dear baby I love you"
So you hike your skirt higher still
'Til their eyes are all on you
You drive in fast foreign cars
The color of your sin
And you tint your windows to keep
Anyone from looking in
Oh, and all I can say is I knew you before you were beautiful back then
Before you grew up, before you gave in
And all I can say is I knew you before you were beautiful back then
You could be beautiful again
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. " -Matthew 18:2-4
it really makes me reflect on things i've done.
"you could be beautiful again"
You were once a sweet little girl, so innocent and pure.
Your eyes were open
and sure anyone could look right in.
and wallow close to your gaze.
you looked up towards the sky
but I watched your face drift away, other things caught your eye.
The magazines and media supplied you with their plastic protocol
and maybe music television really is the devil after all
but all I can say is I knew you before you were beautiful
back then
Before you grew up, before you gave in.
You dream of sharing your heart
You said you'd share your bed
and the pain you feel doesn't leave with all the skin you have shed.
And you dream of bearing your soul instead you bear your skin
and you wear dark glasses to keep anyone from looking in.
The magazines and media supplied you with their plastic protocol
and maybe music television really is the devil after all
but all I can say is I knew you before you were beautiful
back then
Before you grew up, before you gave in.
but all I can say is I knew you before, you were beautiful
back then.
You could be beautiful again.
In the original versions Dustin did, the song was just acoustic. It had a complete different sound and feel.. A real importance to the "knew you before you were beautiful / back then" almost to say.. both "I knew you before you were beautiful" and "I knew you before. You were beautiful back then"
Maybe I'm wrong, about the wordplay, but it just feels right....
I take it to say that people lose their inner beauty searching for something superficial. It definitely sounds like it's a story about a girl, but who knows the real meaning.
one more thing:
the original title dustin had for the song was just "Folk", maybe an emphasis on the fact that it's a story? as well as his progression into the sound.
The little girl is the underground punk scene that has evolved from an independent music to a major label tool controlled by MTV. Its pretty clear he is disgusted by the changes. The scene is no longer a respected indie/alternative music, but a money machine.
As someone who has loved this scene of music for a long time, and have a hard time finding many new artists to respect like I had in the past. When fans stopped finding the best new bands by local concerts / word of mouth/ and online communities, and started looking for new "punk" bands on MTV, it was clear the genre had collectively sold-out.
I love this song, and the end is a great insight to Dustin's thoughts on the music industry.
"And all I can say is I knew you before
You were beautiful back then
You could be beautiful again..."