(One, two, three)

You've got the best of both worlds
You're the kind of girl who can take down a man
And lift him back up again
You are strong but you're needy
Humble but you're greedy
And based on your body language
And shoddy cursive I've been reading
You're style is quite selective
Though your mind is rather reckless
Well I guess it just suggests that this is just what happiness is

And what a beautiful mess this is
It's like we're picking up trash in dresses

Well it kind of hurts when the kind of words you write
Kind of turn themselves into knives
And don't mind my nerve you could call it fiction
But I like being submerged in your contradictions, dear
'Cause here we are, here we are

Although you were biased I love your advice
Your comebacks they're quick And probably have to do with your insecurities
There's no shame in being crazy
Depending on how you take these
Words I'm paraphrasing this relationship we're staging

And it's a beautiful mess, this is
It's like, picking up trash in dresses

Well it kind of hurts when the kind of words you say
Kind of turn themselves into blades
Kind and courteous is a life I've heard
But it's nice to say that we played in the dirt
Oh dear
'Cause here we are, here we are

Here we are
Here we are
Here we are
Here we are

Here we are
Here we are
Here we are
We're still here

What a beautiful mess this is
It's like taking a guess when the only answer is yes

And through timeless words and priceless pictures
We'll fly like birds not of this earth
And tides they turn and hearts disfigure
But that's no concern when we're wounded together
And we tore our dresses and stained our shirts
But it's nice today, oh, the wait was so worth it


Lyrics submitted by Apollo231

A Beautiful Mess Lyrics as written by Rebecca Emily Gebhardt Jason Mraz

Lyrics © Goo-Eyed Music

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

A Beautiful Mess song meanings
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79 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    I think this song is about a girl that is insecure, a bit crazy and a guy singing to her about her. He is patient, positive, stronger etc. After all the insecurities, arguments, and mess they have to go through they finally get to a point in the relationship when it is as beautiful as it should be and it was all worth the wait to get to that point.

    whoa....deep.

    yumyummyon November 23, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    "I like being submerged in your contradictions..."

    wow...just wow

    cRaZiOFchikon September 09, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    heard somewhere where jason mraz said this song is about loving someone, for everything they are - the good and bad - and just embracing them. amazing song anyways!

    xxasswipeon December 25, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This is without a doubt one of the best songs ever. I love that Jason's words of his songs have so much meaning....and it is always amazing lyrics.

    To me this song reflects the relationship I had with my X. Absolute pain that I guy can go through when a relationship goes bad, especially if the relationship was like a "fatal attraction". You both really loved the each other, but the relationship just seemed to go south anyway no matter what you did to try to keep it from sinking.

    The man is so in love with her and that is why she can take him down and lift him back up again. a man that opens his heart to someone like that(because he loves her), enables her to do just that to him. (i believe every woman has that ability if someone love you that much). Her character is exciting. Very elegant yet also rough around the edges...all that is ok when things are going well in a relationship with mutual respect. When trouble starts, those character traits has the ability to hurt...probably because she is hurt as well and acts in defense when the irrational behavior enters the relationship. For people that love each other, words can cut like knives, because both know what will hurt each other. The sad thing is, anger or hurt can cause these words to be expressed.....and contributes later on to the destruction of a relationship.....if both are not strong enough to overcome the issue and bring back rationality and respect for each other. In this song, her words cut first…

    Without a doubt, my relationship with this woman was well worth it and I am blessed sharing the most beautiful time in my life with her. Sadly today, we are still not talking to each other, but I am hopeful for "... But that's no concern when we're wounded together And we tore our dresses and stained our shirts But its nice today, oh the wait was so worth it"

    We both had words that cut like knives. To me this song reflects a bad breakup between two people that truly loved each other and one day overcame the pain of the bad breakup....a bad breakup causes a person to see the craziness in the other but the gift of love and time leads to forgiveness....all worth it......and a blessed life enriching experience.

    NDonogon January 18, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    yes its definitely "humble, but you're greedy"

    its also "you're strong, but you're needy." Since he is talking about the "best of both worlds"

    I think this song is wonderful. Its exactly how i think everyone feels at one point or another in a relationhip. When you finally love someone enough to look at their flaws and still think they are the most wonderful person in the world.

    settleacon March 26, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The girl's full of contradictions. And even though she's full of ironies, he still finds her beautiful. He finds beauty in the mess that she is. And yes, she's the "best of both worlds" to him.:)

    pinkcitylightson June 18, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "Kind of turn themselves into blames" should be "Kind of turn themselves into blades". :]

    Anyway, I love this song dearly. It's a gorgeous song, both lyrically and musically. Another good job by Mraz.

    solarflairon June 25, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Definately a favorite. When I hear it it sounds to me as though he is not illustrating a female who is intentially hurting him. There are a variety of mental illnesses that create in one person a beauty that you wont find elsewhere, but with that also comes some ugly (mess). That's just what I hear. I am bipolar and I swing between wondering how my husband got so lucky to have me and then how can he stand me :-) This is how I hear the song...

    Great stuff!

    enlightenmeon October 07, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    He said it is about recognizing the flaws in your partner and accepting them for who they are and loving them no matter what. :]

    xyfaon December 20, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    One of the most profound things in life and writing is oxymorons/paradoxes. Mraz knows this, that is why his lyrics just haunt you long after the song is over (and as I have read in the previous comments)the feeling derived from them is inexpressible. It is about finding the beauty in light and dark, yin and yang, right and wrong. Mraz indeed has life and love figured out...and expresses it in one of the most beautiful outlets. He is indeed a true artist.

    imperfectlyperfecton February 08, 2009   Link

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