Released: 2024
The Black Keys’ ‘Beautiful People’ is a poetic exploration of personal struggle and the pursuit of inner peace. It delves into the human condition, grappling with personal demons, and the allure of the ‘beautiful people’ who seem to navigate life effortlessly.
The lyrics, ‘All of those beautiful people say, “Hey” / All of those beautiful people stay high’ paint a picture of a society where the ‘beautiful people’ are always on a high, possibly alluding to a superficial happiness or the use of substances to maintain a facade of joy.
The lines, ‘Time I’ve been gone / I been strugglin’ alone / Keepin’ all of my demons to myself’ speak to the singer’s personal battles. The ‘demons’ could be symbolic of internal struggles, like depression or anxiety, that he’s been dealing with in solitude.
‘I’m saving my grace / For that heavenly place / To the sun, I will sing you my song’ suggests a longing for redemption and a better place, possibly a metaphor for happiness or inner peace. The ‘sun’ could represent a source of warmth and light, a beacon of hope in the singer’s life.
The chorus, ‘Nah, nah-nah-nah-nah / Nah, nah-nah-nah-nah / Never coming back down’ could signify the singer’s determination to rise above his struggles and not return to his previous state of despair.
‘Hard as it’s been, to being once again / Just a friend on the wind / Seekin’ shelter’ might be a reference to the singer’s journey of self-discovery and the challenges he’s faced in trying to find his place in the world.
‘There’s a crack in the sky / And a light from on high / I get higher and higher when I’m with her’ could be a metaphor for finding solace and upliftment in a significant other, or perhaps a passion or hobby that brings joy.
Overall, ‘Beautiful People’ is a poignant commentary on personal struggle, the quest for inner peace, and the dichotomy between perceived and real happiness.
