In Benson Boone’s single “Beautiful Things”, the backflipping pop star falls in love. But the warm and fuzzy feelings he’s experiencing are offset by the anxiety of potential loss—with fear foreshadowing grief from possibly losing a loved one.
“Beautiful Things” arrived as the first single from Boone’s debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades. It’s a song of gratitude, but it also describes the precariousness of joy. A pop-rock power ballad, the track features two song ideas that Boone combined into one arrangement. It echoes both the joy and the painful receipt that accompanies happiness: grief.
Four Cold Decembers
The song opens with Boone reflecting on past struggles. He visits home often, falls in love, and becomes excited to introduce his new girlfriend to his parents.
For a while there, it was rough,
But lately, I’ve been doing better,
Than the last four cold Decembers I recall.
And I see my family every month,
I found a girl my parents love,
She’ll come and stay the night, and I think I might have it all.
But falling in love leaves him vulnerable. Now there’s so much to lose, and here, Boone beseeches the heavens to leave his loved ones right where they are. Jesus, take the wheel, but don’t take my baby. Or my family.
Oh, I hope I don’t lose you,
Mmm, please stay.
I want you, I need you, oh God,
Don’t take these beautiful things that I’ve got.
Terrified To Lose Something
“Beautiful Things” was inspired by a relationship that revealed new feelings in the singer.
He told Billboard, “I felt like I was extremely out of control of the way this relationship would turn out. Meaning like, in the past, I feel like I’ve always known that I could be the one to end a relationship.”
Boone continued, “This one felt very different. It was the first time that I’d really been actually, genuinely terrified to lose something.”
Oh, I’ll tell you, I know I’ve got enough,
I’ve got peace, and I’ve got love,
But I’m up at night thinking I just might lose it all.
Photo by Pedro Becerra/Redferns