Belle and Sebastian - We Were Beautiful

Life experienced at different speeds as the city wakes up over a Saturday morning.
Filmed throughout Glasgow, from Crookston in the south-west, through the City Centre to Easterhouse and Cranhill.
mat-r.co/WeWereBeautiful
Credits
Made by: Blair Young
Filmed by: Michael Sherrington, Nick Aiton & Blair Young
Focus Puller on studio shoot: Clyde Jones
Camera Assistant: Marie Liden
Production: Olivia Reitala, Beth Allan for The Forest of Black
Colourist: John Sackey
Cast:
Sita Pieraccini
Natali McCleary
Katharine O’Donnelly
Titana Mthui
David Gourley
Blair Mackinnon
Ellanor & George Herron
Flore De Hoog
David McCallum
Leo & Dara
With thanks to: Kelly McAllister & Broadcast, Victoria Black & Remake Remodel, Kinning Park Complex, David Gourley, Sarah Martin, Calumn Shearer, Kate Cotter and David Archibald.
We Were Beautiful
I was blank as I could be
Hearing voices telling me
Walk away from everything
But where was I meant to go?
Far away from those I know
To some desolate below
We were in the uber scene
Where they grind the coffee bean
And the women are oblique
And the boys are paper thin
Ragged beards upon their chin
We are on the outside looking in
Rise above the present day
Rise above the popular melee
I see you the way you are
I see you the star
We were beautiful before this went down
We were beautiful before the years came
And turned it upside down
We were beautiful before we got wise
We were beautiful with sky and blanket laying low
I am hanging on the line
I'm on duty all the time
I am your Samaritan on call
I could try my best to heal
All the emptiness you feel
In the giving I will be alive
We were wrapped around our roots
Nothing on except our boots
We were intimate around the waist
We were settling our scores
We were healing over sores
We were living out the pleasure that we lost
We were beautiful before this went down
We were beautiful before the years came
And turned it upside down
We were beautiful for all of time and space
I will tell it to the sun and I will tell it to..
If you listen to the night
We can hear the madmen fight
Hear the foxes making out
But the people are immune
Sleeping silent in their rooms
Growing bodies with their sleep
Making plans inside their heads
Making love to shallow friends
Shallow friends
You are not too old to change
Happy only comes after the pain
Of you and me
We were beautiful before the years
came and turned it upside down
We were beautiful before we got wise
We were beautiful with sky and blanket fading out
We were beautiful before this went down
We were beautiful before the years
came and turned it upside down
We were beautiful for all of time and space
I will tell it to the sun and I will tell it to your face
--
Éramos hermosos (español)
Estaba en blanco
Escuchaba voces diciéndome
Escapa de todo
¿Pero a dónde debía ir?
Lejos de aquellos que conozco,
A algún lugar inhóspito.
Estábamos en el mejor lugar
Donde muelen los granos de café.
Y las mujeres son oblicuas
Y los chicos tan delgados como papel,
Barbas andrajosas sobre su mentón.
Miramos la escena desde afuera.
Supera el día de hoy,
Supera el famoso tumulto.
Te veo tal como eres.
Veo tu estrella.
Éramos hermosos antes de que esto decayera
Éramos hermosos antes de que los años pasaran
Y pusieran todo boca abajo
Éramos hermosos antes de ser sabios.
Éramos hermosos bajo la manta y bajo el cielo.
Estoy a la espera
Estoy en guardia todo el tiempo
Soy tu samaritano en turno
Haría lo imposible para sanar
El vacío que sientes
Al ayudar estaré vivo
Atrapados en nuestras raíces
Con nada más que nuestras botas
Íntimos por la cintura
Resolvíamos nuestras disputas
Sanábamos nuestros heridas
Vivíamos el placer que alguna vez perdimos
Éramos hermosos antes de que esto decayera
Éramos hermosos antes de que los años pasaran
Y pusieran todo boca abajo
Éramos hermosos a través del tiempo y el espacio
Se lo diré al sol y se lo diré a…
Si escuchas a la noche
Podemos oír a los locos pelear
A los zorros liándose
Pero la gente es inmune
Duerme tranquila en su habitación
Cuerpos crecen mientras sueñan
Hacen planes en sus mentes
Hacen el amor a amigos superficiales.
Amigos superficiales.
No eres demasiado viejo para cambiar.
La felicidad sólo llega después del dolor
Tuyo y mío
Éramos hermosos antes de que los años pasaran
y pusieran todo boca abajo
Éramos hermosos antes de ser sabios
Éramos hermosos con la manta y el cielo desvaneciéndose.
Éramos hermosos antes de que esto decayera
Éramos hermosos antes de que los años pasaran
y pusieran todo boca abajo.
Éramos hermosos a través del tiempo y el espacio.
Se lo diré al sol y se lo diré a tu rostro.

[@Ididntaskforahandleyoutube]

You guys changed my life like no other band in my lifetime. I'll leave it at that.

[@AImaniaX]

I love this song! It will help you get right out of a depression. It just makes me so happy hard to explain! It’s about going back to the state of when you were the most happy. This band is so amazing their music is helping me so much! 😍😘

[@simonedgbaston]

🎶 All of Belle and Sebastian's Songs on each Album and E.P deeply move Me from the start up to the now in 2023 yet some move me more this such a Song 🎵

[@mitziliszt2]

Beautiful music with meaningful lyrics, you never disappoint Belle & Sebastian, legends !!!

[@NeelaaAath]

this is so beautiful, I cannot WAIT for new music and your performances lovelovelOve

[@karlc.8633]

Always like an early birthday present when I get to see and hear new music from B&S. Please come back to North Carolina. Loved your show at the NCMA.

[@Hkk922]

You guys are getting younger by each passing year, love it.

[@jefersonvinicius8382]

Amazing, from Brazil. :D

[@nadiamendez2516]

After all these years you still have it! love it!

[@stellamaris5414]

love!!! have listened to this several times already

[@edsonbraz1730]

Que sonoridade ótima! Álbum novo a caminho!

[@sydney6759]

i’m beyond excited for you guys to release more music!

[@marianateixeira3203]

Vc vai escutando no buss e se imaginado em um clipe!!! #ameiii

[@Lowlander-ci7is]

Wow great song!!! I really miss Glasgow....

[@isaaccaudillo4924]

Great song!, Love listening to your music, it always cheers me up!. Greetings from Monterrey, Nuevo León, México guys!

[@jonathanglemtz5717]

I was missing new music from you guys. Greetings from Mexico

[@ax_el_alvarez]

x2

[@javierriosvalencia3727]

X3

[@santiagosandoval1964]

Jonathan Glemtz x4

[@BruHunziker]

x5

[@questiongirlrope]

I mean, you guys can't help being amazing!!!

[@ssornellas]

How can B&S be so sweet in song and video at the same time?

[@newhoodie18]

This song makes tear a bit , i think of age and ups and downs i had of marriage and 17 years we been together looking at old pictures of myself and my wife we beautiful before it went down and we still are 😢😁😊

[@Ididntaskforahandleyoutube]

robert velez, hang in there, Champ.

[@Cannon74com]

Well done Belle and Sebastian! Thx.

[@burcu4711]

I was blank as I could be, hearing voices telling me, “Walk away from everything” Oh I wasn’t meant to go, far away from those I know, to some desolate below [Verse 2] We were in the urban scene, where they grind the coffee bean, where the women are oblique And the boys are paper thin, ragged beards upon their chin, we were on the outside looking in Rise above the present day, rise above the popular melee I see you the way you are, I see you the scar[?] [Chorus] We were beautiful before this went down We were beautiful before the years came, turned it upside down We were beautiful before we got wise We were beautiful with sky and blanket laying low [Verse 3] I am hanging on the line, I’m on duty all the time, I am your Samaritan on call I could try my best to heal, all the emptiness you feel, in the giving I will be a light[?} [Verse 4] We were wrapped around our roots, nothing on except our boots, we were intimate around the waist We were settling our scores, we were healing over sores, we were living out the pleasure that we lost [Chorus] We were beautiful before this went down We were beautiful before the years came, turned it upside down We were beautiful for all time and space I will tell it to the sun and I will tell it to… [Verse 5] If you listen to the night, we can heard the madmen fight, hear the foxes making out But the people all immune, sleeping silent in their rooms, growing bodies with their sleep Making plans inside their heads, making love to shallow friends [Chorus] We were beautiful before this went down We were beautiful before the years came, turned it upside down We were beautiful before we got wise We were beautiful with sky and blanket fueling up[?} [Chorus] We were beautiful before this went down We were beautiful before the years came, turned it upside down We were beautiful for all time and space I will tell it to the sun and I will tell it to your face

[@valeriadelarosa7006]

Burcu Liliales thanku

[@jorgepapaianni4632]

Beautiful, from Argentina....love it

[@jzzzzm]

Beautiful ❤❤❤

[@LEEDIEDZJEE]

I was blank as I could be Hearing voices telling me "Walk away from everything" But where was I meant to go? Far away from those I know To some desolate below We were in the uber scene Where they grind the coffee bean Where the women are oblique And the boys are paper thin Ragged beards upon their chin We were on the outside looking in Rise above the present day Rise above the popular melee I see you the way you are I see you, the star We were beautiful before this went down We were beautiful before the years came And turned it upside down We were beautiful before we got wise We were beautiful with sky and blanket laying low I am hanging on the line I'm on duty all the time I am your Samaritan on call I could try my best to heal All the emptiness you feel In the giving, I will be alive We were wrapped around our roots Nothing on except our boots We were intimate around the waist We were settling our scores We were healing over sores We were living out the pleasure that we lost We were beautiful before this went down We were beautiful before the years came And turned it upside down We were beautiful for all of time and space I will tell it to the sun and I will tell it to If you listen to the night We can hear the madmen fight Hear the foxes making out But the people all immune Sleeping silent in their rooms Growing bodies with their sleep Making plans inside their heads Making love to shallow friends Shallow friends You are not too old to change Happy only comes after the pain of you and me We were beautiful before the years came And turned it upside down We were beautiful before we got wise We were beautiful with sky and blanket fading out We were beautiful before this went down We were beautiful before the years came And turned it upside down We were beautiful for all of time and space I will tell it to the sun and I will tell it to your face

[@blessedbees4247]

Aaltsje, thank you for taking the time to post the lyrics. Much appreciated.

[@MrMIKEMOST]

can´t love this band more and more....

[@pablocine1]

Beautiful, from Colombia. :) 💗

[@mariasoledadgarabana6243]

Los amo.❤

[@yasminpops]

it's so beautiful :"))

[@CECEWJUVE]

marvellous!

[@fmadu]

Glasgow

[@vidlevjidle2994]

Felipe Madureira Same! I felt at home in Glasgow.

[@terbennett]

Brilliant!!

[@hobbitta]

My favorite band with one of my favorite things on this video

[@MrNunescj]

So inspiring!

[@goksuylmaz8257]

oh god really this is good

[@elymortality-thieves7165]

Yum, pedal steel. Need to listen to a few times before you can really appreciate the depth to this song. Tx B&S.

[@DieHardman38]

Essa musica muito bonita,mesmo que eu nao entenda a letra mas o som em geral e muito linda!Obra musical perfeita!

[@user-wg6on4rb8w]

amazing！

[@DxSatelliteRock]

Very Good!

[@alessandro.carvalho]

They are beautiful.

[@leticiasousa3826]

incrivel,amo os escoceses💗👑🎶🎤

[@jenniferknipe3740]

Beautiful

[@namthach366]

Beautiful, from Vietnam!!!

[@AImaniaX]

Please come to Las Vegas we need you here! 💋

[@AMedda]

Fresh.

[@jotashock]

Stuart no envejece, todos son eternos xD Los amo

[@guidozennaro999]

See you soon in Italy!!!!!!

[@AImaniaX]

Please send this to all the people you know who are very sad or depressed right now.

[@Viicouu]

Pllleeease do a concert soon in Paris or London ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@walterguitton6845]

Nice, greetings from Peru

[@lastcoby]

Come back soon to Peru guys, we love you!!

[@slailhan4491]

Chills

[@archanapp6003]

lol no

[@valeriacastro8683]

SUPER IN LOVE

[@valeriacastro8683]

IN LOVE

[@p16d4ltd]

See you next year in Strasbourg... keep playing and enjoying

[@nmbd1000]

you're the Best.

[@josemoreira121]

Boa música ! Portugal

[@pauloreis276]

Muito bom! Apareceu como recomendado e eu bora lá ouvir :)

[@ritam8938]

é mesmo

[@btf4502]

i feel so lucky

[@stevelayton1271]

Katharine O'Donnelly!

[@threecakes]

You are really good band

[@Dermot2927]

This is similar to but not the same as the video they showed at their concerts for this song - slo-mo slices of life in (I assume) Glasgow, including a goalkeeper in a parks match tipping the ball over the bar. Very evocative, and I can't hear the song without seeing the images, though this video is good too. Does anyone know where the goalkeeper video is?

[@slailhan4491]

bayağı iyi geldi bu

[@koolrockradio]

Kool

[@almitaguilar]

Súper chulo

[@severainfostso1821]

Musique Céline Dion

[@ABrookeByTheTree]

[@roxana14565]

Me suena a psboys. Suena bien ♡

[@magmasunburst9331]

Check out Frank Dumin "Another Dawn" from 1971, really has a similar B & S sound. Xian is a keyword you should look into, maybe you know about it. Been a fan of you guys since 1998.

[@chadlong1109]

This could've been one of their classics, but I've gotta quibble with the production. This is going to sound very dated in about 10 years. The first five albums sound like they could've been made yesterday because they didn't sound like anybody else, but this has got that pop radio sheen. It's gonna one day sound as locked in its time as Dylan's 80's albums do. Still, a great song from one of my favorite bands. I hope Stuart's pen keeps busy until he's 90.

[@chancechaser4487]

Moving on a straight line...

[@mattmyers2863]

Belle and Sebastian does New Order!

[@revoltin85]

I saw Katharine in the thumbnail, so i clicked

[@user-xh4nn5fc7h]

Россия! Люблю!!!

[@user-qd9wo6tp7m]

Plz come to korea😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@kirkthiagopedroso]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMO!!!!

[@thevalery]

Это просто нереально круто!

[@MrAmbushHunter]

Natali McCleary is the only person in this video with really uneasy & disconcerted appearance, although she's particularly glamorous. & the video doesn't explain what's the reason of her hardship. So, Natali, if you read this, try to make it clear...

[@MirroOre]

Прошлый альбом был более занудный. А этот вполне так живенько.

[@Mislorod]

"We were beautiful before the kids came"

[@dll5765]

No one noticed the gay couple?💛

[@zacharybeatty]

i cannot express how bad this song is

[@robertreichle1]

Sounds good except for the ridiculously rapid-fire beats that everyone thinks are required for modern music. It's overload and not necessary. Just be you. It's good enough and better than most. So glad they didn't throw a bunch of "whoa whoa whoas" in there too just to be trendy. That's even worse than machine gun beats.

[@xinbeicao6885]

I think the beats add something to it:) It spices the song up a bit.

[@Bjarke89]

God forbid that they try something new.

[@chrismcnulty7826]

The funky beats sound great!!

[@robertreichle1]

Trying something new... selling out to appeal to the kids... sometimes you can't tell the difference.

[@long-timelistenerfirst-t-us2yy]

Hey, at least its not _jungle_ beats, hmmkay! Now THAT would be selling out to appeal to the kids :-\

[@greenwave819]

What an incredibly woke video! even good bands lose their vision

[@fweebrotwosday]

Perhaps you folks should think about retiring & moving on--perhaps take-up painting, or photography; you were great once B&S, but this is just plain awful.

[@GK1976A]

You're joking aren't you? This is easily the best song they've done. Well, maybe not quite as good as the boy with the arab strap, but close. What I want to know is what the 'Wha-wha" instrument that comes in at 3.30? Absolutely love that bit. Possibly a trumpet muffler?

[@benzilla127]

It's a trumpet with a mute in it.

[@Ididntaskforahandleyoutube]

Yes, you don't care for it so they should retire. Logic.

[@Sabhail_ar_Alba]

They forget their roots.

[@Sabhail_ar_Alba]

Are they promoting "diversity" or music. No longer a fan.

[@aliceswift13]

You're so fragile.

[@400_bones8]

The videos just showing different people in Glasgow. This may come as a shock to you but there are actually black people, gay people, and black gay people in Glasgow. Maybe go outside for once sweetheart

[@bsbull1234]

Thank god you are not a fan anymore. So GLAAD!

[@bentp4891]

Worst song I've heard from B&S in a long time. Not sure what they were thinking here.

[@thechronicnoizeco.6675]

Yuck...pedal steel.