Beauty Of The Beast

Nightwish's 'Beauty Of The Beast' is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of love, loss, and existential reflection. The song is divided into three distinct parts: 'Long Lost Love,' 'One More Night to Live,' and 'Christabel,' each contributing to a tapestry of emotions and themes that resonate deeply with the listener.

In 'Long Lost Love,' the lyrics paint a picture of a love that has faded into the past, symbolized by the imagery of trees dropping their leaves and clouds shedding their waters. The burden of this lost love is palpable, and the narrator's pain is evident as they question whether their feelings are reciprocated. The sense of distance and the fear of never finding another love again add layers of melancholy to the song.

'One More Night to Live' delves into the narrator's inner world, a place of dreams and memories. The longing to return to a simpler, more innocent time is evident, as is the desire to cleanse oneself of past mistakes and regrets. The black rose symbolizes a love that is both beautiful and tragic, and the reference to having the 'eyes of a wolf' suggests a deep, primal connection. The lyrics also touch on the duality of human nature, with saints and sinners sharing the same fate, and the idea that great art often comes from great pain.

Finally, 'Christabel' brings a sense of resignation and acceptance. The narrator sees themselves as a failed poet, a 'Dead Boy' who couldn't complete his life's work. The reference to Christabel, a character from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's unfinished poem, adds a layer of literary depth and underscores the theme of unfinished business and unfulfilled potential. The song as a whole is a poignant reflection on the beauty and pain of existence, wrapped in Nightwish's signature symphonic metal sound.