The Prettiest Thing

Norah Jones' song "The Prettiest Thing" is a poignant exploration of beauty, memory, and self-reflection. The lyrics open with a vivid image of lightning moving through the dark sky, symbolizing a fleeting yet powerful moment of beauty. This imagery sets the tone for the song, as Jones reflects on moments that are both beautiful and transient. The lightning, moving with purpose, contrasts with the singer's current state of feeling lost and disconnected, as if her life is a picture hanging on someone else's wall.

The song delves deeper into the theme of self-reflection, with Jones admitting that she hasn't been herself lately. This sense of disconnection is heavy on her mind, suggesting a period of introspection and perhaps a longing for a time when she felt more grounded. The recurring motif of dreaming indicates a desire to escape or return to a simpler, more authentic version of herself. This dream-like state is both a comfort and a reminder of what she feels she has lost.

In the second verse, Jones shifts her focus to a more rustic and homely image—the dusty handle on a door and a rusty nail in an old pine floor. These images evoke a sense of nostalgia and familiarity, representing a place that feels like home. This juxtaposition of the grand and the mundane highlights the beauty in everyday life and the comfort found in familiar, albeit imperfect, surroundings. Ultimately, "The Prettiest Thing" is a meditation on the beauty found in both the extraordinary and the ordinary, and a reminder of the importance of staying connected to one's true self.