I Would Like to Call It Beauty

Song Meaning

Corinne Bailey Rae's "I Would Like to Call It Beauty" is a masterclass in finding grace within grief, a testament to the enduring power of love in the face of loss. The song's core isn't about saccharine optimism; instead, it's a raw, unflinching look at how beauty can emerge from the most painful experiences. The opening lines, "So young for death / We walk in shoes too big," immediately plunge the listener into a space of mourning, hinting at a loss that feels both premature and overwhelming. The image of walking in shoes too big speaks to the feeling of being ill-equipped to handle such profound sorrow, of stepping into a role for which one is not yet ready. The recurring phrase, "And I would like to call it beauty," acts as a mantra, a conscious choice to reframe suffering. It's not a denial of pain, but rather an active seeking of the sublime within it. The lyric "Strained as love's become, it still amazes me" acknowledges the wear and tear that loss inflicts on relationships, yet insists on the enduring power of love to inspire awe and wonder. There’s a psychological depth here, suggesting that the act of naming something "beauty" is a way of reclaiming agency and finding meaning in chaos. The latter part of the song explores themes of resilience and perseverance. Lines like "You slept a sigh like the angels speak / And we danced into tomorrow on bleeding feet" evoke a sense of pushing forward despite immense pain. The "bleeding feet" are not a sign of defeat, but rather a symbol of the arduous journey towards healing. The song suggests that even in the face of death and despair, there is a force that propels us forward, a "you" that pushes the narrator onward. This "you" could be interpreted as a lost loved one, a source of inner strength, or even a divine presence. Ultimately, "I Would Like to Call It Beauty" is a poignant exploration of how love, loss, and beauty intertwine to shape the human experience.