Beautiful Despair (For James)
RODNEY CROWELL
Beautiful despair is hearing Dylan
When you're drunk at 3 a.m.
Knowing that the chances are
No matter what you'll never write like him
Oh, brother
Beautiful despair is why you lean
Into this world without restraint
'Cause somewhere out before you
Lies the masterpiece you'd sell your soul to paint
Oh, brother
What do we laugh or cry
Beautiful despair
Beautiful despair
Beautiful despair is slouching forward
Toward a past you might regret
All to suck the marrow out
Of every magic moment that you get
Beautiful despair is playing safe
When you were once a rebel child
Knowing that tomorrow comes
And all you've done is last another mile
Oh, brother
Oh, dear brother
Oh, my brother
What shall we drink or dry?