"Beautiful Losers"

Album Art by Chase Stone.

## Music Video

Official Video on YouTube

**"Beautiful Losers"** is a song by the American rock band Coheed and Cambria. It is the second song on their 2022 album *Vaxis - Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind*.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

Your weight on my shoulders

At the top I break down, I call out

Young lovers, please help me

They see with no sound when I shout

**[Pre-Chorus]**

But I'm here to attest

With no hope that somehow

Where there's a will, there's a way out

**[Chorus]**

Hey, Kid

There's no shame

Or reason to doubt

For crying out loud

Run like they're out for your blood

When life feels like zero

Beautiful Losers, you're my hero

Never thought I'd be a hero

**[Verse 2]**

Am I better off left

A half empty glass and a thirst unquenched?

Stand up and defend

All you are and all you weren't

**[Pre-Chorus]**

In my empty eyes, can I find the 'me'?

The more I lie, I find the truth I seek

**[Chorus]**

Hey, Kid

There's no shame

Or reason to doubt

For crying out loud

Run like they're out for first blood

When you're left with zero

Beautiful Losers, you're my hero

Never thought, never thought

Never thought I'd be a hero

**[Bridge]**

The wrong side of courage

In a toybox of phobias

Hook, line and sinker

Time will bind, time will undo

**[Chorus]**

Hey, Kid

There's no shame

No reason to doubt

For crying out loud

Run like the dead have risen

When you're left with zero

Beautiful Losers, you're my hero

Hey!

You'll always be my hero

Beautiful Losers

## Music Video

The video was directed by Patrik Skoglow, who filmed the footage "in Germany." There were 4 German shows so presumably the footage is from a bit of each to get various angles and different shots.

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## Story Context

Working off the idea that the majority of the album is written from Vaxis' perspective, we can see confirmation of that in the title line, "Beautiful Losers, you're my hero." To start with the first verse, we get the impression that Vaxis feels both an immense responsibility ("Your weight on my shoulders") and a kind of entrapment ("...I call out / Young lovers, please help me"). It also shows us that Vaxis is trying to communicate, but simply can't. In the pre-chorus, we get the line, "Where there's a will, there's a way out" which is said by his father, Nostrand Crane in the first chapter, which may give us confirmation that Vaxis *can* hear/see his parents and the world around him. The chorus starts with "Hey kid" which may indicate that he is again, hearing his father or mother speaking to him, but given Vaxis' connection with time, may also indicate an older Vaxis talking to his younger self, especially given that the chorus ends with the "Beautiful Losers, you're my hero" line.

In the second verse, we get some insight into how Vaxis is feeling... he's unsure if it's worth his parents going through all these trials and tribulations. But in that end, he accepts what he is, and perhaps even takes some pride in it, with the pre-chorus supporting this by saying, "Stop lying to yourself and just be you." The chorus makes this concept come full circle as it now feels like he's actively encouraging his parents to succeed. The bridge seems to describe various scenes Vaxis is perceiving. Perhaps his parent's infiltration of CRST on Croscif and their encounter with the Scolorustia. He ominously ends with the line, "Time will bind, time will undo." Could this be foreshadowing?

## Background

Based on the band's history of being an underdog, Sanchez wanted to highlight this remarkable milestone of hitting its 20-year anniversary. In a way, the song allowed him to put that history behind him as a sort of anthem.

## Trivia

* This track was one of the few tracks that were written during *Vaxis I*'s release.
	+ It was also originally considered for *Vaxis I*, but Sanchez ultimately felt didn't make sense for it, pushing it to *Vaxis II*.
* Sanchez said that this song was very "ambiguous" and likened it to the band coming up over their 20 year career, calling them "underdogs." He also said that he felt the same way about Creature & Sister Spider, but since the characters weren't really together in *Vaxis I*, it made more sense to move it to *Vaxis II*.
* This song title is most likely a nod to Sanchez and Stever’s first band, 'Beautiful Loser'

## References

1. ↑ https://genius.com/Coheed-and-cambria-beautiful-losers-lyrics
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwhcmGWsI40
3. ↑ https://metalplanetmusic.com/2022/05/coheed-and-cambria-announce-dates-with-thrice-and-touche-amore/
4. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/TheFence/comments/vklxyl/claudios\_trackbytrack\_descriptions\_from\_allmusic/
5. ↑ Epstein, Dan. "Coheed and Cambria." Revolver (Issue 159), Spring 2022, pp. 58-66.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hickie, James. "Interview with Claudio Sanchez" AltPress (Issue #406.1; May 2022), 16 May 2022, pp. 60-67.