O Maria

O Maria is the ninth track on Mutations.

Description
Throughout Mutations, Beck explores decay and ruin. Beck noticed this and said "When I sing about decrepitude or corrosion, I'm not sittin' at the wailin' wall. These aren't depressing things to me. They're kind of humorous, ambiguous. They're just part of the fabric of my life." And he's right, most of his songs aren't that depressing until you look into them more (except for Sea Change)

O Maria relies much on this emotion. Right from the start, the song starts painting a picture of hopelessness ("I've been looking for a good time, but the pleasures are seldom and few") and pointlessness ("the night is useless and so are we"). The second verse also has a bleak outlook ("everybody knows death creeps in slow..."), and lines about depression ("just the concrete and a worried mind").

The final verse introduces Maria, who does not appear to know of Beck's sadness. Her effect is strong, Beck cannot seem to feel down when she's around ("I've been looking for my shadow, but this place is so bright and so clean"). The hope that Maria brings, this ray of light, is also represented in the music. A fairly bright, simple melody, with a lot of "la la la"s. Beck does not play any instruments on the recording.

Lyrics
There is no one, nothing to see, the night is useless and so are we

Because everybody knows the fabric of folly is falling apart at the seams

And I've been looking for a good time, but the pleasures are seldom and few

There's no whiskey, there's no wine, just the concrete and a worried mind

Because everybody knows death creeps in slow 'til you feel safe in his arms

And I've been looking for a new friend and I don't care if he's decrepid and grey

La la la la la

La la la la la

La la la la la

O Maria, haven't you known days so careless all on your own?

Because everybody knows the circus is closed and the animals have gone wild

And I've been looking for my shadow, but this place is so bright and so clean

There is no one, nothing to see, the night is useless and so are we

Because everybody knows the fabric of folly is falling apart at the seams

And I've been looking for a good time, but the pleasures are seldom and few

La la la la la

La la la la la