Diamond in the Sleaze

Diamond in the Sleaze is a B-Side found on the Cold Brains and Nobody's Fault but My Own singles.

Description
This song was recorded after Mutations released, but it was still included as a B-Side on some of the singles. The song is highlighted by the acoustic guitar and flute, which give the song a nice, laid back groove. Beck plays all the guitars and also plays bass.

In the song, Beck uses numerous musical images ("the keyboard of your memory is coming apart" and "can you hear the saxophones peeling the paint?") as well as alluding to success ("a life lived under glass" and "a diamond in the sleaze"). The lion shaking it's mane could also be a reference to a performer. Or maybe he's just singing about a lion. Who knows.

Lyrics
A diamond in the sleaze, down on bended knees

A thousand grizzled nerves hanging loose at the ends

It's later than you think, it's gone before you blink

Out of the crosshairs, into the crowd

Do you want to see me suffering?

Do you want to see me suffering?

How could you let a good thing go?

How could you let a good thing go, go, oh?

A lion in a cage shakes his golden mane

He doesn't care who notices where he's gonna lie

He came to beg a meal, you're older than you feel

The keyboard of your memory is coming apart

It's a weight upon my shoulder

It's a weight upon my shoulder

How could you let a good thing go?

How could you let a good thing go, go, oh?

I won't ever let you go

I won't ever let you go

The doctor takes a rest inside a hornet's nest

With Polaroids of patients who refuse to be cured

A life lived under glass and stolen Cadillacs

Can you hear the saxophones peeling the paint?

Do you want to see me suffering?

Do you want to see me suffering?

How could you let a good thing go?

How could you let a good thing go, go, oh?

I won't ever let you go

I won't ever let you go

I won't ever let you go

I won't ever let you go