Francesca Battistelli - Beautiful Lyrics
Released: 26 Aug 2008
Lyrics
As I lie in the desert,
Longing to be picked back up.
I lift my eyes to heaven,
And I call your name aloud.
Can you make it beautiful?
Can you help me love this place?
'Cause I feel inadequate
For the trial that I face.
But I'd give all I know to be called a child of yours.
Though it may cost my soul I can't think of wanting more,
Wanting more.
You're my cool refreshing fountain
When the desert air is warm.
You're my tall and mighty mountain
In the middle of the storm.
Can you make it beautiful?
Can you help me change my view?
'Cause I feel inadequate,
But I feel much closer to you.
And I'd give all I know, to be called a child of yours.
Though it may cost my soul, I can't think of wanting more.
And I would give all I know, to be called a child of yours.
Though it may cost my soul, I can't think of wanting more,
Can you make me beautiful?
Can you help me love this face?
'But I won't give up the race.
Video
Francesca Battistelli - Beautiful, Beautiful (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Francesca Battistelli’s "Beautiful," released on August 26, 2008, as part of her album *Beautiful* and the *Beautiful (Studio Series Performance Track) - EP*, stands as a profound testament to the transforming power of faith amidst personal struggle. From its opening lines, the song immediately draws the listener into a raw, honest conversation with God, bypassing superficial pleasantries to address the deepest parts of the human experience. It’s a prayer set to music, articulating the universal longing for purpose and divine intervention when life feels arid and overwhelming.
The narrative of "Beautiful" unfolds with an individual lying "in the desert," a potent metaphor for spiritual dryness, isolation, or a season of profound hardship. This imagery immediately resonates with biblical accounts of wilderness journeys and periods of testing, such as the Israelites' forty years in the desert or Jesus' own temptation. The cry, "Can you make it beautiful? Can you help me love this place?" isn't a demand for circumstances to change, but a plea for a shift in perspective, a divine lens through which to view suffering. It acknowledges a deep sense of inadequacy for the trials faced, echoing the sentiment in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where Paul learns that God's strength is made perfect in weakness. This vulnerability creates an immediate connection, as many encounter seasons where their own capabilities feel insufficient against life’s formidable challenges.
Central to the song's message is the profound declaration, "But I'd give all I know to be called a child of yours." This line reveals the ultimate desire underlying the struggles: not merely relief from pain, but an intimate, covenantal relationship with the Creator. It speaks to the incredible privilege and identity found in being adopted into God's family, a truth celebrated in John 1:12, "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." The acknowledgment that this desire "may cost my soul" suggests a deep understanding of discipleship—a willingness to surrender everything for the unparalleled value of belonging to God, a theme reminiscent of Jesus’ teaching in Luke 9:23 about taking up one's cross daily.
As the song progresses, a powerful shift occurs from despair to a recognition of God's unchanging nature. The imagery transforms from the desolate desert to God as a "cool refreshing fountain" and a "tall and mighty mountain." These are rich biblical metaphors: the fountain speaks to God as the source of living water, satisfying spiritual thirst (Isaiah 55:1), while the mountain represents His steadfastness, refuge, and unshakeable power in times of storm (Psalm 46:1). In the midst of feeling inadequate, the perspective begins to change from merely hoping God can "love this place" to asking Him to "change my view." This marks spiritual growth, moving from external circumstance to internal transformation, leading to the profound realization, "But I feel much closer to you." This closeness is the ultimate reward of persevering through trials, as documented in James 4:8, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
The repeated commitment, "And I would give all I know, to be called a child of yours," reinforces the song's core devotion. It's a surrender that deepens with understanding and experience. The final lines bring the journey full circle, yet with a renewed sense of purpose: "Can you make me beautiful? Can you help me love this face?" This isn't a superficial wish for physical beauty, but an earnest prayer for inner transformation, for God to sculpt the heart and mind, allowing one to embrace their God-given identity. Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." The concluding declaration, "But I won't give up the race," powerfully encapsulates the spirit of endurance that marks a life of faith. It echoes Hebrews 12:1-2, urging believers to "run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." "Beautiful" is an inspiring anthem for anyone navigating hardship, reminding them that through surrender, perseverance, and a deep longing for God, even the desert seasons can be transformed into opportunities for profound spiritual beauty and intimacy with the Father.