Vanities
By: Beck Hansen

Written by: Beck Hansen

Versions:
  1. Vanities (3:39)
    Available on IRM.
    Credits
    Bram Inscore: Bass
    David Campbell: Conductor, String Arrangement
    Beck Hansen: Guitar (Acoustic), Producer
    Monique McGuffin: Harp
    Charlotte Gainsbourg: Vocals
 
Lyrics:
Vanities [Version (a)]:

You could have it all
You could pawn it off
You could learn to crawl
Where you used to walk
And I I'm only burning vanities

You could tell the tale
You could sell it off
You could find a grail
Made of cinder block
And I I'm only burning vanities
 
The Song:

"Vanities" can be found on Charlotte Gainsbourg's album, IRM. Beck produced and wrote the entire album.

"Vanities" is a delicate but strong song, based on quiet acoustic guitar (or is that the harp?) and an ambient string section. The slowness and the strings somewhat remind me of "Round The Bend" from Sea Change, though there is certainly a little more going on here.

A "bonfire of the vanities," according to Wikipedia, refers to the burning of objects that are deemed to be occasions of sin. Historically they included burning of books and art, but here it seems to be more general.

The song seems to be saying to someone: you are having all these experiences, but I'm the one without sin. But then, am I living?