• Track: Beat’s So Lonely
• Artist: Charlie Sexton
• Album: Pictures for Pleasure
• Year: 1985

Lyrics:

The beat’s so lonely, I’ll bet it’s lonely at the top
She hesitates but the beat will never stop
Wanting him only but the people never
See her heart burning, that’s the secret that she keeps

Come on, baby, you know there’s something missing
Don’t find nothing, no more coincidences
Ready, baby, look in these eyes and you will see
The things will happen but only if they’re meant to be

The beat’s so lonely, I’ll bet it’s lonely at the top
(So lonely)
At the top
(So lonely)

She said, “The beat’s so lonely if you let it be that way”
She can’t tell the difference anyway
She keeps holding but she’s scared to say
She’d pay dearly for the answers of her day

She keeps holding but she’s scared to say
She’d pay dearly for the answers of her day

All answers of her, answers of her days

The beat’s so lonely as she waits so patiently
Her heart’s yearning, how she’s learning to see
And he’s not hurting but he wouldn’t mind to be
She still sees him, she sees him interestingly

Come on, baby, you know there’s something missing
Don’t find nothing, no more coincidences
Ready, baby, before you give up all you’ve got
You’ve got to come closer, you’ve got to give it one more shot

The beat’s so lonely, I’ll bet she’s lonely at the top
(So lonely)
At the top
(So lonely)

She said, “The beat’s so lonely if you let it be that way”
She can’t tell the difference anyway
She keeps holding, but she’s scared to say
She’d pay dearly for the answers of her day

Answers of her day, answers of her, ow, day

So lonely, so lonely, so lonely, so lonely
So lonely, so lonely, so lonely, so lonely

Well, come on, baby, you know there’s something missing
But don’t find nothing, no more coincidences
Ready, baby, before you give up all you’ve got
You’ve got to come closer, you’ve got to give it one more shot

The beat’s so lonely, I’ll bet she’s lonely at the top
(So lonely)
At the top
(So lonely)

So lonely, so lonely, so lonely, so lonely
So lonely, so lonely, so lonely, so lonely
So lonely, so lonely

In 1985, I was all about crunchy guitars (I still am) with a punk edge. Charlie Sexton’s Beat’s So Lonely came along around the same time Andy Taylor from Duran Duran was exploring his rock underpinnings, and Robert Palmer and Taylor were turning up the volume with the Power Station. Last week’s tune of the day, Men Without Shame by Phantom, Rocker & Slick, fit right into the mix. I still remember the mixtape I made for cruising in my souped up 1979 Camaro Rally Sport. When I picture that car and those times, Charlie Sexton is one of the artists who provided the soundtrack for my late high school and early college career.

Unknown to many, Sexton has served a number of stints as Bob Dylan’s backing guitarist (1999-2002, 2009-present). He released four solo albums in the mid- and late-1980s, and contributed a track to the hit movie, Thelma and Louise (of all things). In 1992, Sexton, along with blues guitarist Doyle Bramhall II formed the Arc Angels, releasing two albums, the first which, the 1992 self-titled record, made the blues charts and contains one of my favorite modern blues tracks, The Shape I’m In.

Video:

Here’s the single mix, which was included on the album. Below, is the longer version, which also was the version used in the official music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEfnhn7VLJw

Here’s the official music video:

And because we’re completists here at the Dances with Bass labs, here is Sexton performing Shape I’m In with The Arc Angels:

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