The Beast is a character who runs through the album. He is mentioned twice before this song, and each time he is less personally tied to the narrator. The first time is in “The Muse”:
Don’t you be scared of me
I’m nothing but the beast
And I’ll call on you when I need
To feast
Here The Beast is...
[Verse]
Where did our love go?
You will never know
How did you get home?
You will never know
Did you catch yourself in the mirror?
It's a sight I understand
You consider it all for a second
And put it down to sleight of hand
You know I've been running 'round for hours
Calling my Gyptian blood to bear me flowers
Calling Sophia, goddess of power
[Chorus]
Instead I got the beast
And tonight, he lies with me
Tonight, he lies with me
Tonight, he lies with me
And here come the beast
[Verse]
You're OK now?
"I suppose"
You're not pulled by the rope?
I'm pulled by the pull on my throat
I'm pulled by the rope
I swing from the trees into the slope
Hold my head high just by the tip of my toes
And he lies, he lies, so sweet that I choke
[Bridge]
Tonight, I choose the beast
And tonight he lies with me
Tonight, he lies with me
Tonight, he lies with me
And here come the beast
[Bridge]
Put your eyes away
If you can't bear to see
Your old lady lay
Down next to the beast
Tonight, he lies with me
Tonight, he lies with me
And here come the beast
[Verse]
If you catch yourself in the mirror
It's a sight I understand
You consider it all for a second
And put it down to sleight of hand
I give you the best advice that I can
What I suggest is you be grateful there's no blood on my hands
And assume yourself weaker to the fall of man
[Chorus]
And look out for the beast
'Cause tonight, he lies with me
Tonight, he lies with me
And here come the beast
[Outro]
Put your eyes away if you can't bear to see
Your old lady lay
Down next to the beast
Tonight, he lies with me
Tonight, he lies with me
Here come the beast
The Beast was written by Laura Marling.
The Beast was produced by Ethan Johns.
Laura Marling released The Beast on Fri Sep 09 2011.