"Beautiful Loser" is a song written and recorded by American rock artist Bob Seger. It was the title track on his 1975 studio album Beautiful Loser. The single just missed inclusion on the US Top 100, but became more widely known when it was included on Seger's breakout album, 'Live' Bullet (1976), where it was paired with "Travelin' Man".
The song is about people who set their goals so low that they never achieve anything. Seger got the idea for the song from Beautiful Losers, a novel written by Leonard Cohen. Contrary to what many believed, the song is not about Seger himself. It took over a year to finish the song, and Seger wrote three or four versions of the song before settling on one that worked.
Beautiful Loser (Live In Detroit/1975) · Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band 'Live' Bullet
Beautiful Loser is the eighth studio album by American rock artist Bob Seger, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music). This album marked Seger's return to Capitol Records after a four-year split. His previous record with Capitol was Brand New Morning in 1971.
The album relied mostly on session musicians from the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, but the Silver Bullet Band members were used separately on some songs and together on "Nutbush City Limits," a cover song of the hit by Ike & Tina Turner.
Lyrics
He wants to dream like a young man
With the wisdom of an old man
He wants his home and security
He wants to live like a sailor at sea
Beautiful loser
Where you gonna fall?
When you realize, you just can't have it all
He's your oldest and your best friend
If you need him, he'll be there again
He's always willing to be second-best
A perfect lodger, a perfect guest
Beautiful loser
Read it on the wall
And realize
You just can't have it all
You just can't have it all
You just can't have it all
Ohh, ohh, can't have it all
You can try, you can try, but you can't have it all
oh yeah
He'll never make any enemies, enemies, no
He won't complain if he's caught in a freeze
He'll always ask, he'll always say please
Beautiful loser
Never take it all
'Cause it's easier
And faster when you fall
You just don't need it all
You just don't need it all
You just don't need it all
Just don't need it all