Ugly

"Ugly"
Song by The Smashing Pumpkins
Album Lyrics Tabs Spotify
Released	January 23, 1996
Studio sessions	March 15-16 1994 – Gravity Studios Fall-Winter 1994 – Sadlands March-August 1995 – Pumpkinland and Chicago Recording Company
Length	2:52
Songwriter(s)	Billy Corgan

"Ugly" is a song from the The Smashing Pumpkins' box set, The Aeroplane Flies High and on the original "1979" single released in January 1996. During the sessions that made up Billy's Gravity Demos I, it was called "Beautiful One". The demo version differs significantly, having a much heavier sound and no vocals. The more subtle version featured on the "1979" single was chosen for release due to Corgan feeling that the "soft-loud-soft stylings of grunge" had been largely overdone by that point, although he has since stated that he regrets not releasing something more reminiscent of the original version instead.

“ Started as an album song until the very last moment, when Mellon Collies was cut from 31 to 28 songs, this is an interesting interpretation of what had essentially been an acoustic song. Flood and I tried about four different versions before settling on this one [see Queen's Hot Space album]. One version that I liked was just me and a distorted guitar. But in the end this version won, only to be mixed into eternal obscurity as a B-side. ” — Billy Corgan, Guitar World, January 1997

Videos

Corgan solo, February 7, 2022

Lyrics

I don't look in the mirror
I don't like what I see staring back at me
Everything is clearer
I'll never see what you see
It's not me
So beautiful and free
I'll never be what you need
I can't help it at all
I was born so beautiful
But now I'm ugly

And I rot in my skin
As a piece of me dies everyday
I know I'm nothing
I know there's nothing I can say
To change
The judgement in their ways
I'll never be what you need
I can't help it at all
My love was so beautiful
But now I'm ugly
Yeah...

I'm good enough, but I don't care
I'm good enough, but I'm not there
I'm good enough, but I don't care
The sun is out, but I'm not there

(I can go anywhere) I'm good enough, but I don't care (...somewhere)
(I can go anywhere) The sun is out, but I'm not there (...somewhere)
(I can go anywhere) I'm good enough (...somewhere)
(I can go anywhere) I'm good enough (...somewhere)

I don't look in the mirror
I don't like what I see staring back at me
Everything is clearer
I'll never see what you see
And I rot in my skin
As a piece of me dies everyday
I know I'm nothing
Because I'm ugly

Availability

Title	Notes	Type
Chicago Tapes and Unreleased Demos		Bootleg
Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness	2012 Reissue bonus CD 1: Morning Tea	Studio
MCIS Demos I		Bootleg
1979	UK/US CD single/UK 12"	Single
The Aeroplane Flies High Sampler	US Virgin promo CD (full release)	Promotional
The Aeroplane Flies High	"1979"	Box set
Billy's Gravity Demos I		Bootleg
Rarities and B-Sides		Compilation

Tour stats

• Total plays: 39 plays, 13 acoustic, 1 piano, 2 artists
• First performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 1995-02-20 at Double Door, Chicago, IL, US
• Last performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2022-09-22 at Irving Plaza, New York, NY, US

External links

• "Ugly" at SPFC