I Am The Cosmos
By: Chris Bell

Original Performance: Chris Bell
Written by: Chris Bell

Versions:
  1. I Am The Cosmos
    Available on Beck Social Media.
 
Lyrics:
I Am The Cosmos [Version (a)]:

(from Chris Bell's original)

Every night I tell myself
"I am the cosmos, I am the wind"
But that don't get you back again
Just when I was starting to feel ok
You're on the phone
I never wanna be alone
Never wanna be alone
I hate to have to take you home
Wanted too much to say no no
Yea yea yea
Yea yea yea

Never wanna be alone
I hate to have to take you hoem
Want you too much to say no no
Yea yea yea
Yea yea yea

My feelings always happening
Something I couldn't hide
I can't confide
Don't know what's going on inside
So every night I tell myself
"I am the cosmos, I am the wind"
But that don't get you back again
I'd really like to see you again
I really wanna see you again
I'd really like to see you again
I really wanna see you again
I'd really like to see you again
I really wanna see you again
I really wanna see you again
I really wanna see you again
 
The Song:

"I Am The Cosmos" is a song by Chris Bell, from his album of the same name. The album was recorded in the '70s, but not released until 1992, well after Bell had passed away in a car crash at the age of 27 in 1978. Bell had been a member of Big Star, one of Beck's favorite groups.

Beck has played "Cosmos" live a few times live, once with the band Wilco (see below).

On April 24, 2020 Beck posted a virus quarantine solo acoustic cover of the song from his couch on Instagram ("I'd really like to see you again").
 
Live:

Played live 9 times:
Earliest known live version: December 10, 2012
Latest known live version: August 14, 2023

Beck has played this pretty song a handful of times, all between December 2012 and July 2013.

The first two times were in short acoustic sets around Los Angeles, where Beck played it as a solo folk song.

In May 2013 and early July 2013, he did it twice more acoustically, but in small band arrangements (i.e., just bass and piano accompaniment).

At the end of July, Beck played the song in his own show in NYC. I think this might possibly have had a full band arrangement, though it was still acoustic-based. The next night, Beck played a show opening for Wilco. During their set, he came out and played five songs with them, including leading them through a majestic, soaring "I Am The Cosmos."

 
Notes: