Pretty (Ugly Before) by Elliott Smith explores the themes of self-reflection, emotional struggle, and transformation. The song depicts a battle with inner demons and the quest for personal redemption. Smith's raw, poignant lyrics discuss the feeling of being in a better place now compared to the past, but still acknowledging lingering difficulties. Key moments include lines like 'Sunshine been keeping me up for days' which suggests a period of insomnia and restlessness, while 'I felt so ugly before, I didn't know what to do' captures the essence of his previous struggles with self-worth.