| Elliott Smith – No Confidence Man Lyrics | 9 years ago |
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He's talking about his stepfather's abuse of his mother and him, and his eventual exit to from Texas to Portland. I kind of thought the rubber loop was represented his mother in his stepfather's hands, Charlie in control of her. A loop is a cycle, something happening over and over, probably related to abuse. I don't really see why he'd use a condom during abuse of Elliott? This sort of "fuck off" language "Don't try to tell me your bullshit scheme/ I have no idea what you mean/ I'm just trying to sleep" could be said from anyone to any other person in the narrative: him listening to his Charlie's bullshit, or Charlie talking to him or his mother. Remember that it's a song so it's more written for how it makes the listener feel and relate than communicating documentation of exact events (of which the listener probably has no idea). The point is that it feels abusive, alienating, disconnected, mean, etc. But it's probably Elliott talking to Charlie right? The way he sings "just trying to sleep" feels more vulnerable and the speaker is probably the one being abused. Elliott listening to parental conflict and any of Charlie's shit: "I've heard quite enough, just to listen is really tough". Then an imposing figure in the household who is "on it all the time". Someone who is just always fucking there, always on you; an oppressive presence, maybe with drugs involved, but i think it more likely has to do with alcohol in Charlie's case. Because I got to split, I'm late to leave: Elliott taking off to get away from the abuse. The "won't wake up no more" always felt druggy to me but I don't know what it means. Maybe someone's around who isn't supposed to be and asleep? Maybe the line is just super cool and feels right for the song. The lyrics are impressionistic typical of Elliott's writing, and sometimes the words are just there because of their feeling or connotation. |
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