Elliott Smith – Pretty Mary K (Dead Imagination) (Either/Or demos)

"Pretty Mary K (Dead Imagination) (Either/Or demos)" as written by and Steven P. Smith....
Almost forgot
Started to say
Rode into the sun
Past everyone
Hallelujah, pretty Mary K

I found faith in the infirmary
There's a soldier lying in bed
With a wound to the head
Calling out to pretty Mary K

Here's what you get for things that haven't happened yet

I happened upon pretty Mary K
But a soldier's uniform waved you away
I walk round the dock and talk to St. James
Though I'm already done

And ask everyone "have you seen her?"
Pretty Mary K
Have you seen her?
Pretty Mary K


Lyrics submitted by The_Jackal, edited by ghost06

"Pretty Mary K" as written by Steven Paul Smith Steven P. Smith

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Pretty Mary K (Dead Imagination) (Either/Or demos) song meanings
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23 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentUnbelievably beautiful melody and guitar counter-melody - even his unreleased music is better than so much of what's out there. The lyrics remind me of what Elliott said in alot of his interviews - that his songs come to him like little movies. The scenes and characters in this song really come alive in my mind when I hear it - like watching a movie.
    acmon February 11, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThough "Everything's Okay" sounds alot better, this one is the definitive version. It has a much darker feel to it. One of those rare songs that make time stand still when you first listen to them. And I don't know, but maybe the heavily muffled sound even increases the ghostly mood.
    SammyWasLowon December 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song is just gorgeous. my favourite of his unreleased songs. i guess it's about a boy in love with a prostitute.

    also i think the line is "somebody's not paying attention to what they promise"
    sethbrownon May 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI really like this one better than the Figure 8 version. That's saying a lot too. I have a playlist of 23 Either/Or Demos (from Elliott Smith B-Sides website) and it's great listening to these unploished tracks. Gives them a eerie quality, almost. Just the way the sound.
    imajaron September 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti love this song (more than the figure 8 version) i reckon its sort of th same story as "roxanne " by the police about a boy in love with a prostitute
    giv_emhellkidon May 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti love this song (more than the figure 8 version) i reckon its sort of th same story as "roxanne " by the police about a boy in love with a prostitute
    giv_emhellkidon May 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is hauntingly beautiful, also one of my favourite unreleased tracks. I feel like it's the missing link to the story of the Figure 8 "Pretty Mary K", which always seemed vague to me. Any idea where to get a version with good sound quality? Mine is muffled as hell.
    scrimshawon June 23, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThere's a cleaner version on the Basement demos available at the b-sides website. It's called "Everything's Okay" and lyrically it is mostly the same, except that "Pretty Mart K" is replaced with "everything's okay." Still, though, the sound quality is cleaner on Everything's Okay.
    fall poetasteron August 18, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis is one of my favorite songs ever. it should've been on figure 8 instead of the other one.
    LizzieBearon October 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"i'll be waiting still impatient with my dead imagination while you're with some other man" - absolutely stunningly gorgeous.
    totally agree this is about being in love with a prostitute. i also get that feeling like the characters really come alive in this song. everytime i hear it i get such vivid images happening. some of the lyrics are so abstract i wish i could deciefer them. ie. "gunna go down in the water, fill my mouth of full of sand" - sick of hearing his words? tired of speaking/trying? duno.
    mcflyguy42on June 10, 2007   Link

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