Activity's killing the actor
And a cop's standing out in the road
Turning traffic away
There was nothing she could do until after
When his body'd been buried below
Way back in the day

Oh my, nothing else could've been done
He made his life a lie
So he might never have to know anyone
Made his life the lie you know

I told him he shouldn't upset her
And that he'd only be making it worse
Involving somebody else
But I knew that he'd never forget her
While her memory worked in reverse
To keep her safe from herself

And oh my, nothing else could've been done
She made her life a lie
So she might never have to know anyone
Made her life the lie you know

What I used to be will pass away and then you'll see
That all I want now is happiness for you and me
What I used to be will pass away and then you'll see
That all I want now is happiness for you and me
What I used to be will pass away and then you'll see
That all I want now is happiness for you and me


Lyrics submitted by dragonflower44

Happiness/The Gondola Man Lyrics as written by Steven Paul Smith

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Happiness/The Gondola Man song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    "Activity's killing the actor And a cop's standing out in the road turning traffic away" awesome lines... makes me think of an actor in a scene in the middle of a city while everyone is crowding around to try to see him. But all of that is killing the actor, the things he is faking to be and the crowd around him. The cop standing in the road turning people away could be friends, music, or a reputation. His body been buried away is a metaphor for his actual self being lost or purposely suppressed beyond being able to show. He's a liar to people since he isn't himself. But he wishes happiness onto the people he lies to particularly one person who lies to him back. I like Elliott Smith's lyrics because they can be so ambiguous but he connects everything smoothly and he does it in a really really intimate truthful sense. almost as if he is just spilling his mind out onto the paper. You could think about what he is saying forever because its truthful.... you can't fake something like this i dont think?

    Brenguyon November 25, 2009   Link

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