| Elliott Smith – Say Yes Lyrics | 21 years ago |
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ok, this is going to sound very far-fetched, and clearly I'm not going to assert that this is what Elliott Smith meant when he wrote the song, but one crazy thing I noticed about this song is that it kind of sounds like it's about an unwanted pregnancy and potential abortion. I know. Weird and unlikely. But it bears remarking: - "morning after" - like the pill - also, after a one night stand often people aren't around the morning after, but if a pregnancy occurs they have to stick around - "a happy day and then you pay" - duh - "she'll decide what she wants" - "i'll probably be the last to know" - often in that situation a guy feels like he has no say - "no one says until it shows" - ok, not very subtle association, but that doesn't negate it - "they want you or they don't" - "you" = the baby? - interestingly followed by "say yes" I've listened to this song tons of times, and everytime I come back to this strange theory. |
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| Elliott Smith – A Passing Feeling Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| Mopnugget has that first line right. Minor thing "took an hour to fall" instead of "just an hour to fall". | |
| Elliott Smith – A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity to Be Free Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| I just really like that line "o.d. on easter afternoon". Redemption came, but it didn't do anybody any good because people are all inherently self-destructive and hypocritical. This ironic use of biblical references reappears throughout the song with "virgin white" and "god knows", for example. Wish Smith were around to explain some of his allusions, though. | |
| Elliott Smith – The Biggest Lie Lyrics | 21 years ago |
| Everyone seems to agree that the one-way train and related events are signalling the end of a relationship. But it appears that Elliott has simply had to be a witness to this girl's struggles, which culminated in her departure. She appears to have had drug problems, which inevitably lead to money problems, which is probably why Elliot felt like he was just being used as a "credit card" at times, although "not the name you call me with" suggests a more intimate relationship beneath that. It appears that with a great deal of effort the girl managed to get her life back together, and either Elliott got tired of acting like a fake "saint" to go with her new persona, or he knew she wasn't really serious about the turnaround, and finally they had to part. The final three lines seem to be a commentary on the pointlessness of it all, and a way of artistically failing to satisfy the listener, who is expecting (but doesn't get) a declaration of undying love in spite of everything the girl has put him through. | |
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