| Elliott Smith – Between the Bars Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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It seams to me that he chooses certain words to invoke imagery that keeps multiple meanings in play. It seems too deliberate to be not taken literally at one level and metaphorically at another. On one hand he is clearly making reference to alcoholism, but in a very literal way he could be talking about an actual baby in a crib. The bars are the bars of a crib. My original thought was that he was comparing his dependancy on alcohol to a child's dependancies. Both seek solice and comfort in a bottle. "Where I'm seeing you there with your hands in the air Waiting to finally be caught" - sounds to me like a baby holding his hands up to be helde. At the same time it sounds like one type of comfort that people seek but turn to alcohol when they don't get it. "won't bend to your will" - baby's cry when they don't get their way. Alcoholics turn to alcohol. "Drink up, baby, look at the stars I'll kiss you again between the bars " - Drink your bottle of milk and fall asleep. Then I'll give you a goodnight kiss between the bars of the crib. And most importanly, the song is sung exactly like a lullaby to a baby. |
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