| Death Cab for Cutie – Blacking Out the Friction Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| i agree with cannnn309. | |
| Death Cab for Cutie – Blacking Out the Friction Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| i agree with cannnn309. | |
| Elliott Smith – Everything Means Nothing to Me Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
In an interview, Elliott said this about this song: IT'S IRONIC THAT YOU SHOULD MENTION 'THE WHITE ALBUM', BECAUSE 'FIGURE 8' REMINDS ME OF IT... PARTICULARLY 'EVERYTHING MEANS NOTHING TO ME'...WAS THAT ONE OF THE SONGS RECORDED AT ABBEY ROAD? ELLIOTT: I take that very much as a compliment, thank you. That song, though, wasn't recorded there... but it was made up when I had been in a psychedelic state, shall we say, for a couple of days... and that was the product of that. That one was recorded really quickly, so I really like how it turned out... probably because it required next to no effort. ALMOST AS IF YOU'D HAD THE VALVE REMOVED FROM YOUR DOORS OF PERCEPTION! |
|
| Elliott Smith – Stupidity Tries Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| Elliott said about this song," I think that the easier someone's life gets in a financial way, you have more people that expect you to answer to them. Whether you do or not is kind of your choice. But, definitely if you have nothing, you have nothing to lose, and you're very free in that way. If you got lucky enough to not have to worry about that... like my last job was spreading gravel and transplanting trees and things... so, I don't have to do that for the moment; but that means that there's a different boss to account to that's a more abstract one. " | |
| Elliott Smith – Wouldn't Mama Be Proud? Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Recorded circa 3rd April 2000 when Elliott came over to do a solo acoustic date in London prior to the release of his 'Figure 8' album on Dreamworks records. The interview was rushed, partly due to Elliott having to rush off for his soundcheck... mainly due to the fact that I had twenty five minutes to knock off the interview, hop in a taxi and get half way across London for a train back to Cardiff where I was due to record an edition of 'Tutti Frutti'. THERE ARE SOME THEMES ON 'FIGURE 8' THAT RUN THROUGH THE WHOLE ALBUM, AN ALIENATION WITH FAME, PERHAPS? 'WOULDN'T MAMA BE PROUD?' SOUNDS LIKE THE DOCUMENT OF ENDLESS, SOUL-LESS JOURNEYS... MISSING HOME. ELLIOTT: Yeah, there's a little bit of that there. On several songs there's some imagery that keeps popping up about soldiers, or doing battle with something. On that particular song, I just thought that it was an interesting question. I don't know what the answer is, to that. Sometimes it seems like "No"... I wanted it to seem equally plausible to answer it "No" or "Yes". IN YOUR CASE IT COULD BE A REACTION TO BEING PART OF THIS BUSINESS. WHEN YOU'VE GOT REVIEWERS AND CRITICS ANALYSING YOUR EVERY WORD, IT'S POSSIBLY REASSURING TO KNOW THAT AT SOME POINT, YOU HAD SOMEONE ON A MUCH MORE ORGANIC LEVEL TO ANSWER TO. ELLIOTT: Yeah. You can't answer to some sort of authority that you don't even know who they are, or what it is. That song wasn't meant to be specifically addressed to my parents, it's just an abstract authority that sees you in some mainstream terms. Would they like how your life seems to be? Would they be disappointed? Would they be impressed? Does any of this matter? Or are any of the answers negative, some of them positive? IT'S ONLY ONE OF MANY THEMES ON THE RECORD, BUT ON 'STUPIDITY TRIES' THERE'S ANOTHER ECHO THERE... "EVERYTHING'S FREE EXCEPT FOR YOU AND ME" WOULD SEEM TO BE A VERY TELLING LINE... ELLIOTT: I think that the easier someone's life gets in a financial way, you have more people that expect you to answer to them. Whether you do or not is kind of your choice. But, definitely if you have nothing, you have nothing to lose, and you're very free in that way. If you got lucky enough to not have to worry about that... like my last job was spreading gravel and transplanting trees and things... so, I don't have to do that for the moment; but that means that there's a different boss to account to that's a more abstract one. |
|
| Elliott Smith – Son of Sam Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
Recorded circa 3rd April 2000 when Elliott came over to do a solo acoustic date in London prior to the release of his 'Figure 8' album on Dreamworks records. The interview was rushed, partly due to Elliott having to rush off for his soundcheck... mainly due to the fact that I had twenty five minutes to knock off the interview, hop in a taxi and get half way across London for a train back to Cardiff where I was due to record an edition of 'Tutti Frutti'. He intimates on 'Son of Sam': ELLIOTT: No, it was made before I knew about that movie... and then when the movie came out I was like, "Oh no! It's gonna rain on my parade.". It's not about the serial killer, I'm not sure exactly what it's about because it's just sort of like telling someone a dream you had last night. There are some destructive figures in it, 'Son of Sam', Shiva... but Shiva's also associated with creativity... I'm not sure... it's just an impressionistic song about destruction and creativity, I guess; if it's about anything. |
|
| Tori Amos – Winter Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| the beautiful piano work that drifts through this song couldn't have be more effective and mood setting, with its warmth befriending her thoughts about her father and about failed aspirations, as well as dreams and intentions that were somehow disregarded and then forgotten among other more enigmatic and seemingly personal reflections. throughout the course of this song she uses both her piano and delicate vocal delivery to address her deepest feelings, and on top of both of these devices, her enigmatic but enchanting style of image-laden poetry adds another engaging element to the song. with some help from nick decaro's orchestra, the song moves from a fragile, soft-spoken tune into a colorful, filled-in piece by its completion, and all the while she employs some potent imagery to convey the placidity of winter as a symbol of change, maturity, and even spiritual growth. her use of white horses along with metaphors such as "skating around the truth" and even the fairy tale image of sleeping beauty gives the song a childlike essence, portraying her as a little girl who is surrounded by a world of wonder, confusion, and transition. with a stronger musical presence near its end, "winter" emerges into an excellent example of musical progression, not only from an instrumental vantage point but from a vocal one as well. her singing builds and her words become more stressed alongside the onset of the orchestra, closing the song in a memorable and powerful fashion. | |
| Elliott Smith – Color Bars Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| there are many obscure and poetic references, yet the song seems to be about the power of music itself. | |
| Elliott Smith – Baby Britain Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
musically the song plays like an unabashed peon to Elliott's acknowledged british invasion influences — heavily indebted to 'revolver'-era beatles, most specifically to the upbeat mccartney pop numbers from that period. the full instrumentation falls in on cue with a very beatlesque rhythmic wonk of clean guitar; a firm, straight beat and double-tracked lead vocals give the overall sound a lush, classic pop polish. later the drums drop out, leaving space for Elliott to deliver the song's repeated conundrum, "for someone half as smart/you'd be a work of art," to a gently lilting piano. Elliott does not shy away from the obvious beatles influence on the track, even referencing Revolver later in the lyrics: "the light was on but it was dim revolver's been turned over now it's ready once again the radio is playing "crimson and clover" london bridge is safe and sound no matter what you keep repeating nothing's gonna drag me down to a death that's not worth cheating." basically, he's an artist who seems comfortable embracing his influences, managing to get his message across while having the confidence to pay homage to his musical inspirations. |
|
| Elliott Smith – Amity Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
also, when the arrangement shifts quickly from the second chorus into a cycle of sweeping chords accented by short drum fills he sings, "amity, amity, God don't make junk but it's plain to see that he still made me he told me so: i'm good to go i'm ready to go." though this may seem like an extremely positive sentiment, Elliott holds firm to his more dour instincts as he explains, "i was saying, 'i really like you and it's really great to hang out with someone who is so happy and easygoing, but i don't feel like that and i can't be with you.' but i don't know if that came across. when i said, 'ready to go,' it is supposed to mean tired of living." |
|
| Elliott Smith – Amity Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
also, when the arrangement shifts quickly from the second chorus into a cycle of sweeping chords accented by short drum fills he sings, "amity, amity, God don't make junk but it's plain to see that he still made me he told me so: i'm good to go i'm ready to go." though this may seem like an extremely positive sentiment, Elliott holds firm to his more dour instincts as he explains, "i was saying, 'i really like you and it's really great to hang out with someone who is so happy and easygoing, but i don't feel like that and i can't be with you.' but i don't know if that came across. when i said, 'ready to go,' it is supposed to mean tired of living." |
|
| Elliott Smith – Amity Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| as Elliott explains in an interview for Magnet magazine, "i made up the lyrics in a couple of minutes and didn't change them. i like the way it feels, although it's not an especially deep song. it's not about the words themselves, but more about how the whole thing sounds." | |
| Elliott Smith – Son of Sam Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| "son of sam" is an open declaration of independence and dignity. | |
| Elliott Smith – Junk Bond Trader Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| the song itself takes aim at the title subject, the '80s-'90s phenomenon that shifts money and nonexistent capitol for profit. though the lyrics occasionally have some obscure lines, the message and Elliott Smith's disdain for this is clear. | |
| Elliott Smith – Things Are Hard (Seen How Things Are Hard) Lyrics | 17 years ago |
|
well, one might guess Elliott is refering to a substance-abusing girlfriend and how her habits affect him, while expressing sympathy and unconditional love for the poor wretch. "I can’t make corrections for you You have to help to patch things up Seen how things are hard Seen how things are hard I love you though" i researched the internet for any references to past girlfriends who were substance abusers and couldfn't find any, so i don't know |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.