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Elliott Smith – Between the Bars Lyrics 15 years ago
Interesting explanation, but these lines make no sense then:

Drink up with me now and forget all about
The pressure of days, do what I say
And I'll make you okay and drive them away
The images stuck in your head

Those lines only make sense if the 'two people' are him and alcohol.

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Elliott Smith – Between the Bars Lyrics 15 years ago
no, the song isn't even written from his perspective. It's a song from alcohol to him.

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Elliott Smith – Between the Bars Lyrics 15 years ago
Really interesting that so many people think it's referring to being between bars (the place where you drink type of bar). I hadn't even considered that: I thought that it was a way of metaphorically talking about a jail cell, and how addiction comforts you while imprisoning you. I still see it that way, but the other interpretation is an interesting one, and I like it.

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Elliott Smith – Between the Bars Lyrics 15 years ago
Was just about to post exactly what saraden said, then saw that I was beaten to it. The song is to Elliott, from alcohol and/or whatever else he was addicted to. This song's not about love, it's about addiction.

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Elliott Smith – Between the Bars Lyrics 15 years ago
I've always thought that this song was about alcoholism, and how it manages to addict people by being such a seductive escape from the stuff that they're trying to get away from. So 'between the bars' can be literal, but I think of it a little more abstractly, basically saying that at the very worst points in your life, you'll turn to your addiction because it'll take your mind off of it. It won't take you out of the cell, but it will comfort you while you wallow in it.

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