| Elliott Smith – Looking Over My Shoulder Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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A great stand-out song from New Moon. Like all of Elliott's best work, this played in my head for days. One of the reasons he was such a great, great artist is his ability to perfectly marry music and words. He creates beautiful melodies to capture your heart AND biting lyrics that capture your head. Throughout the song he tells a story, expressing a point of view which, lyrically, he gradually builds. I just love the line: "...in some little box with the all the labeled shit/You would say to keep confusion away..." it's so weary and full of righteous indignation. The strength of his songwriting lends it an almost literary authority. This guy was born to be an artist. |
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| Elliott Smith – Oh Well, Okay Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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The song is about a painful breakup he sometimes revisits. "I got pictures I just don't see them anymore..." "Couldn't figure out what made you so unhappy Shook your head to say no, no, no And stopped for a spell And stayed that way" He refers to the hurtful memory of that rejection - forever frozen in his mind. A memory he tries to lock away. |
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| Elliott Smith – Oh Well, Okay Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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Oh Well, Ok is an almost Godlike composition. Elliott Smith was perhaps the greatest singer/songwriter who ever lived. With this song and album, he is at the height of his powers. Whether it's the gorgeous Beatles melodies or the crafted, intimate Sylvia Plath like lyrics, all artists should stop what they are doing and just listen - in awe. Beginning with a Lennonesque imagine piano motif on the keyboard, the song wastes no time going for the jugular, as his incisive lyrics begin the "story". Emotionally, the music gradually builds, ending in a golden cascade of sound and pleading lyrics. The impact is both harrowing and beautiful. Oh Well, Ok perfectly captures Elliott Smiths gift - epic treatments of the personal and the intimate. His music beautifully expresses the human condition; full of beauty, joy, but also pain, regret, and failure. |
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| Elliott Smith – Miss Misery Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| The song is about re-curring depression. | |
| Elliott Smith – Miss Misery Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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Elliott Smith was a giant talent. His music combines gorgeous Beatles melodies with sensitive, highly intelligent Sylvia Plath/Leonard Cohen like lyrics. There are very few singer songwriters who even come close. Without going into too much detail as to how I know this, I have some ideas regarding the meaning of this song. Elliott Smith's Achillies heel was his self-loathing. He was viciously self-critical and sadly, this loathing was based largely on his outer appearance. Despite having tremendous inner beauty which is clearly reflected in his music, Elliott just couldn't stand looking in the mirror - literally. This was likely one of the main reasons (but not the only one) behind his depression, recurring drug addiction and eventual suicide. He leaves behind his art, which along with the circumstances of his death, make him a singularily tragic figure. In my opinion, Elliott Smith the only artist I would place above the Beatles. |
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| Elliott Smith – Say Yes Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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Elliott Smith was a giant talent. His music combines gorgeous Beatles melodies with sensitive, highly intelligent Sylvia Plath/Leonard Cohen like lyrics. There are very few singer songwriters who even come close. Without going into too much detail as to how I know this, I have some ideas regarding the meaning of this song. Elliott Smith's Achillies heel was his self-loathing. He was viciously self-critical and sadly, this loathing was based largely on his outer appearance. Despite having tremendous inner beauty which is clearly reflected in his music, Elliott just couldn't stand looking in the mirror - literally. This was likely one of the main reasons (but not the only one) behind his depression, recurring drug addiction and eventual suicide. He leaves behind his art, which along with the circumstances of his death, make him a singularily tragic figure. In my opinion, Elliott Smith the only artist I would place above the Beatles. |
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| Elliott Smith – Between the Bars Lyrics | 8 years ago |
| Between the Bars: A definition of a great artist/writer/songwriter is the multiple meanings one can ascribe to a given work of art. Such is the case with this song. Yes, Between the Bars is about alcoholism and the self; its also possible that its about a woman he loves who is at the mercy of her scars and addictions. The song could also be about the two of them - doomed lovers as it were. | |
| Elliott Smith – Between the Bars Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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Elliott Smith was a giant talent. His music combines gorgeous Beatles melodies with sensitive, highly intelligent Sylvia Plath/Leonard Cohen like lyrics. There are very few singer songwriters who even come close. Without going into too much detail as to how I know this, I have some ideas regarding the meaning of this song. Elliott Smith's Achillies heel was his self-loathing. He was viciously self-critical and sadly, this loathing was based largely on his outer appearance. Despite having tremendous inner beauty which is clearly reflected in his music, Elliott just couldn't stand looking in the mirror - literally. This was likely one of the main reasons (but not the only one) behind his depression, recurring drug addiction and eventual suicide. He leaves behind his art, which along with the circumstances of his death, make him a singularily tragic figure. In my opinion, Elliott Smith the only artist I would place above the Beatles. |
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| Elliott Smith – Strung Out Again Lyrics | 8 years ago |
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Elliott Smith was a giant talent. His music combines gorgeous Beatles melodies with sensitive, highly intelligent Sylvia Plath/Leonard Cohen like lyrics. There are very few singer songwriters who even come close. Without going into too much detail as to how I know this, I have some ideas regarding the meaning of this song. Elliott Smith's Achillies heel was his self-loathing. He was viciously self-critical and sadly, this loathing was based largely on his outer appearance. Despite having tremendous inner beauty which is clearly reflected in his music, Elliott just couldn't stand looking in the mirror - literally. This was likely one of the main reasons (but not the only one) behind his depression, recurring drug addiction and eventual suicide. He leaves behind his art, which along with the circumstances of his death, make him a singularily tragic figure. In my opinion, Elliott Smith the only artist I would place above the Beatles. |
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