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Elt Lyrics

, I should've been listening
To every word you said
Oh, what have I been missing
Wishing, wishing that you were dead

I didn't mean to be so disturbing
So far from home
Oh, what have I been learning
By being all alone

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
(Is gonna) Just tears you apart

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
(Is gonna) Just tears you apart

When, when we were younger
Sleep while I'm awake
I was trying to keep the door locked
I realize that's a mistake

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
Is gonna tear you apart

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
Is gonna tear you apart

Every little thing that you do
Seems so much better than I could do
Oh, I shouldve been listening
To every word you said

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
Is gonna tear you apart

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
Is gonna tear you apart (it's gonna)

Every little thing (it's gonna)
Every little thing (it's gonna)
Every little thing (it's gonna)
Is gonna tear you apart

Every little thing (it's gonna)
Every little thing (it's gonna)
Every little thing (it's gonna)
Is gonna tear you apart

It's gonna
It's gonna
It's gonna tear you apart

It's gonna
It's gonna
It's gonna tear you apart
4 Meanings

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Cover art for Elt lyrics by Wilco

I read this as something someone who has become a parent is saying to their parent. What teenager at some point doesn't wish his parents dead(not literally of course)? That and the line about being disturbing, and then the one about "better than I could do".

I think the most telling line is that about sleeping while I'm awake. Have you ever pretended to be asleep when your parents came home late, but you were really awake, but didn't want to talk to them or were just trying to be funny.

Every little thing tears you apart has got to be about all the ways a parent worries about their child.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Elt lyrics by Wilco

Obviously, Tweedy continues the tale from Via Chicago. The repetitive chorus states a lot about the song.

See Via Chicago for entire meaning.

Cover art for Elt lyrics by Wilco

He (Jeff Tweedy) has a sort of rocky relationship with someone he not yet loves but soon will love. It is as if they are competing and he is blocking them out but they aren't getting going to stop trying.

Cover art for Elt lyrics by Wilco

favorite wilco song ever. summerteeth is also my favorite wilco album, and possibly my favorite album of all-time.

imo, it represents the typical feelings of a love hate relationship or of someones infatuation with another gone bad resulting in angst.

 
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