A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity to Be Free (7'' version)

Elliott Smith

I'm floating in a black balloon
OD on Easter afternoon
My momma told me,
"Baby stay clean, there's no in between."

All you ladies and you gentlemen
Between's all you've ever seen or been,
Fit poorly and and arrange the sight
Doll it up in virgin white.

You disappoint me
You people raking in on the world
The devil's script sells
You the heart of a blackbird.

Shine on me baby
Cause it's raining in my heart.

Sun rising on a chopping glare
Rain dropping acid blotter in the air
Distorted reality's now a necessity
To be free.

So disappointing,
First I put it all down to luck
God knows why my
Country don't give a fuck (fuck).

Shine on me baby
Cause it's raining in my heart.
Shine on me baby
Cause it's raining in my heart.


Lyrics submitted by sarahsavedlatin

A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity to Be Free Lyrics as written by Steven P. Smith

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity to Be Free (7'' version) song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentFrom Elliott himself regarding this song during his last interview:
    "This one is my girlfriend's favorite. There's also a rough demo of this that sounds a lot different."
    planetearthon July 03, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is such a great song...In fact, most, if not all of Elliott's songs are great.
    ChibiLolitaon April 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI thought it was

    "WIND'S BLOWING now with all it's might
    raindrops falling through a starry night
    sunrise on a choppy BLUE SEA
    waving back at you, not me"
    delphiblueon May 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:)
    JimmieNeverDieson November 08, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentit's definetely a close race between this version and the one on the final album. i like the keyboard in this one.
    lucy3391on January 30, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentyeah i like the end guitar bit better in this one
    joe2000on April 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti love this song it sounds really rad i heart elliot smith
    giv_emhellkidon May 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti can't choose which version of the song i like more.
    but the record sounds so great, his voice just mixes with the music so well on it, and all the little crackles in the record make it seem like he's sitting there in my room with me, singing.
    xo.
    myxangelxelliotton September 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"i’m floating in a black balloon"

    heroin is usually in the form of black tar. the dealers put it in little balloons. black balloon=heroin.
    Cori22on February 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI wonder if the big brother that elliott mentions is a reference to big brother from george orwell's book 1984?
    laura325on December 29, 2007   Link

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