Maria's Little Elbows

I wish so badly that whatever it was did not kick down Mark's door.. why are there so few comments on his songs? he made some of the most beautiful music in the world and was a true poet. I can't believe he's gone. it's like a sledgehammer to the gut. Mark Linkous, wherever you are now, you are deeply missed.

Pretty straightforward song, aside from the typically cryptic Sparklehorse metaphors involving animals and bodyparts. The "she said I've really come to hate my body..." part is an allusion to a Lou Reed lyric. From the song "Candy Says" I believe.

this one time.
well. i woke up at 10 to go to a movie in the morning. a free movie. and stpehanie was driving her truck and i was riding in the passenger's seat and this song is playing. we're waiting at the traffic lights, and it just keeps going, "lonelines loneliness loneliness came kicking at my door." and sitting there, watching the morning traffic and having that morning feel brand new when it was already sort of old and having stephanie sit beside me with her hand on the wheel, it all felt meaningful. it felt like a revelation and it felt like something new. i knew from then on that music sounds the best in stephanie's car. in that tiny space. and that's it.

'And it'll get you in the bathroom of a Texaco'

This is a reference to the Tom Waits song called Gun Street Girl from the Rain Dogs album.

'And dyed his hair in a bathroom of a Texaco'.

Mark Linkous admitted that he was listening to Rain Dogs a lot around that time.

This is my favourite Sparklehorse song AND one of my fave songs of all time. Dunno why but I just love it...especially the bit at the end. Quality song. Totally under-rated...this should be a well known anthem!

Not sure if song is actually about loneliness or if everything is an allusion to heroin addiction. Elbow full of loneliness could be an elbow covered in tattoos. Or it could be where Maria shoots up. The bathroom of a Texaco could just be a sad place to be or it could be a place where you do heroin. Not really sure.

To me, this is a powerful image. Maria is a part of one of those XIXth Century handicapped circuses.

That's why she really has little elbows and also little arms, That's why she says she doesn't like his body, because of this malformation.

But apart from that quite neat image, this song is straightforward when it is related to one thing: "loneliness" So Maria can be a perfect material representation of that lonely spirit any person can experience at any point in his/her life.

So this is the only Sparklehorse song that makes sense, or at least is SOMEWHAT understandable. At present, I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing, edgewise.

Yeah, there is definitely a reference to Lou Reed in there. Which is nothing but good in my book.

Anyway, I like this song. Yes, Sparklehorse. Good times.