Abused

genius genius this song means so much to me. i feel he was battling all different types of abuse through out his whole life and this is what the song is about. that for everyone is abused in some way but within this song it seems like he was abused then it was self abuse. this song always gets to me. there is something about the last line that makes the song so much more powerful. "Why does everyone know Been abused now Didn't want it to show" we try through out all of our lives to be normal and show that we are confident human beings and dont want to show our true selves. that line is s realization of himself and his existence and how he cant hide who he is because it only eats him up inside.

Elliott is unappreciated.. I believe that people misinterpret his message, but this is a clear cut song and it is hauntingly sad. The music in itself is ingenious, but the lyrics are impeccable. This song is too personal and I can understand his family and Elliott not wanting anyone to hear it. Its a shame that he never got to finish it.

The lines

Other people see some evil intention But the closer you get The more you get confused how Why does everyone know Been abused now Didn't want it to show

have always felt more to me like everyone else's response is to call his abuser evil, but because Elliott knows him he finds it harder to see it as such a black and white issue. Maybe his abuser was abused, too, or something like that - it wouldn't excuse it, but it makes it harder to hate him.

"other people see some evil intention but the closer you get, the more you get confused how, why does everyone know been abused now, didn't want it to show"

He begins to explain that people think he has evil intentions in the things he does, like coming off as abused and calling out the church for being abusive. Then he starts to say that if you get to know him you'll be confused, meaning that you will have a change of heart and question your previous assumption that he has evil intentions for doing the things he does. However whats beautiful about this stanza is that he cuts off his explanation and says "why does everyone know" which hits me as if he is saying why do I have to explain myself to people.

I think it's amazing how he's written this song where he sings overtly about having been abused, to the point of even naming his song "Abused", and then in the last lines he says: "Why does everyone know; Been abused now; Didn't want it to show".

It's like it's two parts of him at war. One part wants to keep everything to himself, to be private, to hide the pain that's inside and what has happened to him. The other part thinks there's no point to making music that isn't true (heard a quote where he said this once), and maybe needs to write his history in order to deal with it, so he tells us all these intimate details of what has happened to him. And not just with this song; the abuse theme is in "Roman Candle", "Waltz #2", "Some Song", "No Name #4" and probably a whole bunch more I can't think of right now.

And then he denies that his songs come from personal stories. But of course they do, and he knows we know it. Two sides at war again.

very good job transcribing this (whoever did). the music elliott was making in the last days really was something else. if that double album had ever been finished, i think we would have literally one of the great albums of all time.

made many changes that sound more correct to me:

now that everybody's worn the expression not that you wanted to use it seems untrue now but the funniest thing is it fits you now to a perfect tee

you may never understand this affliction although you feel the affects you feel bruised now, body and mind you feel used now, almost all of the time been abused abused abused

sunday morning in the aisle with my brother watching the men in black tell the youths how you're supposed to behave, and tell the truth now you don't know what you're sayin' we've been abused abused abused abused abused abused abused

other people see some evil intention but the closer you get, the more you get confused how, why does everyone know been abused now, didn't want it to show

this is easily one of the most beautiful songs i have ever heard. and one of the saddest. god, this fucking melody.

brilliant song, one of my very favorites

BRILLLIANT!!! EXCELLENT!!! STUPENDICE!!! AS ALWAYS!!! I think it's evident what this song is about! I like how he says "the closer you get the more you get confused." b/c people that have been abused block it out all of their lives 'cause it's so bad, who'd want to remember!? I don't remember that much abuse happening to me, but I don't really remember my childhood....at all...... and when i do, it seems like a lie. "you don't know what you're saying you've been abused!" if you don't have evidence (you can't remember, nobody will believe. then not take you seriously!" what is "to a perfect tee?" is that just some expression!?