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Almost Over Lyrics
You think I'm unkind
But people aren't the way you think they are
They can't remember all the time
What it was you wanted
They paint you out in straight silhouette
Don't you get the picture yet?
Why you getting all upset?
The worst part's almost over
Three's such a crowd
You ought to tell me what you tell yourself
You ever going to speak it aloud?
Do I have to guess like everyone else?
With an iron will to walk the walk
And a glass jaw that can't be moved to talk
Black eyes always watch the clock
The worst part's almost over
You let yourself be frozen by a doubt
You think I'm mean because I call you out
You don't know what you're about
The worst part's almost over now
The worst part's almost over now, now, now
But people aren't the way you think they are
They can't remember all the time
What it was you wanted
They paint you out in straight silhouette
Don't you get the picture yet?
Why you getting all upset?
The worst part's almost over
Three's such a crowd
You ought to tell me what you tell yourself
You ever going to speak it aloud?
Do I have to guess like everyone else?
With an iron will to walk the walk
And a glass jaw that can't be moved to talk
Black eyes always watch the clock
The worst part's almost over
You let yourself be frozen by a doubt
You think I'm mean because I call you out
You don't know what you're about
The worst part's almost over now
The worst part's almost over now, now, now
Song Info
Submitted by
mrs-mojo-risin On Feb 16, 2006
More Elliott Smith
Between the Bars
Needle in the Hay
King's Crossing
Twilight (Somebody's Baby)
A Fond Farewell
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Today, i don´t care about meaning. It´s amazing the chords, the vibe of guitar and the paths the Elliot´s voice goes on.
if i could ask him one question, I would ask if he said 'black eyes always watch the clock' or 'black guys always watch the clock'.
@nantucket
@nantucket
It's eyes. I believe this may be a reference to opioid/heroin withdrawal, which will cause the pupils of someone experiencing it to grow HUGE, similar to the pupils of someone that took speed or psychedelics. People expirencing withdrawal are very likely going to be watching the clock, as they're going to go through hell until either they can score dope ("I'm out right now but I can get you some tomorrow" kind of thing) or 3ish days which is usually the duration of withdrawal. On top of all that, you can't sleep well (if you can sleep at all),you can't really...
It's eyes. I believe this may be a reference to opioid/heroin withdrawal, which will cause the pupils of someone experiencing it to grow HUGE, similar to the pupils of someone that took speed or psychedelics. People expirencing withdrawal are very likely going to be watching the clock, as they're going to go through hell until either they can score dope ("I'm out right now but I can get you some tomorrow" kind of thing) or 3ish days which is usually the duration of withdrawal. On top of all that, you can't sleep well (if you can sleep at all),you can't really eat much, you're sweating and shivering, puking/dry heaving, diarrhea, and you're basically too sick to to anything except toss and turn in bed or pace the floor, depending on what stage you're in. Another reason to watch the clock is to know what stage you're in. You want it to be over more than anything but every time you check the clock (constantly) it just reminds you that you've got a long ways to go and that the amount of suffering you just went through happened in 5 minutes even if it felt like an hour.
Elliott referenced and/or wrote about drugs more often than most people realize. This was because he was extremely cunning and clever about disguising his lyrics with things like metaphors, hidden/alternate word meanings, making things seem ambiguous, and plays on words. I was once lost on the same dark path that he spent most of his life navigating, so I have an easier time hearing them.
personally, i think it has more to do with physical or mental abuse.
the strange thing about this song is its the kind of things you'd think OTHER people were saying to him. it reminds me so much of the kind of frustration and anger you get from being involved with someone who is deprssed and/or a drug addict.
maybe its his black eyes watching the clock, enduring the tirade, knowing that the "worst part's almost over"
@DeadPowerLine I agree
@DeadPowerLine I agree
i agree with goldtooth. only to me the meaning relates to any relationship, not just a romantic one. it's the singer as a friend trying to help another very close friend who keeps brushing him off and taking his criticisms, which are meant to be constructive, as insults. it's been a little while since the conflict has been goin on and other people have become involved in terms of knowing about the situation and judging and helping to fuel the friend's self-righteousness and denial of a problem. These of course are not real friends they are people who maybe don't know him as well as the singer does. Over time, the two friends have grown apart and thats where the line "worst parts almost over now" comes in. they're kinda at a crossroad in the relationship whether it continues or it ends. I've been using pronouns when i referred to elliott because I personally believe he was singing the song to himself as an outside observer. Beautiful song.
and a glass jaw that can't be moved to talk black eyes always watch the clock
those lines remind me of amphetamines. because your pupils get real big until they're almost black and your jaw gets tight. at least mine does
This song amps me up in a way no other Elliott Smith song has; the tremolo guitar work that starts about 1:19 into it, flows across multiple voices and into the last chorus shows an artist at his prime of technical ability. But along with the heat and dazzle, is an urgency and poignancy -- when will the worst part be over? now? now? now?
This song is about a confrontation with someone's unrealistic expectations from other people, from the world. The root topic isn't clear, and that makes it better art -- everyone holds something in themselves that needs to hear this, that needs correcting.
My favorite lines are "do I have to guess like everyone else" and "you think I'm mean 'cause I call you out" -- I know people that won't say what they mean, and only through inference can you tell what's going on with them -- and the same person can dish it out but can't take it. So they think others are mean when that get called on their own BS.
Move over, Speed Trials, Almost Over is my new favorite Elliott Smith song...
i'm going through a tough break up now and every word of this song relates to my feelings at this very moment. my ex, who i still love, has built a terrible love triangle around herself with this awful rebound guy. she's letting herself be seen as one-dimensional by this womanizer, and i'm the only one left that knows any better. but, even though she's hurt me more than i could have ever imagined being hurt, i've still done everything in my power to help her, and she just blocks me out. i finally hammered the seriousness of the situation into her head yesterday, and by the end of the day, i'll know the outcome of our entire relationship. she's either going to lose the zero and let me be her friend, or i'll never speak to her again. the worst part of my life will be over regardless.
i agree with goldtooth. only to me the meaning relates to any relationship, not just a romantic one. it's the singer as a friend trying to help another very close friend who keeps brushing him off and taking his criticisms, which are meant to be constructive, as insults. it's been a little while since the conflict has been goin on and other people have become involved in terms of knowing about the situation and judging and helping to fuel the friend's self-righteousness and denial of a problem. These of course are not real friends they are people who maybe don't know him as well as the singer does. Over time, the two friends have grown apart and thats where the line "worst parts almost over now" comes in. they're kinda at a crossroad in the relationship whether it continues or it ends. I've been using pronouns when i referred to elliott because I personally believe he was singing the song to himself as an outside observer. Awesome song, i love the guitars and vocals are on point like always.
and also i think that the friend that the song is talking about was going through some problems, maybe recurring problems. always making the same mistakes, and getting down on him or herself and not seeing the bigger picture, and that's what caused the singer to call em out.