Punch and Judy

This song is about Elliott Smith coming back to Portland, Oregon and visiting with an old friend, and seeing the old neighborhood. As they drive down Division street(Near 6th and Powell[Needle in the Hay] and across town from Alameda [Alameda]) They talk about old times that he "used to be a part of," and how "I used to like it here," but now it "bums me out to remember."

"Punch and Judy" is a puppet comedy improvisation routine ("They don't read page to page or speak easy") that dates back to medieval times when puppeteers would entertain at "sidewalk scenes" and other social gatherings like Elliott entertained with his bands.

Portland was once Elliott's town, and he knew everyone around, but now they "just stare and whisper." Once, when adoring fans and friends would rain praise after a curtain call, but now he is "Pretty lucky if they get any kind of response at all."

But the fact is, Portland will always be Elliott's town.

Punch and Judy was a television show in the early days of TV. They were two puppets that beat each other up constantly. This song draws a parallel between the TV characters and two people in a relationship that is obviously hurtful and sad to watch. These two were friends, and friend with the songwriter, and it used to be like a happy family. When the relationship started, and quickly deteriorated, it put an uncomfotable vibe on the crowd of friends. These two only see themselves, however, and feel a sort of familiarity and comfort in the pain that they inflict on each other. Once more, they repeat the same behaviours over and over unconsciously. Really poinent, and sad, commentary.

Just for clarification, Punch & Judy is originally Italian. It became popular among the vulgar lower class in the Middle Ages. Wikipedia compares it to an early version of the Simpsons; its goal was to affect shocked laughter among its audiences.

What I find most interesting about this song is the sense of theatricality. I don't think they're "so self-absorbed that they think everyone else is just as interested in their drama as they are," or that the couple in the song is anyone other than the literal Punch & Judy. Instead, it seems almost that Punch & Judy seem aware of the fact that their relationship was being watched - as if they know they're participants in a drama. The line "in a crowded corner where anyone can listen in" shows the public nature of their relationship, and the line "now they're going to go say the words in the wrong order again" seems to show they're perfectly aware of being actors on a stage. It also seems Elliot Smith is making a comment on the current unpopularity of Punch and Judy: "they draw the curtain/ wait for a call/pretty lucky if they get any response at all."

As for the line "can't you ever be nice," this is pretty obvious given the nature of Punch & Judy shows, where Punch beats Judy as well as the Baby and even occasionally the policeman.

However, I can't quite figure out the narrator's place in all this.

It seems that at first the song is talking about two people in a relationship who dont fit the standard normality. (ie. a gay or lesbian couple, a black and white couple etc). It makes sense in the first part of the song, but the second part doesn't really fit it.

Uhh, guys, Punch and Judy goes back way past the days of TV. They're the traditional names for comic puppets used to entertain children at festivals and stuff. They talk, make jokes and beat each other up. Anyway, this is a song about the oversensitive romantic guy getting up the nerve to try again, even when he knows that he'll just end up with his heart broken again, hence the imagery of the execution - drawing the curtain and waiting for the call, but there's not going to be a pardon, he knows it. He makes the same mistake twice - knows how all of this ends and condemns himself to the experience anyway.

A Punch and Judy show is a traditional British puppet show (although I hear that the story was origianlly italian?). Punch often argues with his wife and, very satirically, hits his wife with a bat when the argument gets heated. a policeman gets involved and he and punch tend to fight too. i also remember a crocodile appearing with stolen sausages in his mouth, but i don't remember why. i haven't seena punch and judy show in a long time.

One of the songs in Elliott's canon that deserves the adjective "perfect." His melodies can't be surpassed. The songs are simple and heartbreaking and just could not be better than they are. Proof to all songwriters that, with talent, all you need is a four-track, a guitar and a snare drum.

One of the songs in Elliott's canon that deserves the adjective "perfect." His melodies can't be surpassed. The songs are simple and heartbreaking and just could not be better than they are. Proof to all songwriters that, with talent, all you need is a four-track, a guitar and a snare drum.

is there a version of him singing this song with these lyrics, cause in the version i have he says 'a wallPAPER punch talks to judy' and instead of 'can't you ever treat anyone nice? i think i'm gonna make the same mistake twice' he sings 'cant be careful when you're giving advice dreaming, you dont even know what you like' both lyrics fit equally well, i just wonder which of these versions was his final version. and i agree, this song shows of the perfection that is elliotts canon of music.. no one did it better.

ok im a fool.. just realised ive been listening to the demo he did for the song, not the version he released, thats why i had the different lyrics... i think i prefer the demo lyrics more though.