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L.A. Lyrics
The gentleman's in the lane,
Spinning his hat on a cane
Stepping out, out for change
Good morning all, it's a beautiful day
The generals are winning a war
Seemed suicidal before
You came alone, now
I'll protect you, long as you stay
LA
Morning had to come,
You'll be walking in the sun;
Living in the day!
Last night I was about to throw it all away
If patience started a band
I'd be her biggest fan
Look at me, I'm talking to you
I don't want the lead in your play
The star's just a part of the scene
The gentleman in green
Paying off, out on the street
I can't go home, it's not on my way
LA
Things I've never done
Cars parked in the sun
Living in the day
Last night I was about to throw it all away
Last night I was about to throw it all away
Last night I was about to throw it all away
Last night I was about to throw it all away
Spinning his hat on a cane
Stepping out, out for change
Good morning all, it's a beautiful day
Seemed suicidal before
You came alone, now
I'll protect you, long as you stay
Morning had to come,
You'll be walking in the sun;
Living in the day!
Last night I was about to throw it all away
I'd be her biggest fan
Look at me, I'm talking to you
I don't want the lead in your play
The gentleman in green
Paying off, out on the street
I can't go home, it's not on my way
Things I've never done
Cars parked in the sun
Living in the day
Last night I was about to throw it all away
Last night I was about to throw it all away
Last night I was about to throw it all away
Last night I was about to throw it all away
Song Info
Submitted by
enjoy Incubus On Jan 19, 2002
More Elliott Smith
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Needle in the Hay
King's Crossing
Twilight (Somebody's Baby)
A Fond Farewell
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What an underappreciated song. Pure pop, but better than anything you're likely to hear on the radio these days.
I think the juxtaposition of "living in the day" and "cars parked in the sun" with "last night I was about to throw it all away" says a lot about Elliott's disposition not being in sync with his sunny California environment. Also, if you believe what Benjamin Nugent has to say in his book "Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing," "things I'd never done" could be an allusion to heroin or crack. That's right, kids: according to Nugent, Elliott didn't become a junkie until the final years of his life in L.A.
this song is really growing on me....such a flawless album.
LA, seems to be written from a happy perspective even though it alludes to tough times
I always thought about that one line "But last night I was about to throw it all away" haunting stuff even it wasnt meant to be.....
I like this song because, to me, there are so many themes present. You can kind of choose one in order to relate to the song...
I agree with many of you its a very unappreciated song. It reminds me of sunny days and just being glad to be alive. Smith says that he was going to commit suicide in this song but he realises the day is worth living for its just the night thats hard to get through.
God, who transcribed these lyrics? They're included in the liner notes! Pay attention! "The Gentleman's in the lane, spinning his hat on a cane." And don't type it phoenetically. "L.A." not "lllllaaaaa" Also, it's "Morning never come" not "one of a kind" also there's usually a "but" before "last night I was about to throw it all away" (except in the last verse)
in autumn de wilde's new book in one of her interviews with Joanna Blome she points out that L.A. is about how elliott is glad he moved there and is actually happy
It maybe be so that the Nugent book wasn't based on facts But neither is this thread Its all just a matter of opinion and ideas and critique or analysis
this is going to be on guitar hero :)
"THE GENTLEMAN IN THE LANE...spinning his hat on a cane." Hahaha, Elaine.. AKA Charlie Chaplin. Fix the line please.