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No Name #6 Lyrics
You've got the wrong equation
Your figures fell so you make more up
All smiles and celebration
If only you could just change your luck
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
You're pushing nine you're doing pretty
But you're playing with the sound turned down
We drive along between the cows and cotton
Saying with the stars all around
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
The moon is in a sickle shape
You know you're only really happy just for now
Looked at the city scape
Well there's a planet that'll catch you and drag you back down
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
Can't lose
Can't lose
Your figures fell so you make more up
All smiles and celebration
If only you could just change your luck
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
You're pushing nine you're doing pretty
But you're playing with the sound turned down
We drive along between the cows and cotton
Saying with the stars all around
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
The moon is in a sickle shape
You know you're only really happy just for now
Looked at the city scape
Well there's a planet that'll catch you and drag you back down
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
This time we can't lose
Can't lose
Can't lose
Song Info
Submitted by
dragonflower44 On Jan 19, 2002
More Elliott Smith
Between the Bars
Needle in the Hay
King's Crossing
Twilight (Somebody's Baby)
A Fond Farewell
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i think he's saying
"you're pushing 90 through a pretty picture playing with the sound turned down"
that's what i hear at least.
@charcoalsketch I hear "pushing nightly" like forcing yourself to watch tv just to be doing something, anyhting.
@charcoalsketch I hear "pushing nightly" like forcing yourself to watch tv just to be doing something, anyhting.
'Pretty picture' I agree with, that would be the tv show/movie, whatever.
'Pretty picture' I agree with, that would be the tv show/movie, whatever.
@charcoalsketch I think it's ninety, as in 90 mph, as he's talking about driving in the very next line. Also, the imagery of the stars, city, cows and cotton puts the setting outdoors, to me anyway.
@charcoalsketch I think it's ninety, as in 90 mph, as he's talking about driving in the very next line. Also, the imagery of the stars, city, cows and cotton puts the setting outdoors, to me anyway.
On second thought, maybe the song just does actually say pushing 9, talking about a tv show, and the volume being at 9/10 on either his amp or the television, while the other is muted.. He once talked about writing Between the Bars while watching Xena Warrior Princess with the sound off. So it's all very confusing, but could be tied into that haha.
On second thought, maybe the song just does actually say pushing 9, talking about a tv show, and the volume being at 9/10 on either his amp or the television, while the other is muted.. He once talked about writing Between the Bars while watching Xena Warrior Princess with the sound off. So it's all very confusing, but could be tied into that haha.
@charcoalsketch Yes! Well, I've always heard and continue to hear
@charcoalsketch Yes! Well, I've always heard and continue to hear
you're pushing 90 through a pretty picture plain with the sound turned down we drive along between the cows and cotton saying, with the stars all around, "this time, we can't lose"
you're pushing 90 through a pretty picture plain with the sound turned down we drive along between the cows and cotton saying, with the stars all around, "this time, we can't lose"
I think it's
"all smiles and celebration", not false in celebration, which makes the next line make more sense. If you can change your like you'd be all smiles.
Wild speculation here, but I recently heard Elliott discuss writing Between the Bars while watching Xena warrior princess on mute. Pushing 9 can mean he's pushing volume to 9/10 on his amp while watching "pretty pictures with the sound turned down", television on mute perhaps.
But it also sounds like ninety. As in pushing 90 mph, through the country side, cows and cotton. This song is honestly quite difficult to decipher. The verses seem unrelated. This whole song could just be written off of feeling, mood, and atmosphere. It seems to be a very in the moment piece.
Looking at the moon maybe gives him reprieve from the crazy life of a rock star in LA that he wasn't quite built for. That's the happy moment that's just for now, cos when he looks back at the city, like a planet, it pulls Elliott back into it's inescapable orbit. Back down to reality.
some or all of this could be related to the song, or not. I really think this was more about the music/melody/sound and style rather than trying to express a specific meaning. Elliott wrote much of his music like that. Subtle pointers to what he's saying, but without saying anything specific, or cohesive with the rest of the same, but it just sounds good because of word selection, imagery, and flow. Who knows, wish we knew more.
this song is great, has no one realized this? I love it.
what album is this on, where can I find the complete list of all the elliott smith songs.
this song is on the Divison Day single. You can get all elliott smith info at www.sweetadeline.net
does no one have a comment on the meaning of this song? I havent quite figured it out yet, but I am curious to hear anyones opinion. I especially love the line 'youre only happy just for now'.
I dont know but i think it's elliott talking about someone who's very positively trying to be happy but knows they're a failure really. And this time we can't lose is about how they choose not to see it.
this I belive is a song about Elliott's guilt about being famous. He had alot of friends who were musictions and he vewed alot of them as being better than he was. so be felt this guilt at his own success. So alot of times he dissowned it.you're pushing nine you're doing pretty but you're playing with the sound turned down we drive along between the cows and cotton saying with the stars all around hes saying your doing really well but you dont deserve it your from some cow town in texas, now your hanging out with the stars in LA. this was wrighten late Either/Or era, after the whole oscar thing.
@imacleigh I don't know if Elliott was self disparaging with his own music, or viewed other musician's better than himself. To me I got the impression he became SO solo, because he knew that him+anyone else waters him down. I've never heard him drool over other artist's either, he'll say "I think Elvis Costello is good". I
@imacleigh I don't know if Elliott was self disparaging with his own music, or viewed other musician's better than himself. To me I got the impression he became SO solo, because he knew that him+anyone else waters him down. I've never heard him drool over other artist's either, he'll say "I think Elvis Costello is good". I
Sometimes when he plays a tricky solo, live, you see him grin almost like he';s pleased with himself. He's very modest, but at the end of the day, yough many many hours of footage, I've never heard him once talk...
Sometimes when he plays a tricky solo, live, you see him grin almost like he';s pleased with himself. He's very modest, but at the end of the day, yough many many hours of footage, I've never heard him once talk negatively about his own skill or ability. I think he seemed confident in that regard, if not sometimes embarrassed at the extreme candidness of some songs.
Elliott on songwriting: "I think it's pretty easy,.. if you just relax and quit thinking about what you think other people want to hear. If you can find things you personally like. And if you like it, there must be something good about it. Right?"
I love the way he almost chants, "This time we can't lose..."
I could be wrong, but I heard it as "All smiles and celebration."