some Elliott Smith songs likely make reference to drug use.
However, I think it's unlikely that "Crazy Fucker" / "Another Standard Folk Song" is one of those songs.
See, Elliott didn't actually try heroin until he moved to L.A. - either at the end of the Figure 8 tour or afterwards (late 2000 or early 2001). Although this song has seen wide circulation on an unofficial (leak) compilation known as "Basement II", actually most or all of the songs on that compilation were written, performed, and recorded much earlier, in the mid or late 90's.
For this song specifically, the "Basement II" version actually appears to be from a live performance. The only performance I know of that he played this song was at Umbra Penumbra, in Portland, in 1994- long before heroin use.
Now of course he was writing some songs with blatant reference to heroin long before he actually did it. So in theory it's possible that he performed a song "about heroin" in 1994. However from the lyrics I'd say the Charlie (stepfather) or barfight interpretations seem much more plausible.
I think all instances of "erin" are actually "arrow".
some Elliott Smith songs likely make reference to drug use.
However, I think it's unlikely that "Crazy Fucker" / "Another Standard Folk Song" is one of those songs.
See, Elliott didn't actually try heroin until he moved to L.A. - either at the end of the Figure 8 tour or afterwards (late 2000 or early 2001). Although this song has seen wide circulation on an unofficial (leak) compilation known as "Basement II", actually most or all of the songs on that compilation were written, performed, and recorded much earlier, in the mid or late 90's.
For this song specifically, the "Basement II" version actually appears to be from a live performance. The only performance I know of that he played this song was at Umbra Penumbra, in Portland, in 1994- long before heroin use.
Now of course he was writing some songs with blatant reference to heroin long before he actually did it. So in theory it's possible that he performed a song "about heroin" in 1994. However from the lyrics I'd say the Charlie (stepfather) or barfight interpretations seem much more plausible.
I think all instances of "erin" are actually "arrow".