What good would a site semi-tributed to Elliott Smith be without some thoughts
and background on him. My first introduction to Smith came, unfortunately, later
in his career than most diehard fans. I actually had not heard of him before
"Good
Will Hunting" where
several of his songs are featured.
I was immediately hooked though and shortly thereafter purchased his
self-titled album which has a very similar flavor to his songs from the GWH sound track.
My biggest motivation for following Smith was his style of music. Something
about his melody, flow, lyrics and overall talent draws me unlike any other
artist I've listened to. He had an essential poetic talent that inhabited his music,
making use of word sounds and metaphors much like Tennyson or Browning. For instance,
"Between
the Bars" contains a dark and tangible metaphor which compares a
bar-hopping experience to the bars of a jail cell. Which is the metaphor is
anybody's guess and maybe neither were meant to be.
The same can be seen in the song "Miss Misery" which relates the hardships, struggles and
let-downs of life to the same experiences which a man is bound to experience
with at least one woman in his life. The very title itself contains this meaning
in its fullest. Here are the entire lyrics for the song.
I'll fake it through the day
With some help from johnny walker red
Send the poison rain down the drain
To put bad thoughts in my head
Two tickets torn in half
And a lot of nothing to do
Do you miss me, miss misery
Like you say you do?
A man in the park
Read the lines in my hand
Told me I'm strong
Hardly ever wrong I said man you mean
You had plans for both of us
That involved a trip out of town
To a place I've seen in a magazine
That you left lying around
I don't have you with me but
I keep a good attitude
Do you miss me, miss misery
Like you say you do?
I know you'd rather see me gone
Than to see me the way that I am
But I am in the life anyway
Next door the tv's flashing
Blue frames on the wall
Its a comedy of errors, you see
It's about taking a fall
To vanish into oblivion
Is easy to do
And I try to be but you know me
I come back when you want me to
Do you miss me miss misery
Like you say you do?
On October 21, 2003, I read the news, like many other fans, that Smith had taken his
life. That moment of devastation and suspended belief is one I will never forget.
I had just moved to NYC a couple of weeks earlier and was excited to start a new
chapter in my life. Everything was fresh and new but that period is now marked
with the experience of hearing about his death. Put yourself in the shoes of
one of John Lennon's biggest fans on the day he was shot to death. I'm pretty sure
the depression that ensued me was very similar to what that person might have felt.
I had read about Elliott's drug problems and emotional instability but never imagined
it would come to that. I am writing these words on the eve of his birthday
almost three years after his death. I can still turn on a Smith song and travel
back in time to a time when he was alive and writing music. Having those
nostalgic moments are comforting. How does one feel so connected to a songwriter
he's never met? Music is powerful.
