Elliott Smith - Figure 8

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Tracklist:

1. Son of Sam
2. Somebody that I Used to Know
3. Junk Bond Trader
4. Everything Reminds Me of Her
5. Everything Means Nothing to Me
6. LA
7. In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)
8. Stupidity Tries
9. Easy Way Out
10. Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud?
11. Color Bars
12. Happiness
13. Pretty Mary K
14. I Better Be Quiet Now
15. Can’t Make a Sound
16. Bye

The lyrics listed in this thread are from the studio album versions of these songs, as on Elliott Smith’s album Figure 8, realeased in 2000. They match the liner notes, except where indicated. Capitalization and punctuation has been added for clarity. For debate regarding the lyrics indicated, please see related threads under song titles in the I Got a Heavy Metal Mouth Forum.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Son of Sam

Something’s happening, don’t speak too soon.
I told the boss off, made my move, got nowhere to go.
Son of Sam, son of the shining path, the clouded mind,
The couple killer each and every time.

I’m not uncomfortable feeling weird,
Lonely leered, options disappeared, but I know what to do.
Son of Sam, son of a doctor’s touch, a nurse’s love,
Acting under orders from above –
King for a day.

Son of Sam, son of the shining path, the clouded mind,
The couple killer running out of time.

Shiva opens her arms now
To make sure I don’t get too far.
I may talk in my sleep tonight ‘cause I don’t know what I am
I’m a little like you –
More like Son of Sam.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Somebody that I Used to Know

I had tender feelings that you made hard,
But it’s your heart, not mine, that’s scarred,
So when I go home, I’ll be happy to go.
You’re just somebody that I used to know.

You don’t need my help anymore.
It’s all now to you, there ain’t no before,
Now that you’re big enough to run your own show,
You’re just somebody that I used to know.

I watched you deal in a dying day
And throw a living past away,
So you can be sure that you’re in control –
You’re just somebody that I used to know.

I know you don’t think you did me wrong,
And I can’t stay this mad for long,
Keeping ahold of what you just let go.
You’re just somebody that I used to know.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Junk Bond Trader

The imitation picks you up like a habit,
Writing in the glow of the TV’s static,
Taking out the trash to the man:
Give the people something they understand.
A stickman flashing a fine line smile;
Junk bond trader trying to sell a sucker a style.
Rich man in a poor man’s clothes –
The permanent installment of the daily dose.

And you tell off when you tell it like it is –
Your world’s no wider than your hatred of his.
Checking into a small reality,
Boring as a drug you take too regularly,
The athlete’s laugh, the broken crutch,
The first true love that folded at the slightest touch,
Brought down like an old hotel,
People digging through the rubble for things they can resell.

“Happy holidays,” said sick savior,
The leaving lover I still favor.*
I won’t take your medicine; I don’t need a remedy
To be everything I’m supposed to be.
I don’t want nobody else.
I can do it by myself.
We’re meant to be together.

Now I’m a policeman directing traffic,
Keeping everything moving, everything static.
I’m the hitchhiker you’ll recognize passing
On your way to some everlasting –
Better sell it while you can,
Better sell it while you can,
Better sell it while you can,
Better sell it while you can.


*The lyric sheet for this line reads “The leaving lover that I still favor”, but the word "that" is not sung.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Everything Reminds Me of Her

I never really had a problem
Because of leaving,
But everything reminds me of her
This evening.
So if I seem a little out of it, sorry,
But why should I lie?
Everything reminds me of her.

The spin of the earth impaled a silhouette of the sun on a steeple,
And I gotta hear the same sermon all the time now from you people.
Why are you staring into outer space crying
Just because you came across it and lost it?
Everything reminds me of her.
Everything reminds me of her.
Everything reminds me of her.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Everything Means Nothing to Me

Someone found the future as a statue in a fountain at
Attention looking backward in a pool of water wishes with
A blue songbird singing over everything:
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.

I picked up the song and found my picture in the paper, the
Reflection in the water showed an iron man still trying to
Salute people from a time when he was everything he’s supposed to be.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.
Everything means nothing to me.




(That's 17 times he sings that line at the end, if you were wondering. Trust me -- I counted.)

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

LA

The gentleman’s in the lane spinning his hat on a cane,
Stepping out, out for a change –
Good morning all, it’s a beautiful day.
The general’s winning a war seemed suicidal before you came along;*
Now now, I'll protect you, long as you stay.**
LA morning had to come, I’d be walking in the sun,
Living in the day,
But 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’d never done, cars parked in the sun,
Living in the day,
But 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.


*The lyric sheet for this line reads “The general’s winning a war that seemed suicidal before you came along”, but the word "that" is not sung.

**The lyric sheet for this line reads “Now I’ll protect you, long as you stay” -- an extra "now" is added.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)

He held his breath to hold your hand,
To walk the stairsteps in pairs,
Climbing up a slippery slope –
I’m in love, love I hope.
Don’t go home, Angelina,
Stay with me, hanging around in the lost and found.

Kissed you quick, feeling weird;
Lonely leered and disappeared.
This is such a simple place
Passing time can’t erase.
Don’t go home, Angelina,
Paint tomorrow blue.
Day breaks, and every morning when he wakes, he thinks of you.

I’m alone, that’s okay, I don’t mind,
Most of the time,
I don’t feel afraid to die.
She was here passing by.*
Don’t go home, Angelina,
Stay with me, hanging around in the lost and found.
Stay with me, hanging around in the lost and found.


*The lyric sheet for this line reads “She was just here passing by”, but the word "just" isn't sung.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Stupidity Tries

Got a foot in the door,
God knows what for,
And he’ll cut me down to size –
Stupidity tries.

Everything here is free,
Everything but you and me.
This painting never dries –
Stupidity tries.

Savannah shoulder raised a cheer coloring the sky with ash
Because they found some privateer to sail across a sea of trash.

The enemy is within;
Don’t confuse me with him.
The truth is otherwise –
Stupidity tries.

And so I go from floor to floor looking for a port of call,
Another drunk conquistador conquering the governor’s ball.

I couldn’t think of a thing
That I hope tomorrow brings –
Oh, what a surprise.
Stupidity tries.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Easy Way Out

You’ll take advantage ‘til you think you’re being used,
‘Cause without an enemy, your anger gets confused,
And I got stuck on a side you know I never chose,
But it’s all about taking the easy way out for you, I suppose.

There’s no escape for you except in someone else,
Although you’ve already disappeared within yourself:
The invisible man who’s always changing clothes.
It’s all about taking the easy way out for you, I suppose.

While I watch you making mistakes, I wish you luck, I really do –
With the problem, with the puzzle,
Whatever’s left of you.

I heard you found another audience to bore,
A creative thinker who imagined you were more,
A new body for you to push around and pose.
It’s all about taking the easy way out for you, I suppose.
It’s all about taking the easy way out for you, I suppose.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud?

The question is wouldn’t Mama be proud?
There’s a silver lining in the corporate cloud,
And the pretty post that you’re taking as an, as an NCO*
Of the great pretender?
I should sure think so!
Wouldn’t Mama be proud?

“Can I take your order?” asked the heavenly host.
Ticket to the jetstream blowing coast to coast,
The long stem glasses, a movie and a pleasant dream in mid-air;
“You gotta tell me quickly, ‘cause we’re almost there.”
Wouldn’t Mama be proud?

Pointed out of the window at the sky gone black.
“Kid, you’re on the right track.”

If I send you postcards from the side of the road,
Photographs of moving parts about to implode,
If I crawl to keep it together like you say you know I can do
To transmit the moment from me to you.
Wouldn’t Mama be proud?
Wouldn’t Mama be proud?
Wouldn’t Mama be proud?
Wouldn’t Mama be proud?


*The lyric sheet for this line reads “And the pretty post that you’re taking as an NCO”, but he sings "as an" twice.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Color Bars

I see color bars when I come.
Sergeant Rock broke the key off in the lock to where I come from.
Sir, no sir, we have no power in the air –
The battle’s on the ground,
Laying low again, high on the sound.

Bruno S. is a man to me.
You’re just some dude with a stilted attitude that you learned from TV.
You’ll undo, but I’ll be connecting everything,
The traffic in my town,
Riding high again, high on the sound.

Everyone wants me to ride into the sun,
But I ain’t gonna go down,
Laying low again, high on the sound.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Happiness

Activity’s killing the actor,
And a cop’s standing out in the road turning traffic away.
There was nothing she could do until after,
When his body’d been buried below
Way back in the day.
Oh my, nothing else could’ve been done.
He made his life a lie so he might never have to know anyone,
Made his life the lie you know.

I told him that he shouldn’t upset her
And that he’d only be making it worse involving somebody else,
But I knew that he’d never forget her,
While her memory worked in reverse to keep her safe from herself
And oh my, nothing else could’ve been done.
She made her life a lie so she might never have to know anyone,
Made her life the lie you know.

What I used to be will pass away, and then you’ll see
That all I want now is happiness for you and me.
What I used to be will pass away, and then you’ll see
That all I want now is happiness for you and me.
What I used to be will pass away, and then you’ll see
That all I want now is happiness for you and me.
All I want now is happiness for you and me.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Pretty Mary K

Almost forgot,
Started to say,
Rode into the sun
Past everyone.
Hallelujah, pretty Mary K.

I found faith in the infirmary:
There’s a soldier lying in bed
With a wound to the head
Calling out to pretty Mary K.

Here’s what you get for things that haven’t happened yet.

I happened upon pretty Mary K,
But a soldier’s uniform waved you away.
I walk ‘round the dock and talk to St. James,
Though I’m already done,
And ask everyone “Have you seen her?”
Pretty Mary K.
Have you seen her?
Pretty Mary K.

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

I Better Be Quiet Now

Wish you gave me your number,
Wish I could call you today, just to hear a voice.
I got a long way to go;
I’m getting further away.

If I didn’t know the difference, living alone’d probably be OK.
It wouldn’t be lonely.
I got a long way to go;
I’m getting further away.

A lot of hours to occupy, it was easy when I didn’t know you yet –
Things I’d have to forget –
But I better be quiet now.
I’m tired of wasting my breath
Carrying on and getting upset.

Maybe I have a problem, but that’s not what I wanted to say.*
I’d prefer to say nothing.
I got a long way to go;
I’m getting further away.

Had a dream as an army man with an order just to march in my place
While a dead enemy screams in my face
But I better be quiet now.
I’m tired of wasting my breath
Carrying on, not over it yet.

Wish I knew what you’re doing
And why you want to do it this way, so I can’t go the distance.
I got a long way to go;
I’m getting further away.
I got a long way to go;
I’m getting further away.


*The lyric sheet for this line reads “Maybe I got a problem, but that’s not what I wanted to say”, but he sings "have" instead of "got".

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Can’t Make a Sound

I have become a silent movie:
The hero killed the clown.
Can’t make a sound,
Can’t make a sound,
Can’t make a sound.

Nobody knows what he’s doing
Still hanging around.
Can’t make a sound,
Can’t make a sound,
Can’t make a sound,
Can’t make a sound.

The slow motion moves me.
The monologue means nothing to me.

Bored in the role, but he can’t stop
Standing up to sit back down
Or lose the one thing found.

Spinning the world like a toy top
‘Til there’s a ghost in every town.
Can’t make a sound,
Can’t make a sound,
Can’t make a sound,
Can’t make a sound.

Eyes locked and shining –
Can’t you tell me what’s happening?
Why should you want any other when you’re a world within a world?
Why should you want any other when you’re a world within a world?
Why should you want any other when you’re a world within a world?
Why should you want any other when you’re a world within a world?

[Elliott Smith Lyrics]

Bye

Instrumental