Carthage

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April 25, 2005

Stay with me, baby, stay

I hate being needed or relied on in any way, so what kind of girlfriend could I really be for a man who needed a big knife in his chest just to get through the day and probably required a little something extra in the way of girlfriend sensitivosity? I'm listening to said man's posthumous album for the first time now (this is Elliott Smith, for those of you playing the home game) and trying not to have the thoughts that undoubtedly swamped the discussion boards as soon as the album was released, i.e.

SomebodysBaby2823: OMG 'a fond farewell to a frend' is totaly about his death
SomebodysBaby7984: no omg totally in that song 'dont go down' he is talkin about his deth
SomebodysBaby9442: ru ppl blind that 10sec trak with the cartoon noizez is totaly about his deaths
l4r4cr0ft223432: U PPL R LOSERZ L33T 4EVA!!!I HACKZ0RZ U!!!
SomebodysBaby57: if u play the album bkwrds u kin here a sucking chest wound

I am failing, though. OMG, that lyric "Stay with me, baby, stay," I thought, clutching a throw pillow to my chest, that is totally what I would say to him if he were here. Except I would add: and put the knife down, baby, put the knife down.

Apart from these eerily prognosticative moments, though, it's not the bright and shining album I know he was capable of making, which is not that surprising given that it's unfinished and he was suicidal. Still, during "A Fond Farewell to a Friend" he and I had a nice moment on the tour bus where I taught him how to braid hair and he braided my whole head in a chummy little interlude (by which I mean "friendly" and not "similar to shark bait") and he maybe sang a little and then maybe we had sex later in the bathroom of the restaurant where the bus stopped for lunch. So overall I give the album three stars because it got me imaginary laid. And imaginary braid(ed).

Posted by didofoot at April 25, 2005 06:43 PM

Comments

And a great big nod for you. I giggled over this even though I've never heard (or read the lyrics to) a single Elliott Smith song and consequently didn't actually get any of the references in this entry. How did you do that?

Posted by: Dianna at April 25, 2005 08:20 PM

nod indeed.
that post made me cry.

Posted by: kati at April 25, 2005 09:32 PM

I find the album sadder now, with more distance. It also reminds me of the Tori Amos albums when she's got a studio in her garage and broken up with her producer boyfriend, so why not quadruple-track her own vocal for the backing part already?

It was also difficult for me to listen without thinking, "Oh, disappearing ink? Heroin. A little less than a suicide? Dude, he's committing suicide!" Also that part in "Get Lost" when he talks about watching the reflection of his braided-haired self having sex in a bathroom is quite evocative.

That SomebodysBaby57 is a real jerk.

Posted by: sean at April 26, 2005 01:08 AM

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