I genuinely can’t believe that to this day this song hasn’t seen an official release. It’s such a testament to his songwriting ability that there are numerous posthumous releases of such consistent quality and yet there are still multiple songs of this caliber that have never seen the light of day. Blows my mind, such a talent.
I sit here shooting blanks Out at emptiness Ain’t nothing really want to kill Maybe time I guess I sit and spin the world on its flipside And I listen backwards for meaning 'Cause I’m a stickman I live with one dimension dead Trying not to think too many moves ahead I draw from memory The stillest kind of life Slide after slide Mental pain's the sharpest knife Project what's done for everyone to see To me it's just a reversal And I'm a stickman In frames that go one by one If I sped it up You'd see I'm on the run From some monster off-screen Killing sons Lonely makes me blue Envy turns me green Hate might paint me red If I load my magazine But not just now when it's easy to stay clean When no one sees where you're bleeding And I'm a stickman Stickman
This is my favorite elliott smith song ever. If he had gotten to finish from a basement it would have been a true masterpiece. Maybe the greatest album ever made. The combination of piercing songwriting with incredibly original production and noise... the "California frown" is a sound that very few artists can come close to. Here's to hoping someone picks up this torch because it's incredible and lights up even the darkest of lives.... mine included.
I recently read Torment Saint, the Elliott Smith biography. According to the author, Elliott Smith had a CD with 15 different versions of Stick Man in his car stereo when he ended his life. As beautiful as this song is, there were at least 14 other versions recorded. As with the songs on Basement On the Hill, we don't know for sure what the final versions would sound like. I love this version so much and don't think this song could be made better.
The constant association between depression and Elliotts music seems flawed and untrue. Yes a lot of his music portrays this emotion, but I found myself humming his songs at my best, and my worst. He truly was one of the greatest musicians of all time.
Elliott himself said that he didn't his music being labelled. The quote goes "'depressing' isn't a word I'd use to describe my music. There is some sadness in it - there has to be, so that the happiness in it will matter." His music isn't just sad and depressing, it's bittersweet in all the best ways. It's music about a shitty life but without being sad about it. Just telling stories.
Elliott don't bring depression, he found a true way to bring hope to depressed peoples, his ideas are so clear it makes you fly in an alternate dimension, the greatest music i've ever heard❤️
I have been listening to Elliott Smith songs since i first discovered him about 3 years ago... i consider myself a pretty big fan but it amazes me how i can always come across something i have yet to hear... and every time it just confirms to me this man was a genius... it's a real shame he wasn't as recognized for that as he should be, he was truly one of a kind
this is a top five elliott song for me. it's really beautiful. nobody quite has the touch he has. for so many years i was in an awful place and i felt like elliott was my best friend. the only one that really understood me. thanks elliott.
What a great statement - this very much mirrors the way this song makes me feel, as well. I will guess that you probably feel this same way about at least several other of his songs - yes? I have loved a lot of music in my lifetime so far but since becoming aware of this artist & getting to know his music it's made most other stuff seem really average and superficial.
Can anyone name me one bad song by this man? I never thought this day would come, but Elliott Smith is better than The Beatles. I listened to nothing but him for the last three months and I just cannot understand why enough people listen to him. Its a real tragedy to see him go, he was by far the best modern musician, but at least he was able to produce over 100 masterpieces... something that most "good" bands cannot, because they have 2-5 songs worth listening to. XO
He’s so much better than Beatles I agree not all just happy love songs no his stuff is beautiful intricate and deep lyrically the best and isn’t the background sound just radtastic period ? I do love Beatles too. Much love for this man as well havent stoppped listening for months to him and I won’t I’m fairly certain. love you my fellow Elliott listener !
Thanks for everything(changing my life) Elliott. Cant believe it's been 14 years today since we lost you. I will be covering your music and wearing my I broken heart metal shirt all day. Love ya Bud.
Look, i have done an in-depth study on The Beatles. What they have done in 7 years is more than what the rest of the music industry has achieved ever since. With every album and every record they reinvented themselves in a fundamental way. 3 genius singer/songwriters who had the luck to be in the same band. BTW Elliott Smith is my favorite artist of all time and its because of the Beatles that his music exists in the first place so its not a surprise that people keep bringing them up
I read that shortly before ES died he burned a CD of 16 different versions of this song and would drive around listening to each one to find which he liked best
Yeah that book is great, I would love to get my hands on this CD so bad! The only other version I've heard is the backwards drum mix version that I think sucks.
Vamphaery, what Elliott Smith says is "killing sons" leading right into "loneliness turns me blue;" It's his innovative rythym that threw you off. I wanted to clarify that because this song is such an eloquent warning to people about the dangers of addictive drugs by someone who felt caught in the addiction trap(though obviously clean during the period when he wrote this.)
There are comments here from 10 years ago and 5 months ago. And that's how it is in the comment sections under all his music on UA-cam. Almost as if he wasn't gone at all.🧡
Nick drake, Elliott and Jeff Buckly all 3 taken way to soon.. All 3 can invoke 10 emotions within a verse I'd be a totally different person without there music and influence.
Add Cobain to the list and we have brilliant quartet, all of whom died FAR TOO YOUNG, all under strange circumstances, and correct me if I'm wrong, were all INFPs.
A different individual.. Was more of a rock star and brought an entire genre to the public in a big way, which is why he's remembered. Can you imagine Nick, elliott or Jeff partnering up with a disgusting person like cortney love? No.. Just not the same.
SmittenKitten He might still be here, you're right.. stabbing your own heart twice.. ill never buy. when people like elliott get surrounded by sycophants, weird and horrible things happen.
I always feel like I could have "reasoned" with him... that's so stupid of me. I think we all believe we could have said some magic phrase that would have alleviated his pain, but in reality, he couldn't seem to escape it for any length of time. It's cruel that he's been able to heal countless numbers of people without being able to heal himself. Love him infinitely.
I don't believe he killed himself. If it had been a drug overdose, yes - but there is way too much scientific and logical evidence provided by his autopsy, coupled with the professional medical opinions of those involved, to believe this man stabbed himself twice in his own heart through his clothes. Also, the supposed "suicide post-it" note he left is laughable at best. This man wrote some of the most prolific and soul-encompassing lyrics of our time and to think he went out with "God forgive me, I'm so sorry, Love, Elliott" just doesn't seem plausible to me. As someone who attempted suicide myself 30 years ago, I don't take the subject lightly, though many now seem to since it's become so common in our continually eroding society.
Danielle Marin first- I totally agree with everything you said and his toxicology report came back clean. For ME, it comes down to this simple fact, she pulled the blade out of his chest! If you saw someone with a knife in their chest, you’re first instinct isn’t to grab the handle and yank it out! The paramedics said they could’ve saved him if she hadn’t done that. Doesn’t make any sense.
No comparison whatsoever! Elliott was and shall remain a one-man band.Damn near every peice of music was his own. No one ever wrote sheet music for him to sing.And he wasn't in it for the money,the fame,nor the fortune. He did it cause he loved to do it! He didn't care if it was on the radio or not,or if people liked it or not.It made him feel good and he liked it...that was it.He was so easy going...love him!R.I.P. Elliott Smith.C u someday...Love nanci,san diego,CA.
Couldn't agree more, music is perspective. That's why im so in love with it, there is actually no right or wrong. Although I agree that I haven't found one bad Elliott song in my opinion, people have their own idea of what music should sound like. Why can't we all just understand perspective and each other?
Lonely makes me blue, Envy turns me green Hate might paint me red, If I load my magazine But not just now when, It's easy to stay clean When no one sees, Where you're bleeding
Sean Lucas It's too bad.. There are so many great songs that didn't make it. This one, Dancing on the Highway, Suicide Machine, See You in Heaven, etc.. If only we could hear what Elliott's final vision would have been for the album..I think it would have been one of his best releases.
@Justin Kubina I commented this up above, but they included "King's Crossing" "I can't prepare for death anymore than I already have / Give me one good reason not to do it...so do it". Don't think that rumor holds up
I’m a stickman in frames that go one by one, If I sped it up you’ll see I’m on the run From some monster offscreen killing sons Lonely makes me blue envy turns me green Hate might paint me red if I load my magazine But not right now when it’s easy to stay clean No one sees where you’re bleeding I’m a stickman I’m a stickman I’m a stickman
Definitely in my my top 10 from Elliott. Brilliant song. I missed the guy by months. Now I've been a fan for two decades, and for the last 15 years I listen to his music and think, "Dammit! I really wanted to shoot the shit with this guy."
Angie I agree. water leaves its impression on rock after so long of caressing it, and its ireversable. it also just means the two things were in the same flow. and it doesnt make one more beautiful than the other.
thank you Angie, sory my name is Solomon, monet gets mad when i use her acct. i dont have one because im not giving google my cell number. just to be clear. BTW check out "stranger than fiction" elliots High school band , someone put one of their tracks up. so good.
@Vamphaery, what Elliott Smith says there is "killing sons" leading right into "loneliness turns me blue;" It's his innovative rythym that threw you off. I wanted to clarify that because this song is such an eloquent warning to people about the dangers of addictive drugs by someone who felt caught in the addiction trap(though obviously clean during the period when he wrote this.)
his voice sounds quite a bit like john lennon's here. in fact, this song sounds like something john might've recorded towards the end of his solo career
God the part about being clean kills me. I’m clean, and when using the pain you’re going through is obvious. Now it seems like I’m okay. It’s a different kind of bleeding. Not out of my veins anymore but I’m still bleeding.
@SeanLawlorNelson just clarifying, this version was recorded when he was clean, but there's an earlier version recorded when he was heavy into his addiction that has those same lines.
But musicians definitely put differing emotions, efforts, meanings, and thought into their work. You're right, its not a competition, its an art of expression, and some just don't appear to want to express anything of significance. They're not miles behind, they're universally differentiated, incomparable.
It's just about expressing a sentiment of love and support for Elliott by his fans, even after his death. The exact formation of the sentiment was poor but the reality of the feelings behind it is what attracted the likes.
And I'm a stickman And frames they go one by one If I sped it up You'd see I'm on the run From some monster off screen Killing sons Lonely makes me blue Envy turns me green Hate might paint me red If I load my magazine But not just now when it's easy to stay clean When no one sees where you're bleeding And I'm a stickman Stickman
@SVTristan Contractual conflicts. Two record companies fighting over the same songs. You'd think they could have reached a compromise that would have satisfied everyone and let FABOTH come out as the double album Elliott wanted.
@cocainecosmonaut cool I was commenting that the vocals on true love were his last vocal recordings before passing(not that it was the last song he wrote)......he wrote many songs early and ended up finally recording them later.
+Christopher Grubb We killed him. The evidence was in songs as far back as Heatmiser and before and we ignored it. All we want, all we ever want, is more more more. We love him. Yes. We love him so dearly, but as they say, you only hurt the ones you love. Now it is time to pay our penance. We must dream perfect music.
MattyMattThing, nobody ever said Elliott was free of errors or mistakes, but who is? so very few, and none of these are the titanically accomplished musician that Elliott was. We honor Elliott because he was a gentle human with a wondrous gift. Incidentally, he died "clean" or "corrected." If he'd been weened very slowly with oral meds, he'd probably be recording right now(opiates are effective if forbidden anti-depressants + anti-psychotics)
There’s Mythological Stuff in this song it makes me feel.. I sit here shooting blanks out at emptiness ain’t nothing really want to kill maybe time I guess I sit and spin over Oberon on its flip side (he doesn’t seem to say “world”..Ourobourous is infinity self contained eating its own tail like a figure 8 but a circle in Astrology) And I listen backwards for meaning (“backwards” : O. in sky tales is Hercules symbiotic nemesis: “I wouldn’t be a hero if I wasn’t such a zero” trying to conquer time) Cause I’m a Stick Man (see the Australian Aborigine on their stick man gods called Mi-Inwer that Ezekiel mentions as proto humans and Hahn says were earlier world first Hero’s on earth and Hopi call the ant people who saved being kind then and whom T. called Inwe’s too (his Noldor they who came after and from them). They are called Antet in Egyptology and shepherds of the dead in gnostic literature, Hermiunth Gnumphae) I live with one dimension dead trying not to think too many moves ahead draw from memory a stillest kind of life/light slide after slide little panes/pains of sharpest knife/night/life project/drag what’s done for a “everyone” to see to me it’s just a reversal and I’m a stick man in frames that go one by one If you sped it up you’d see I’m on the run from some monster off screen killing sons/suns [Gurdjieff mentions “TzvarnoHarno” being a collective group think power in the demiurge here that tends to kill everything a man’s ever done for the welfare of man and everything after: erase it] Sol/Soul-leave makes me blue Envy turns me green Hate/Paint my picture/person red (or =) Hate my “paper” (false outward self) red If I load my Maga Zine But not just now when it’s easy to stay clean: when no one sees when you’re bleeding and I’m a stick man stick man
there was 1 person so outraged by the beauty of this song, and artist, that the only outlet for them to release there intense feelings of love was to press the dislike button,
![Elliott Smith - Live at Bumbershoot Festival, 2000 [HD Remaster]](/img/n.gif)
He was and will always be the best.
He’s second only to God, if you choose to believe, in terms of talent 😄
This song is so fucking beautiful
Damn, you commented 11 years ago.
Please take me back with you
Couldn't have said it any better myself
think of what his reply would ´ve been . ^^ hehe
I really wish people would continue to release all these gems. They're all so good. Everything. He touched sound itself and made it beautiful.
Lovely way to put it
Lovely indeed 😘 OP
I genuinely can’t believe that to this day this song hasn’t seen an official release.
It’s such a testament to his songwriting ability that there are numerous posthumous releases of such consistent quality and yet there are still multiple songs of this caliber that have never seen the light of day.
Blows my mind, such a talent.
I almost like his unreleased songs more, because so many of them feel like some of his best work.
I think it's so wonderful that Elliott Smith has helped so many people, including myself, through tough times! Thank you Elliott!
+Jake Lindsay Awesome post, Jake. I read that and instantly related and then felt very sad that Elliott didn't (couldn't?) keep his story going.
I sit here shooting blanks
Out at emptiness
Ain’t nothing really want to kill
Maybe time I guess
I sit and spin the world on its flipside
And I listen backwards for meaning
'Cause I’m a stickman
I live with one dimension dead
Trying not to think too many moves ahead
I draw from memory
The stillest kind of life
Slide after slide
Mental pain's the sharpest knife
Project what's done for everyone to see
To me it's just a reversal
And I'm a stickman
In frames that go one by one
If I sped it up
You'd see I'm on the run
From some monster off-screen
Killing sons
Lonely makes me blue
Envy turns me green
Hate might paint me red
If I load my magazine
But not just now when it's easy to stay clean
When no one sees where you're bleeding
And I'm a stickman
Stickman
Thank you
Kob khun ka! 🤗
@@eloiseripley kap 🤣 first Thai person I've found who likes Elliot Smith 555
@Trpackz thank u
He just has the deepest lyrics that hit hard with anyone with mental problems.
This is my favorite elliott smith song ever. If he had gotten to finish from a basement it would have been a true masterpiece. Maybe the greatest album ever made. The combination of piercing songwriting with incredibly original production and noise... the "California frown" is a sound that very few artists can come close to. Here's to hoping someone picks up this torch because it's incredible and lights up even the darkest of lives.... mine included.
just you wait
I recently read Torment Saint, the Elliott Smith biography. According to the author, Elliott Smith had a CD with 15 different versions of Stick Man in his car stereo when he ended his life. As beautiful as this song is, there were at least 14 other versions recorded. As with the songs on Basement On the Hill, we don't know for sure what the final versions would sound like. I love this version so much and don't think this song could be made better.
@@manhattanfl for…
@@fullcollapse703 Here's to hoping someone picks up this torch because it's incredible and lights up even the darkest of lives...
what is california frown? i love that
The constant association between depression and Elliotts music seems flawed and untrue. Yes a lot of his music portrays this emotion, but I found myself humming his songs at my best, and my worst. He truly was one of the greatest musicians of all time.
The greatest songwriter ever. His talent exceeds both Lennon and McCartney in my eyes, although I'm sure he'd disagree with me there.
Elliott himself said that he didn't his music being labelled. The quote goes "'depressing' isn't a word I'd use to describe my music. There is some sadness in it - there has to be, so that the happiness in it will matter." His music isn't just sad and depressing, it's bittersweet in all the best ways. It's music about a shitty life but without being sad about it. Just telling stories.
Depresssion has its funny and uplifting moments
Elliott don't bring depression, he found a true way to bring hope to depressed peoples, his ideas are so clear it makes you fly in an alternate dimension, the greatest music i've ever heard❤️
Mediocrity is a killer. Elliott makes me happy.
This is incredible. I'm just discovering all of Elliott's unreleased material and it's blowing me away
This is happening to me right now
im in your shoes, now :)
This man was insanely talented
I have been listening to Elliott Smith songs since i first discovered him about 3 years ago... i consider myself a pretty big fan but it amazes me how i can always come across something i have yet to hear... and every time it just confirms to me this man was a genius... it's a real shame he wasn't as recognized for that as he should be, he was truly one of a kind
this is a top five elliott song for me. it's really beautiful. nobody quite has the touch he has. for so many years i was in an awful place and i felt like elliott was my best friend. the only one that really understood me. thanks elliott.
This song is so, so powerful that sometimes I can't bear it
What a great statement - this very much mirrors the way this song makes me feel, as well. I will guess that you probably feel this same way about at least several other of his songs - yes? I have loved a lot of music in my lifetime so far but since becoming aware of this artist & getting to know his music it's made most other stuff seem really average and superficial.
Same. My heart wants to explode.
He knew how to express emotion in the rawest and most abstract way possible. Never gonna be another like him
No words. The density of genius in his embodiment of work just makes sit down, relax and sigh.
Can anyone name me one bad song by this man? I never thought this day would come, but Elliott Smith is better than The Beatles. I listened to nothing but him for the last three months and I just cannot understand why enough people listen to him. Its a real tragedy to see him go, he was by far the best modern musician, but at least he was able to produce over 100 masterpieces... something that most "good" bands cannot, because they have 2-5 songs worth listening to. XO
He’s so much better than Beatles I agree not all just happy love songs no his stuff is beautiful intricate and deep lyrically the best and isn’t the background sound just radtastic period ? I do love Beatles too. Much love for this man as well havent stoppped listening for months to him and I won’t I’m fairly certain. love you my fellow Elliott listener !
Does it really matter if he has a bad song? Or if he is in fact better than the Beatles?
He was extraordinarily gifted - I’ve thought the same many times - he was like all four Beatles, George Martin and something else all in one
Hm some I’m like ehh but only two so yes u are correct. He’s perfect
Thanks for everything(changing my life) Elliott. Cant believe it's been 14 years today since we lost you. I will be covering your music and wearing my I broken heart metal shirt all day. Love ya Bud.
"Hate me might paint me red if I load my magazine" so good!
He made the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.
I miss Elliott terribly.
Lyrics, melodies, guitar tones...everything in this song is fantastic.
At least half the musicians in the world are miles behind Elliott... even when it comes to his unreleased songs!!!
Come back Elliott, I need you more than ever
PLEASE
He has one of the best voices I have heard yet. What a tragic ending to a sad and talented life
Look, i have done an in-depth study on The Beatles. What they have done in 7 years is more than what the rest of the music industry has achieved ever since. With every album and every record they reinvented themselves in a fundamental way. 3 genius singer/songwriters who had the luck to be in the same band. BTW Elliott Smith is my favorite artist of all time and its because of the Beatles that his music exists in the first place so its not a surprise that people keep bringing them up
At least half the magicians in the world are miles behind Elliott... even when it comes to unreleased tricks!!!
Well played. Only three likes ... sad.
thank you for being with me during these trying times. i really love you elliott smith. i hope things get better someday for me.
I can totally picture a stickman walking, running, living in some old cartoon when i listen to this
My favorite person and artist of all time
not known elliott long but i love his mussical talent, i cant believe he is not alive to produce such quality rest in peace man the world loves you
*musical
@@adriancardenas5860 really?
this song's a bag of feels.
I read that shortly before ES died he burned a CD of 16 different versions of this song and would drive around listening to each one to find which he liked best
this is true. check it out in the book Torment Saint
Yeah that book is great, I would love to get my hands on this CD so bad! The only other version I've heard is the backwards drum mix version that I think sucks.
Vamphaery, what Elliott Smith says is "killing sons" leading right into "loneliness turns me blue;" It's his innovative rythym that threw you off. I wanted to clarify that because this song is such an eloquent warning to people about the dangers of addictive drugs by someone who felt caught in the addiction trap(though obviously clean during the period when he wrote this.)
There are comments here from 10 years ago and 5 months ago. And that's how it is in the comment sections under all his music on UA-cam. Almost as if he wasn't gone at all.🧡
So beautiful..this song makes me mourn him though. I really wish he was still around..guess we all do
Nick drake, Elliott and Jeff Buckly all 3 taken way to soon.. All 3 can invoke 10 emotions within a verse
I'd be a totally different person without there music and influence.
Add Cobain to the list and we have brilliant quartet, all of whom died FAR TOO YOUNG, all under strange circumstances, and correct me if I'm wrong, were all INFPs.
+SmittenKitten no
A different individual.. Was more of a rock star and brought an entire genre to the public in a big way, which is why he's remembered.
Can you imagine Nick, elliott or Jeff partnering up with a disgusting person like cortney love?
No..
Just not the same.
Jacob Grossman Well, Elliott didn't exactly partner with someone great. :( Still, I understand your point.
SmittenKitten He might still be here, you're right.. stabbing your own heart twice.. ill never buy. when people like elliott get surrounded by sycophants, weird and horrible things happen.
I always feel like I could have "reasoned" with him... that's so stupid of me. I think we all believe we could have said some magic phrase that would have alleviated his pain, but in reality, he couldn't seem to escape it for any length of time. It's cruel that he's been able to heal countless numbers of people without being able to heal himself. Love him infinitely.
I don't believe he killed himself. If it had been a drug overdose, yes - but there is way too much scientific and logical evidence provided by his autopsy, coupled with the professional medical opinions of those involved, to believe this man stabbed himself twice in his own heart through his clothes. Also, the supposed "suicide post-it" note he left is laughable at best. This man wrote some of the most prolific and soul-encompassing lyrics of our time and to think he went out with "God forgive me, I'm so sorry, Love, Elliott" just doesn't seem plausible to me. As someone who attempted suicide myself 30 years ago, I don't take the subject lightly, though many now seem to since it's become so common in our continually eroding society.
Danielle Marin first- I totally agree with everything you said and his toxicology report came back clean. For ME, it comes down to this simple fact, she pulled the blade out of his chest! If you saw someone with a knife in their chest, you’re first instinct isn’t to grab the handle and yank it out! The paramedics said they could’ve saved him if she hadn’t done that. Doesn’t make any sense.
Danielle Marin (I’m also a suicide survivor, 13 years ago for me).
Yeahhh
How could anyone ever thumbs down an Elliot Smith song
No comparison whatsoever! Elliott was and shall remain a one-man band.Damn near every peice of music was his own. No one ever wrote sheet music for him to sing.And he wasn't in it for the money,the fame,nor the fortune. He did it cause he loved to do it! He didn't care if it was on the radio or not,or if people liked it or not.It made him feel good and he liked it...that was it.He was so easy going...love him!R.I.P. Elliott Smith.C u someday...Love nanci,san diego,CA.
the song "abused" actually DID make me cry.
Couldn't agree more, music is perspective. That's why im so in love with it, there is actually no right or wrong. Although I agree that I haven't found one bad Elliott song in my opinion, people have their own idea of what music should sound like. Why can't we all just understand perspective and each other?
Lonely makes me blue,
Envy turns me green
Hate might paint me red,
If I load my magazine
But not just now when,
It's easy to stay clean
When no one sees,
Where you're bleeding
Paul Valecce agreed, such touching and emotional lyrics. rip ES
Ashtray Wasp... The lyrics....pure beauty
if anyone is wondering this song is only the J chord the R Chord and the Reverse Double Helix Chord.
Never even heard of those chords brah, what are they?
+Real Bizniz you have to play them on the skin flute
If I had to guess, I'd say he had a vision.
It's the GMajor Neutral chord and Am0 chord
why did i believe "Reverse Double Helix Chord" was an actual chord i just didnt know yet?
How was this left off of Basement??? If anything, it might be the best song he wrote making his last album..
It's an amazing song for sure.
It has become one of my very favorite songs of all time.
Sean Lucas It's too bad.. There are so many great songs that didn't make it. This one, Dancing on the Highway, Suicide Machine, See You in Heaven, etc.. If only we could hear what Elliott's final vision would have been for the album..I think it would have been one of his best releases.
Justin Kubina forced, not requested.
@Justin Kubina I commented this up above, but they included "King's Crossing" "I can't prepare for death anymore than I already have / Give me one good reason not to do it...so do it". Don't think that rumor holds up
I’m a stickman in frames that go one by one,
If I sped it up you’ll see I’m on the run
From some monster offscreen killing sons
Lonely makes me blue envy turns me green
Hate might paint me red if I load my magazine
But not right now when it’s easy to stay clean
No one sees where you’re bleeding
I’m a stickman
I’m a stickman
I’m a stickman
Definitely in my my top 10 from Elliott. Brilliant song. I missed the guy by months. Now I've been a fan for two decades, and for the last 15 years I listen to his music and think, "Dammit! I really wanted to shoot the shit with this guy."
Angie I agree. water leaves its impression on rock after so long of caressing it, and its ireversable. it also just means the two things were in the same flow. and it doesnt make one more beautiful than the other.
thank you Angie, sory my name is Solomon, monet gets mad when i use her acct. i dont have one because im not giving google my cell number. just to be clear. BTW check out "stranger than fiction" elliots High school band , someone put one of their tracks up. so good.
Shiieet well said man!
greatest songwriter of all time
this song saved me and its on my arm in a cheap bedroom needle tatt from my friends supporting me. 20 years ago.
They need to release another Posthumous album
Crassius cuz he has so much un released music, also 3. All i know is basement and full moon, whats the last one
Crassius oh yeah i forgot that one
Crassius I wouldn't really call Heaven Adores You a proper album, and he recorded like 50 songs in this era and only 15 were released on basement
Listen to the Grand Mal series. Dozens of unreleased material
Who has the rights to his music? His unreleased music that is.
Most of his best songs are only on youtube.
Gosh Elliott you are the best I feel like it’s just me and your music against the world
Elliott Smith saved my life.
Beautiful. Nothing more. Elliott.
You rule for uploading and hosting this. Excellent.
I love this man!
this was the last song i discovered from him
And what a song
love and miss you Elliott, thank you for everything. See you later.
AWESOME!! I can't wait to get home and check it out. Being at work suddenly sucks 50% more than it did a few minutes ago.
This song is great.
This song honestly got me through some shit.
@Vamphaery, what Elliott Smith says there is "killing sons" leading right into "loneliness turns me blue;" It's his innovative rythym that threw you off. I wanted to clarify that because this song is such an eloquent warning to people about the dangers of addictive drugs by someone who felt caught in the addiction trap(though obviously clean during the period when he wrote this.)
This songs supposed to make me feel bad a little and love elliot so much
lonely makes me blue, envy turns me green
So beautiful I can’t stop listening. Any one have any recs
I love the use of color.
his voice sounds quite a bit like john lennon's here. in fact, this song sounds like something john might've recorded towards the end of his solo career
God the part about being clean kills me. I’m clean, and when using the pain you’re going through is obvious. Now it seems like I’m okay. It’s a different kind of bleeding. Not out of my veins anymore but I’m still bleeding.
✊
@Lifexplosion - Thanks for the song! Much appreciated!
love this song
@SeanLawlorNelson just clarifying, this version was recorded when he was clean, but there's an earlier version recorded when he was heavy into his addiction that has those same lines.
Genius man.
But musicians definitely put differing emotions, efforts, meanings, and thought into their work. You're right, its not a competition, its an art of expression, and some just don't appear to want to express anything of significance.
They're not miles behind, they're universally differentiated, incomparable.
It's just about expressing a sentiment of love and support for Elliott by his fans, even after his death. The exact formation of the sentiment was poor but the reality of the feelings behind it is what attracted the likes.
Mental pain's the sharpest knife.
every beatle rolled into one guy
Elliott Smith is a fucking legend. Beautiful song.
So amazing
And I'm a stickman
And frames they go one by one
If I sped it up
You'd see I'm on the run
From some monster off screen
Killing sons
Lonely makes me blue
Envy turns me green
Hate might paint me red
If I load my magazine
But not just now when it's easy to stay clean
When no one sees where you're bleeding
And I'm a stickman
Stickman
@SVTristan Contractual conflicts. Two record companies fighting over the same songs. You'd think they could have reached a compromise that would have satisfied everyone and let FABOTH come out as the double album Elliott wanted.
Why did you have to go, Elliott. We miss you!
amazing amazing amazing
stick man is genius on the lyrics how the hell did this not end up on an album ? anyone know what period he wrote this ?
I love this song so much I love you Elliott
"envy turns me green" he finally got it.
Magic...
I love Elliot smith
@cocainecosmonaut cool I was commenting that the vocals on true love were his last vocal recordings before passing(not that it was the last song he wrote)......he wrote many songs early and ended up finally recording them later.
Much love Elliott 3
His love he left for us to listen to and ponder on it and enjoy! but yes much love Elliott
+Christopher Grubb
We killed him. The evidence was in songs as far back as Heatmiser and before and we ignored it. All we want, all we ever want, is more more more. We love him. Yes. We love him so dearly, but as they say, you only hurt the ones you love. Now it is time to pay our penance. We must dream perfect music.
Why this song isn’t officially released defies my ability to understand. Same with Taking A Fall and Grand Mal and Abused.
He is an absolute beast
@MattyMattThing An error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to Correct it. Death is not the worst that can happen to men.
MattyMattThing, nobody ever said Elliott was free of errors or mistakes, but who is? so very few, and none of these are the titanically accomplished musician that Elliott was. We honor Elliott because he was a gentle human with a wondrous gift. Incidentally, he died "clean" or "corrected." If he'd been weened very slowly with oral meds, he'd probably be recording right now(opiates are effective if forbidden anti-depressants + anti-psychotics)
I don't know if i'm correct but i think this song was already recorded during the X/O (Grand Mal) sessions.
Even i hade this horrible craneal accident, my life counted be better, you're everything i ever wish for.
what happened?
Yeah, i like the beatles too.
I think the best they have is the amount of artists who were influenced by them.
Example: Elliott.
Elliott always was a good looking guy
There’s Mythological Stuff in this song
it makes me feel..
I sit here shooting blanks
out at emptiness
ain’t nothing really want to kill
maybe time I guess
I sit and spin over
Oberon on its flip side
(he doesn’t seem to say “world”..Ourobourous is infinity self contained eating its own tail like a figure 8 but a circle in Astrology)
And I listen backwards for meaning
(“backwards” : O. in sky tales is Hercules symbiotic nemesis: “I wouldn’t be a hero if I wasn’t such a zero” trying to conquer time)
Cause I’m a Stick Man
(see the Australian Aborigine on their stick man gods called Mi-Inwer that Ezekiel mentions as proto humans and Hahn says were earlier world first Hero’s on earth and Hopi call the ant people who saved being kind then and whom T. called Inwe’s too (his Noldor they who came after and from them). They are called Antet in Egyptology and shepherds of the dead in gnostic literature, Hermiunth Gnumphae)
I live with one dimension dead
trying not to think
too many moves ahead
draw from memory
a stillest kind of life/light
slide after slide
little panes/pains of sharpest knife/night/life
project/drag what’s done
for a “everyone” to see
to me it’s just a reversal
and I’m a stick man
in frames that go one by one
If you sped it up
you’d see I’m on the run
from some monster off
screen killing sons/suns [Gurdjieff mentions “TzvarnoHarno” being a collective group think power in the demiurge here that tends to kill everything a man’s ever done for the welfare of man and everything after: erase it]
Sol/Soul-leave makes me blue
Envy turns me green
Hate/Paint my picture/person red
(or =)
Hate my “paper” (false outward self) red
If I load my Maga Zine
But not just now when it’s easy to stay clean:
when no one sees when you’re bleeding
and I’m a stick man
stick man
no words.
Boy does that make me glad.
so great
there was 1 person so outraged by the beauty of this song, and artist, that the only outlet for them to release there intense feelings of love was to press the dislike button,
Because this is objectively great and perspective doesn't come into it!