Elliott Smith is the greatest songwriter since Bob Dylan. He's a fucking poet. I honestly believe Either/Or is within the 10 greatest albums of time. Rest in peace, you deserve it.
@@copsarebastards no, that wasn't a joke. Notice how during the instrumental break after the first sung verse how he plays a lead riff while playing the rhythm simultaneously. He makes it look simple but it's quite tricky to play.
@@copsarebastards you cant really play it with one hand, lol....i thought it was a joke too, but i think the guy just expressed himself poorly....still its hilarious.
I have had conversations with people about this song and they insist that it is one of the more upbeat songs on Either/Or. I could not disagree more though. That last line "They want you or they don't," really sums it up. No matter how bad you want someone, no matter what you do, or try, or think, it really comes down to that simple statement. The record's title makes a lot of sense when you think of it that way
+Kevin Ruta I couldn't agree more on that, that single line is so simple and yet to me it's one of the most meaningful ones in all of his songs, quite fatalistic
I wouldn't say it's an entirely sad line, though. It's a somewhat-optimistic "please let this one turn out right". But his lyrics always have those layers to them.
Totally agree. That's how society works. No matter what you do, or think or what your hobbies are, or whatever. They want you or they don't. We humans are too chained to our appearence and to our standards of beauty. This just means that no matter what you do or think about anything in life, no matter if you are Elliott Smith and no one knows about it. If you look great and have a conventional appearence then you'll be wanted and wellcome as one more in the game. No matter if you are discovering the cancer cure at home, no one will care about it if you don't look conventional. So yeah, they want you or they don't, as simple as meaningful.
In an interview Elliott Smith himself called it an "overly optimistic song." I think the message of the song isn't really happy or sad, just very bittersweet
no matter how much i see this comment it still rings pretty true. Most attraction imo is a yes or no, want you or not thing. Can't really change made minds. Unless you are really ambitious of course
You can just tell by his voice and the way he is singing, he is so unhappy. I wish there was a way people could have shown him how much he meant to so many people, and help him happier.
I'm a huge Elliott Smith fan. I remember the first time I heard one of his songs. It sent shivers . . . His music helped me rethink my own role as a musician and I shared his music with the woman who was to become my wife.
Beautiful. Just beautiful. I searched for Elliott about five years ago, clicked on this exact video. I was absolutely taken aback, and that awe hasn't died.
I just still can't believe the truth about him so far. well, Elliot, your music and spirit will always in here with us, so we'll never forget what you've just brought to us. This video is so amazing, I could cry not just bcoz we've lose such great artist and can't see his follow live performance anymore, but also he just did it so GREAT and it shows his emotion so true!!
Broken hearted again, listening to this again some things just never change ... but hey, at least the song is just as good as the day I first heard it :)
From what I had heard, that it wasn't suicide. The police case had gotten reopened after the wounds didn't make sense. Regardless... this song and many others, have helped me to understand someone else's sadness and to associate. "she'll decide what she wants... I'll prolly be the last to know..." He's a genuis in many songs to show his discomforts. of not being happy in general, of bad relationships, and of his self-made limelight.Thank you Elliott for the things you have done for all of us~Lou
I always loved Elliott Smith. God such honesty and power while always being so humble. No matter how Elliott died the simple fact is that we all lost something great. Rest in peace.
Saw him in '97 when I was barely a teenager at Champoeg State Park, before I knew who he was. Later grew to really like his music and damn. You know how it goes.
This is such a sweet song. One of my favorites. It's just so sad to lose such a great talent. I hope wherever Elliott is, he's at peace & happy. This world was just too cruel & ugly for one as sensative as he was. He will always be missed & never forgotten.
WOW, my heart just stops when i hear his music. he is so pure, and magical. this man is the world to me. he is talented out of this world. looking through his eyes i see his tortured soul, and it just makes me cry. this man was simply too amazing for this cold world.
I can't believe he isn't here anymore. It's unfathomable. He spoke to so many people and he always fucking knew how to create such amazing feelings through his music. I love you!
Rest in peace brother. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the music you've made for us all. Thank you for spilling your heart for us. But no thanks for leaving us.
elliott i love you and miss you a lot and i'm very sad because of the fact i won't have the chance to hug you,but i hope you're in a better place now,a place for angels like you.
The whole song it's the most honest song I've heard in my life. I listen to this song every now and then. The total inside turned up felling never changes.
I discovered him this last year. SO talented a songwriter and honest performer. I would love to record some of his songs myself. the material has real substance like Neil or Joni. rock 'n roll schubert.
thanks elliott for all the wonderful lines you wrote, would wish i could meet you only once, your music gives such a feeling that nothing else does, helped me much through times of trouble, miss you.., love Maximilian
I adore this song. I wish I had had a chance to see him live, but I didn't even listen to him back then and was probably too young anyway. Still, it would have been amazing.
Because it is both lyrically and musically ingenious and provides excellent listening material and at the same time serves as a musical catalyst for upcoming musicians learning how music fits together through his brilliant blending of minors, dominants, majors, and suspensions while he still manages to keep it all in one key. And i'll just pretend that it's logical to assume that if one takes their own life that automatically means that he hated himself his music and his fans.
his voice is really magical...altho rough and different...i feel like nobody can match his art.....i wish we could get a concert of him, shannon hoon and layne staley doing a song together
this still gives me the chills. i love him!
DREW!!! I never thought I would see him in the comment section of an Elliott Smith video
The legend himself❤
aw drew why are you depressed my love
oh wait this was eleven years ago
damn
"Crooked spin can't come to rest, I'm damaged bad at best"... I wish he were still here, so much heart in every song.
I really with he was here still to, so honest lyrics and true music,
He sounds like he's crying in some parts... :(
I miss him.
missing him 12 years later
Elliott Smith is the greatest songwriter since Bob Dylan. He's a fucking poet. I honestly believe Either/Or is within the 10 greatest albums of time. Rest in peace, you deserve it.
u mean john lennon
I agree
@@ionutthedog8804 good one😂
@@nate-ox5lwIt wasn’t a “one”. it was a fact
The guy could play all of the guitar parts with only two hands... A very underrated guitarist.
Better than most people on the top ten guitarists list by WatchMojo
is this a joke or do you mean that he plays what is multiple guitar tracks by himself?
@@copsarebastards no, that wasn't a joke. Notice how during the instrumental break after the first sung verse how he plays a lead riff while playing the rhythm simultaneously. He makes it look simple but it's quite tricky to play.
@@GarySheedyMusic yes i know, but the way this is written sounds like a joke. People generally play guitar using two hands.
@@copsarebastards you cant really play it with one hand, lol....i thought it was a joke too, but i think the guy just expressed himself poorly....still its hilarious.
wish he was still alive, a true music genius...
he still lives in my world
I have had conversations with people about this song and they insist that it is one of the more upbeat songs on Either/Or. I could not disagree more though. That last line "They want you or they don't," really sums it up. No matter how bad you want someone, no matter what you do, or try, or think, it really comes down to that simple statement. The record's title makes a lot of sense when you think of it that way
+Kevin Ruta I couldn't agree more on that, that single line is so simple and yet to me it's one of the most meaningful ones in all of his songs, quite fatalistic
I wouldn't say it's an entirely sad line, though. It's a somewhat-optimistic "please let this one turn out right". But his lyrics always have those layers to them.
Totally agree. That's how society works. No matter what you do, or think or what your hobbies are, or whatever. They want you or they don't. We humans are too chained to our appearence and to our standards of beauty. This just means that no matter what you do or think about anything in life, no matter if you are Elliott Smith and no one knows about it. If you look great and have a conventional appearence then you'll be wanted and wellcome as one more in the game. No matter if you are discovering the cancer cure at home, no one will care about it if you don't look conventional. So yeah, they want you or they don't, as simple as meaningful.
In an interview Elliott Smith himself called it an "overly optimistic song." I think the message of the song isn't really happy or sad, just very bittersweet
no matter how much i see this comment it still rings pretty true. Most attraction imo is a yes or no, want you or not thing. Can't really change made minds. Unless you are really ambitious of course
The fact that he's wearing an "I heart Metal" shirt in this video makes me so happy.
I played this at an open mic. I've never felt so proud at missing the high notes.
fuck yes
haha same man
You can just tell by his voice and the way he is singing, he is so unhappy. I wish there was a way people could have shown him how much he meant to so many people, and help him happier.
I don’t think he was unhappy and I don’t think Adele is really heartbroken. Nor John Mayer. Elliot smith was murdered. Who stabs themself like that
@@aftrthehangovr8347 He definitely was unhappy, but not as much as some believe. He hated being percieved as completely miserable
@@joshbaino3087 people overly conflate the artist with the art. I made a short horror film and someone bright up a bad breakup I had
Lolol
No.
I know this is 14 years old, but this is one of the first performances Elliott did after getting clean from drugs, so he's not at his best.
I'm a huge Elliott Smith fan. I remember the first time I heard one of his songs. It sent shivers . . . His music helped me rethink my own role as a musician and I shared his music with the woman who was to become my wife.
So is she?
The crowd's reaction at the beginning always brings me a smile.
Elliott was more than meets the eyes and ears, even through his music we can on speculate what the guy was really trying to say. I miss you man.
I love you Elliott
I love the feeling in his voice. Especially the transition you hear during "Situations get fucked up and turned around sooner or later."
Gives me goosebumps from the first note.
Elliott music has been a refuge for me in many dark times. Easily my favorite songwriter.
Beautiful. Just beautiful. I searched for Elliott about five years ago, clicked on this exact video. I was absolutely taken aback, and that awe hasn't died.
"Play the one about the girl..."
kurt cobain might steal that one
Dario Ramonetti haha
i miss him
There's always a song for what's going on
2023 and still listening to this song!
This is my favorite Elliot Smith song!
I just still can't believe the truth about him so far. well, Elliot, your music and spirit will always in here with us, so we'll never forget what you've just brought to us.
This video is so amazing, I could cry not just bcoz we've lose such great artist and can't see his follow live performance anymore, but also he just did it so GREAT and it shows his emotion so true!!
i miss Elliot🙁
i think he is the embodiment of perfection. i hope he is remembered forever. i hope he is remembered longer than anyone from our age
I just cannot describe how deep is my love for Elliott..
Broken hearted again, listening to this again some things just never change ... but hey, at least the song is just as good as the day I first heard it :)
R.I.P Elliott. Thanks for all the great music, and I'm sorry life was so hard for you.
Raw honesty sung to a melody.
His songwriting is up there with The Beatles.
High praise for the Beatles there!
@@connorproudfoot8746 exactly what I thought XD
@@connorproudfoot8746 lol very true.
Far better
@@viviannichols3582 yeah beatles suck imo
me too. one of the main musicians that always brings a smile to my heart. even though it hurts that he is gone, his music will always be here.
From what I had heard, that it wasn't suicide. The police case had gotten reopened after the wounds didn't make sense. Regardless... this song and many others, have helped me to understand someone else's sadness and to associate. "she'll decide what she wants... I'll prolly be the last to know..." He's a genuis in many songs to show his discomforts. of not being happy in general, of bad relationships, and of his self-made limelight.Thank you Elliott for the things you have done for all of us~Lou
I always loved Elliott Smith. God such honesty and power while always being so humble. No matter how Elliott died the simple fact is that we all lost something great. Rest in peace.
This song feels like home :)
this song is so touchingly romantic that any man who could write and sing like that should get a "yes!"
I love you forever.
Saw him in '97 when I was barely a teenager at Champoeg State Park, before I knew who he was. Later grew to really like his music and damn. You know how it goes.
I love this guy, absolute genius. He will be sorely missed. Saw him twice and am thankful for that. Hope you're well wherever you are Elliott!
This is such a sweet song. One of my favorites. It's just so sad to lose such a great talent. I hope wherever Elliott is, he's at peace & happy. This world was just too cruel & ugly for one as sensative as he was. He will always be missed & never forgotten.
como te amo elliott smith gracias por ayudarme con mi ansiedad social, no se que tiro pero tu musica me calma tanto.
WOW, my heart just stops when i hear his music. he is so pure, and magical. this man is the world to me. he is talented out of this world. looking through his eyes i see his tortured soul, and it just makes me cry. this man was simply too amazing for this cold world.
It still surprises me how casually incredible he was at guitar
His compositions are much more intricate then what you would typically think on first pass. It's a unique style he had believe it or not.
I can't believe he isn't here anymore. It's unfathomable. He spoke to so many people and he always fucking knew how to create such amazing feelings through his music. I love you!
Elliott's songs never cease to amaze me, nor do they ever get old, I could listen to him forever
Elliot is who inspired me to start writing! I owe it all to him. This man inspired me to write stuff I never knew I was capable of.
Rest in peace brother. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the music you've made for us all. Thank you for spilling your heart for us. But no thanks for leaving us.
elliott i love you and miss you a lot and i'm very sad because of the fact i won't have the chance to hug you,but i hope you're in a better place now,a place for angels like you.
thanks for posting video of Elliott. so surreal to see him there...
Amazing.
I actually cried the other day because I wish I could hear more of his music :(
The whole song it's the most honest song I've heard in my life.
I listen to this song every now and then. The total inside turned up felling never changes.
his music saved me so just focus on the music only god can judge who is going and who isn't if there even is a heaven, just enjoy this beautiful music
He was always so passionate throughout his performances. I miss him so much. Rest in peace Elliott Smith ~ ♥
forever timeless❤ love this song so much
your are a legend man !this song i will cherish for as long as im breathing ,makes me float every time i hear it ,godbless you smith !
I love his shirt. =)
Thanks for posting this,
i also wanted to say you helped me a lot so thank you very much
thanks for teaching me!!
this is such a beautiful song
Same here; I just discovered him. Boy am I glad I did.
i love dis song!
I discovered him this last year. SO talented a songwriter and honest performer. I would love to record some of his songs myself. the material has real substance like Neil or Joni. rock 'n roll schubert.
I watch this video every day. I love you, Elliott. XO, R.I.P.
thanks elliott for all the wonderful lines you wrote, would wish i could meet you only once, your music gives such a feeling that nothing else does, helped me much through times of trouble, miss you..,
love
Maximilian
elliott smith is a genius and no one else can
play his music or sing like him
yeah, i do. the song really touches me
what an amazing performance..
his songs give me a sense of hope
i love you elliott.
Such a beautiful song. I just love the opening lines, if anyone wrote something like that about me I would say yes.
an angels voice and words.
He is simply the greatest songwriter of all time ,there are only a few people even on the same level as him
One of the most talented and sweet person of the century... may he reposes in peace in heaven with a guitar and a piano.
¨discovered his music thorugh a private surf movie from the netherlands. He was such a great musician.
all time my best
this gives me the chills...and a hot flash at the same time...hard to explain how his music affects me.
hahah your comment made me chuckle. one of the most sarcastic things i have ever read.
Greatly said
I adore this song. I wish I had had a chance to see him live, but I didn't even listen to him back then and was probably too young anyway. Still, it would have been amazing.
Hey, this is really beautiful. So delicate
This is my favourite song by elliott but i love all of his acoustic works
Yes. I was at this show... Salt Lake 2003. It was a great show, too bad it's the only time I'll ever get to see him..
amazing. pure brilliance
R.I.P dude."I'm not gonna know you now but i'm gonna love you anyhow"
Wow i just found out about Elliott Smith today and already I can tell I'm going to be quite busy going through his catalog. This is amazing.
how was it?
Answer him.
this is amazing. his voice is really something else, it almost sounds like he's going to cry.
so sad
I can't believe this is only one month before he "died" :(
Thanks for this upload.
es el mas grande!!!
se lo escucha en Paraguay y en todo el mundo!
viva Elliott!!!
rip elliot smith
u will never be forgotten or replaced!!!!!
Goated guitar player
this song makes me full of hope.
its so so sad though :(
RIP. x
Because it is both lyrically and musically ingenious and provides excellent listening material and at the same time serves as a musical catalyst for upcoming musicians learning how music fits together through his brilliant blending of minors, dominants, majors, and suspensions while he still manages to keep it all in one key.
And i'll just pretend that it's logical to assume that if one takes their own life that automatically means that he hated himself his music and his fans.
i miss him so much.
This makes me want to cry.
Out of this world
i wish i was into him when i was eleven so i could have gone to see him live.
his songs give me goosebumps
I miss him so much
yeah he had so many cool t shirts, i like this one and the blue one with the pirate on it!!
it's been almost 4 years...unbelievable.
you take the x & i'll take the o, elliott.
his voice is really magical...altho rough and different...i feel like nobody can match his art.....i wish we could get a concert of him, shannon hoon and layne staley doing a song together