King's Crossing

[JackSadis]

Its such a shame that he isnt around to keep experimenting with new sounds like this. Ive never heard anything from him that sounds quite like this; His musical evolution is beautiful to follow.

[sucramnormark]

Can't believe I had not heard this song until now. Been an elliott fan for 7 years and it's amazing to still find stuff I had'nt heard before, I think this is a friggin amazing song. Lyrics are heartbreaking.

[sub4lime]

this song is completely indescribable. so otherwordly and f$#%*@g amazing!!!!!

[edwardowen19]

i'm doing an acoustic version of this , at a concert in his honor. Rest in peace Elliot

[traemorgan18]

@valahogy no what sucks is when people spell fucking "fukken" the fucking C button is RIGHT THERE on the keyboard.. elliott smith is a lyrical genius how about you become a spelling genius in his honor

[valahogy]

@traemorgan18

There is no correct way of spelling. Language is like playing on a guitar, you can learn the basic chords and stuff but theres always room for creativity. And you missed the point anyways, dont limit yourself to such things as spelling come on ur better than that. :D fukken idiot

[traemorgan18]

@valahogy you're an idiot... nobody thinks itz k00l tu type sp3lling 3v3rything stoopidly

[techtom87]

arguably the best lyricist of the generation. hands down. we will love u forever ES. :)

[traemorgan18]

@techtom87 maybe.. but conor oberst is pretty amazing too

[maremaiid]

because we love you.

[2kredka]

"And I get my check from the trash treasury

Because I took my own insides out

It don't matter because I have no sex life" - dobra, to jest mocne.

[MrsKennedyHarris]

hitting close to home for a lot of ppl im sure...including myself..

[blackbloc1]

Legend...

[LoveAleciaKatherine]

I fuckin' adore this song! <3

[hi56pie]

That was beautiful.

[IceCubeJohnson]

They should make a movie about this fucker. Except I don't think any actor could ever be good enough, so never mind.

[0xOBIEx0]

true genius

[Medusarants]

I had thought that #NeedleIntheHay was a harrowing song by ANY artist, much less Elliott Smith. Then I heard this one. Plenty of tragedy to wallow in!

[samiam4657]

This is one of the most powerful songs I have ever heard, if not the most. As a musician I marvel at his ability to write awe-inspiring lyrics and then make the music FEEL like what those lyrics are meant to express. Just amazing

[Kleasone]

For me, ES was about to express totally his genius. XO is a perfect album, because of the arrangements that fitted perfectly to the songs. Figure 8 has only great songs but I think he didn't really know what to do with them, I mean, about the way to arrange them, he sometimes used too much the electric guitar when he didn't need to do it (Son of Sam). But fuck, From a Basement is so powerfull : the melodies are perfect, and the arrangement as well.

I don't know if you get what i try to say :o

[sethm81392]

@Kleasone i get you :o

[cordfluidnevoie]

my life don't belong to me.. elliott is a knight of love... nothing to do with what piople talk about him,,

[blackbloc1]

Love...

[88nade]

Kick myself everyday that I never saw him live. Every song he's done is laden with emotion, and certain songs really call out to me cause we've had similar issues. A true hero and inspiration... :'(

[rynmurdock]

Because we love you

[ichmagdichnicht100]

"gimme one good reason not to do it" ...

[TheLeftyGrove]

Quite possibly the most honest songwriter that ever lived. The fact he wrote something of this complexity and depth, while in the deep hole of addiction and depression, shows his immense talent and humanity.

I just kick myself for not being more in tune with his music while he was alive. Better late than never, I guess.

[45Boobie45]

how did he die? cant remember how i came across this but it is amazing.

[ConstantCrisis]

@45Boobie45 If I remember correctly (and it's possible that I may not be, or that I may be remembering correctly but was told something that's complete bullshit) he and his girlfriend had a fight, most probably something that would result in her leaving him, and she locked herself in the bathroom or something. He was so distraught that he took a kitchen knife and stabbed himself with it; it took a while for it to be declared a suicide and the GF to be cleared of any murder charges.

[ConstantCrisis]

@45Boobie45 On the other hand, that's what a friend told me when she recommended his music to me and I never checked it out on my own. So I may have been fed total bullshit. Either way, it's an...interesting, story.

[thenotbixy]

@ConstantCrisis yeah, that story is in wikipedia. pretty much word for word. either way, it sucks hes dead, but honestly, it was a very poetic way to go. to stab yourself in the heart ... damn.

[Charko2006]

8 years gone today. RIP

[aotwtelevision]

This is the greatest song ever written. Both with these lyrics and the alternative lyrics. The emotional expression is so empowering and you can't help but feel his pain.

[SumoDino]

i frickin love this song >:U <3

[johnbicket]

the voice saying "because I love you" is a recording made by Smith's mother and girlfriend. It was added to the song after his death.

[bicyclesbrogan]

at 4:03 he says 'give one good reason not to do it!' and then if you listen, a voice says "because i love you" like so people know!

[Ceb773]

@bicyclesbrogan and then he says "so do it"

[bicyclesbrogan]

@Ceb773 yes i know

[IndiangiverAV]

Give me one reason not to do it.

[sixpistols]

Hi Elliot, because we love you.. We wish you didn't do it..

[coconutfever123]

'give me one good reason not to do it:"

fucking hardcore

this is simiar to Kurt Cobain's Nevermind

they told you they were going to do it before they did it

the next time you talk to another person please listen to what they say. ive lost two good friends to suicide. theyve said the same.

[htownallday281]

@coconutfever123 I've lost two good friends to suicide as well, one at the age of 14(he put the barrel of a shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger with his toe, I can only imagine his parents reaction to walking in after he did that...) and I lost another friend at the age of 16, OD'd purposely on pills. Some people you can tell when it's coming, others, like my friends, showed NO signs whatsoever.

[coconutfever123]

@htownallday281 im so sorry to hear that. thats what scares me the most, when you cant tell when its coming. thats why we should treat everybody w kindness and respect. you never know what kind of day they are having or whats in their head.

[TheOneartist]

@htownallday281 What pills were they?

[thevich2]

17 people have different musical tastes than me...and I'm okay with that.

I love Elliott Smith. I just wish that I was a fan of his when he was alive.

[htownallday281]

@thevich2 I wish I was too. A friend of mine got me into him about 6 months ago, and I've listened to honestly 50+ Elliott songs a day, he's all I listen to now.

[annemareh]

i don't mean to be a horrible person IamLouder and understand what you're saying, but depression is an illness that he battled with for years and unfortunately couldn't overcome it. that coupled with his addictions made things too hard for him, i'm just grateful he managed to make such beautiful music during his short life time.

[IamLouder]

You know what might have stopped elliott from suicide? A major illness. I say that only because I would often get down about things. Then I got cancer. Now I don't wallow in listless despair at this song like I used to. Its still a nice song, but I'm too busy using all my strength to fight the side effects of treatment, and the psychological heaviness of my disease to get all down. Elliott needed a disease like mine to gear up his strength and fight against. Idle hands are the devils workshop.

[thrall2010]

This song is about him using drugs and he knows that it will kill him one day, he saw the movie, he knows what happens.. And he will still do it and die, no good reason not to..

[jialian93]

apparently this is elliotts last song he's written

its awesome and kinda epic

the chorus is huge

[jialian93]

can you hear the "because we love you" after he sings "give me one good reason not to do it???"

[MEMgrizzlies7]

@jialian93 Yeah, it's there. Very soft, hard to hear if you aren't listening for it

[jialian93]

@MEMgrizzlies7 yup

i guess the song really IS about suicide

[thrall2010]

I'm not a fan but this is one of the best songs I ever heard and one of the best lyrics.. So sad..

[Pitseleh101]

Elliott is my favorite. I haven't listened to him in a while so listening to this masterpiece gave me chills

[JohnnyRipper70]

This song is HUGE

[EmersonSCorder]

Really bummed im just now finding his music, but all the same glad i did. His music is amazing and very relatable.

[TheSimonRowell]

love the skinny Santa line.

[galaxygirllove]

Hey, guess what? I KNOW he's dead. We all know, and we're all bummed about it, and we will be forever for all time into oblivion. That really sucks, but please don't continually remind everyone. It doesn't help.

[MrLukasXO]

best song ever. no joke

[MrLukasXO]

godly. this is perfection.

[Mestup998]

This makes me wanna cry

[Chicky1601]

I freaking miss you.

[skatemantehehe123]

we really shouldn't have let him get carried away...

[thestudlybudly]

seriously, is there such thing as a bad elliott smith song?

and i answer: FUCK NO!

[WestSiderATL]

@thestudlybudly I agree...I have followed music for a very very long time...and there is no other artist who has written as consistently brilliant songs as Elliot Smith...no one! He is singularly unique in this respect.

[TheLyricsarelove]

wow, is all i can say....been good with the drugs but if it meant writing an aamazing songs like this id try h,,,,,,nahhh...wow... rip es

[SoIncrediblyHigh]

"i can't prepare for death anymore than i already have."

and then those drums... gets me every time.

[kpalokaj90]

It's true talent when an artist can transform emotion into music...it's pure magic when we can relate.

[epicscrapple]

@kpalokaj90 i know you think your deep but you should stay in the shallow end

[kpalokaj90]

@epicscrapple Lol says the one that goes around hating on everybody's shit online cuz you're trying to overcompensate for something. It's fucking Elliott Smith, show some respect for what he gave us. I'm not trying to be deep, i just love this song very much.

[thedreamingmoon]

because we love you....

[dvzqz87]

@thedreamingmoon haha aww that's so sad i'm reading an article about that and i came here to listen to the song

[samesamething]

@thedreamingmoon YE

S!



[nipplestars]

@thedreamingmoon I've heard that the "because we love you" was added after he died.

[pantheist87]

I still get chills every time I hear this..

[saintanger24]

Jeff Buckley , Jimi Hendrix , Kurt Cobain , Freddie Mercury , Jim Morrison ,John Lennon , Robert Johnson , Elliot Smith. . GOD ! Why you have to take them ! why is that real musicians dies !

[lilORANG]

@saintanger24 you are a studly muffin (compliment) for listing Buckley first. People tend to forget about him somehow.

[akscirocco16v]

Am I the only one that hears "If Everyone Was Listening" by Supertramp in the beginning of this song? Both songs are amazing, don't get me wrong. But I swear I hear the same intro in both songs.

[nakedspaniard]

he has so many good songs i wish i could say this was my favorite

[ImaginedWriter]

He plunged that knife into the depths of his chest, I wonder as he ripped out his soul and looked at it as he was dying what he was thinking, I should think a smile across his face as it dissipated into the air and eternal calm.

[chriztinalori]

wow.. first time hearing it in my whole 18 years..why is this the first? amazing.

[freshformeth]

Elliott's got that swagga 

[LaughterIsTheRemedy]

Elliott Smith. I wish you were alive. :/

[Gazzukarthas]

Listen VERY closely at 4:03. A little known secret true Elliott fans know of.

[Gazzukarthas]

@Gazzukarthas Its not what HE says, its what SHE says

[TilderyKoadil]

@Gazzukarthas what's he say? i heard "cause i something for you"

[xBaitMyScenex]

@TilderyKoadil "because we love you"

In response to give me a good reason not to do it.

I don't think it's a big kept secret though....

[cchar1es]

@Gazzukarthas what is it? i don't hear anything around that mark other than muffled voices.

[JennaughS]

@Gazzukarthas because we love you <3

[cptmanifest]

@Gazzukarthas Or anyone with ears.

[OGOTENKSO]

Everyone's the new beatles, stfu with the over-used lines already.

[1suszkojohn]

Damn I wish he just would of controlled his habit and kept on making music till he got to sick of being sick...

[zzmonk85]

elliott > beatles. that's right england PEACE

[Redsparrowe123]

"It don't matter 'cause I have no sex life

and all I wanna' do now, is inject my ex-wife"

I don't know why but that part always makes me both angry and intensely sad. And it's so cathartic. Elliot Smith, genius. There will never be another life him.

[kf18mittens39w]

the game looks easy, that's why it sells

[OmegaLesPaul]

"It don't matter cause I have no sex life And all I wanna do is inject my ex-wife ... His voice is overwhelming, his speech is slurred And I only understand every other word." This is the saddest song I've listened to. I feel like the ending is his goodbye to the world "This is the place where time reverses Dead men talk to all the pretty nurses Instruments shine on a silver tray - Don't let me get carried away Don't let me get carried away Don't let me be carried away"

[FloppyBaby]

4:04 "Because we love you"

[nobeefbaby]

"But I don't care if I fuck up

I'm going on a date with a rich white lady

Ain't life great?

Give me one good reason not to do it"

heroin reference? poor Elliott, a tortured soul that has helped so many people. RIP Elliott.

[TVEATVEA]

Sounds like The Beatles crossed with Animal Collective and Elliott.

[RevenantEternal]

@TVEATVEA

Not to be a pretentious dickhead but Elliot was around before Animal Collective were taking bong hits in their dorm room.

[TVEATVEA]

@RevenantEternal I'm aware of that, but I can still draw comparisons?

[abighairywoman]

elliot IS the shit not he WAS the shit

[JacksNightmare]

<3

[jblackford3]

thank you elliot smith.

[MattyMattThing]

hhhhaaaaaarrrrrrrdddddd

[SyCcErT]

So sad that you're gone Elliot.....

...Thanks for postin' this vid man.

[joebstarsurfer]

The small faces tin soldier so may bands that wernt the BEAtles.

[joebstarsurfer]

beatles fans south park could do a funny episode.Hands up whos heard the song "keep on running" .But each to there own if the beatles fans went to Iraq they bore people to death)."horray for Eliot smith ".

[MrSmokengo]

Its So good. It's me.

[joebstarsurfer]

The beatles where cunts .England gave the word people like the Spencer Davis band!.

[kmldirtwalker]

@joebstarsurfer Say that the beatles are cunts in public and get crushed.

[zerothought]

@joebstarsurfer No, Paul McCartney is a cunt. The rest of the band was ok.

[thomkam]

@joebstarsurfer Paul is a legend.. He has written Eleanor Rigby and Hey Jude amonst other you fool

[goalstopper3317]

@joebstarsurfer really? cuz ur listening to an elliott smith video and they were one of his biggest influences. and i want to say that elliott actually knew paul personally. (or at least paul said something to that effect in an interview) its cool if u dont like the beatles. but guess what. noone even knows who the fuck the "spencer davis band" is.

but SOLELY based on the fact that their name is "the Spencer Davis band" i can promise you that Spencer Davis can suck my cock. twice. 

[breeeegs]

That's a pretty cynical perspective. His music is not fascinating because he died, it's because of its honesty that people listen and relate to it, and it would be just as amazing if he were still alive and making songs for us to enjoy

[breeeegs]

I don't think he was trying to change the world, or anything that grandiose. He was probably using music as a way to heal himself, maybe to express the things in his life that were the most upsetting and traumatic, which I think is what alot of artists do. Everyone experiences these emotions but what's remarkable is when you are able to articulate them in such a moving fashion, having the courage to let people see the darkest and most painful part of yourself, in a way that they can relate to

[Kris10MichelleRoss]

One of the greatest songwriters ever. Gives me chills listening to his music.

Unfortunately he hinted toward suicide in many of his songs... "Gimme one reason not to do it"... "Don't let me get carried away, don't let me be carried away.."

But his work will continue to make me happy for years to come!!

[Kris10MichelleRoss]

one of the greatest songwriters ever.

[SuperJewbot]

if you are careful enough you can walk around and bathe in this sound

[satchelgreen]

This is a great song to listen to when you're dying... I could see myself dying while listening to this song.

[lovinmymusic4life]

@satchelgreen ...wow lol. dont go dying now. o.o but yeah, i get it. i get it

[wendelkin]

This song makes me think of my best friend. I lost her just like we all lost Elliott. I wish time would we reverse and I could just have a few minutes to hold her and have her back.

On another note, I went to a tribute concert and some guy echoed his voice fairly well and actually did a very good cover. I cried.

[Br0wNEyEs25]

this song gives me goosebumps, especially the beginning

[TheTeabagCoalition]

Who the fuck are the 18 fuckers who dislike this song? Really? If you came so far as to come here to hear it and disliked it, what the fuck is wrong with you.

[netskot]

this is still one of the best songs ever recorded

[csj2002]

"Because I tool my own insides out" A sign? Such a sad song.....

[netskot]

i cant listen to this without crying

[drawsandscribbles]

@calirep 1990 you are a fucking moron.

[calirep1990]

fck this no good heroin addict,his lyrics were not deep at all,he sucks

[CarmenitaHOLLA]

@calirep1990

Obvious troll is obvious.

[puffthewaterdragon55]

@calirep1990 Fuck you as a person and fuck Cali you all act like your fuckin tough but you say you rep cali california has a city with the largest amount of gays in all of America. Just face it your a no ball pussy loser and thats why you think that about Elliot why don't you go listen to Fall out Boy and beat off.

[LizardsMoo]

@puffthewaterdragon55 I think that Elliott was and always will be a legend. Just because there's one ignorant fuck who has such low self-esteem that he goes round insulting people with actual talent unlike his loser ass doesn't mean we're all the same. And lastly, there is nothing with gays so I don't think that's a fair argument, it only makes you look as ignorant as he does. So if you want to take out your anger on him please don't use irrelevant insults we don't deserve. Thank you.

[madgoat777]

@calirep1990 nevermind the fact that he looks like a burn victim

[01Indiekid]

@calirep1990 fuck you man.



[relsismada]

oh my god....

[QuistTV]

love it, amazing song

[TheNewThirteen]

This song is so hard for me to listen to. Not that I hate it, but I just miss the guy so much. Imagine what wonders he'd bring if he were still around today. <3

[freshformeth]

this song floored me the first time i heard it, and it still blows me away today

oh elliott, you were such a fucking genius

[keshaikol]

im the wolf man!

check out my tree

[vivtin]

it's weird

i love it

[taoinmusic]

England gave the world The Beatles and America gave the world Elliott Smith

[torkle]

@taoinmusic portland gave the world elliot

[WinchesterGirl1998]

@taoinmusic god ur awesome xD

[gongusan]

@taoinmusic england gave the world a shit load more than the beatles

[nahaskell]

@gongusan like bad food haha. I love England though, great country!

[taoinmusic]

@gongusan america gave the world a fuck ton more than elliott smith.. im just saying elliott smith is the best thing to come out of america, and likewise the beatles for england.

[Brainchild209]

@taoinmusic In reality africa gave america jazz blues and motown, and motown gave the beatles material to rip off

[taoinmusic]

@Brainchild209 maybe in your reality i dont think the beatles "ripped off" anybody being influence and ripping somebody off every band has been influenced

[cordfluidnevoie]

@taoinmusic elliott isn't a beatle? wut?:-))

[TheRissaDarling]

@taoinmusic hell yeah he was the shit!

[egeseatr35]

@taoinmusic Germany gave the world Rammstein and Oomph... I had to say this, sorry ^^

[taoinmusic]

@egeseatr35 you dont need to apologize