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Pull the ripchord
The ship has lost its sail
Your momma's got a new man
Your daddy always fails
And you're eaten again at them
Because nobody loves you
And even fancy things
Have finally lost their charm
Wine and diamond rings
That never get you anymore
You're sleeping again alone
Because nobody loves you
They should have seen you
Should have known you
Should have known
What it was like to be you
So come on, kid
Look at what you did
I don't know if you meant it
But you did yourself in
And I was even having a good day
When I found out we'd lost you
She said it was in
The singing and the strumming
Oh man, I even saw it coming
The ship has lost its sail
Your momma's got a new man
Your daddy always fails
And you're eaten again at them
Because nobody loves you
And even fancy things
Have finally lost their charm
Wine and diamond rings
That never get you anymore
You're sleeping again alone
Because nobody loves you
They should have seen you
Should have known you
Should have known
What it was like to be you
So come on, kid
Look at what you did
I don't know if you meant it
But you did yourself in
And I was even having a good day
When I found out we'd lost you
She said it was in
The singing and the strumming
Oh man, I even saw it coming
Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget
Track duration: 02:05
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It almost trivializes the depression Elliott was experiencing and talks about that experience and his death in a flippant way. "Cos nobody loves you" almost sounds like a sarcastic taunt. In one version I've heard, Blake even says "that's how it goes". Like Elliott's death a is sort of a banal event that Blake can only shrug at. And I guess it was in a way. After so much emotional outpouring and sort of lyrically "holding it over our heads", Elliott finally did it in such a bizarrely banal way. A kitchen knife. I think the song highlights the banal unreality of death in general, as well as the fact that a suicide seemed to be the inevitable destiny of the "depressed artist" role that Elliott became subsumed by. People left behind justifiably feel angry after suicides, so I can understand why that anger might motivate the kind of tired bitterness that this song seems to convey. But it just seems odd to serve that up to fans for a tribute show. Still, it provides a different perspective to the idea of Elliott as a tragic hero.
The title is also interesting as they chose the word "chord" instead of "cord" to reference music and Elliott's way of using his songs to reach out to people. A rip cord, as you fine people know already, is something you pull to eject or get away from a situation which also seems very appropriate.
just a thought...
regaurdless, this is good.
They should have seen you
Should have known you
Should have known
What it was like to be you
is so full of bitterness and sarcasm that it really seems harsh. Especially with the whinging sort of tone Lewis affects while she sings it. It's very resentful towards either the victim (Smith or otherwise) or towards suicide as a theme. It's a very heartbreaking song.
"Late" by Ben Folds (Songs for Silverman)
"Mr. Smith Goes to Heaven" by Earlimert (lead singer LOVED elliott and mimicks him quite often)
"You, Me and a Knife" by theSTART
I am a huge Elliott Smith fan and I would love to help anyone with questions in any way that I can. I am actually currently writing a play that is to Elliott Smith what Gus Van Sant's "Last Days" was to Kurt Cobain. On a sidenote, Van Sant (also a musician) was one of Elliotts biggest fans, hence the Good Will Hunting stint. if you all have a myspace, hit me up sometime.
myspace.com/…