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You think I'm unkind
But people aren't the way you think they are
They can't remember all the time
What it was you wanted
They paint you out in straight silhouette
Don't you get the picture yet?
Why you getting all upset?
The worst part's almost over
Three's such a crowd
You ought to tell me what you tell yourself
You ever going to speak it aloud?
Do I have to guess like everyone else?
With an iron will to walk the walk
And a glass jaw that can't be moved to talk
Black eyes always watch the clock
The worst part's almost over
You let yourself be frozen by a doubt
You think I'm mean because I call you out
You don't know what you're about
The worst part's almost over now
The worst part's almost over now, now, now
But people aren't the way you think they are
They can't remember all the time
What it was you wanted
They paint you out in straight silhouette
Don't you get the picture yet?
Why you getting all upset?
The worst part's almost over
Three's such a crowd
You ought to tell me what you tell yourself
You ever going to speak it aloud?
Do I have to guess like everyone else?
With an iron will to walk the walk
And a glass jaw that can't be moved to talk
Black eyes always watch the clock
The worst part's almost over
You let yourself be frozen by a doubt
You think I'm mean because I call you out
You don't know what you're about
The worst part's almost over now
The worst part's almost over now, now, now
Lyrics submitted by mrs-mojo-risin
Track duration: 02:12
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That's how I've always taken the song, at least.
Elliott is saying "come on, you are my friend, but you won't tell me how you feel and I'm sick of it."
I feel like ultimately it's a song about getting tired of someone who can't make up their mind.
At the moment I'm going out with someone who is going through a really hard time, emotionally. There is a fair deal of self loathing, which a lot of the time can lead to anger. after the first month or two of our relationship, she started telling me everything, about herself, her family, etc, and I really wanted to listen and help. she felt safe confiding in me. however, now after six months, she tells me nothing. it's become a pointless and tiresome exercise, and whenever you try to help, they become frustrated and angry (You think I'm unkind, But people aren't the way you think they are). and it's like you constantly have to guess what they're thinking, even though they know they can tell you anything.
Three's such a crowd
You ought to tell me what you tell yourself
You ever going to speak it aloud?
Do I have to guess like everyone else?
when depression gets serious, people usually put on a happy face and just let the rest of the world think that they're happy, when the people closest to them have to take the shit.
With an iron will to walk the walk
I think Elliott's saying that when people get upset, they'll never believe they're wrong. they'll believe everything about themselves in wrong, but they're 100 % sure of their opinions, and never have to give justified reasons.
with the final few lines, well, I think it's just about taking shit out on others, be it their fault or not, simply because it's easier.
as for, 'it's almost over now', well, I guess I'll have to wait and find out.
I think this Elliott calling himself out--his own first worst critic.
This song is about a confrontation with someone's unrealistic expectations from other people, from the world. The root topic isn't clear, and that makes it better art -- everyone holds something in themselves that needs to hear this, that needs correcting.
My favorite lines are "do I have to guess like everyone else" and "you think I'm mean 'cause I call you out" -- I know people that won't say what they mean, and only through inference can you tell what's going on with them -- and the same person can dish it out but can't take it. So they think others are mean when that get called on their own BS.
Move over, Speed Trials, Almost Over is my new favorite Elliott Smith song...