and a glass jaw that can't be moved to talk
black eyes always watch the clock

those lines remind me of amphetamines.
because your pupils get real big until they're almost black
and your jaw gets tight.
at least mine does

personally, i think it has more to do with physical or mental abuse.

the strange thing about this song is its the kind of things you'd think OTHER people were saying to him. it reminds me so much of the kind of frustration and anger you get from being involved with someone who is deprssed and/or a drug addict.
maybe its his black eyes watching the clock, enduring the tirade, knowing that the "worst part's almost over"

Today, i don´t care about meaning. It´s amazing the chords, the vibe of guitar and the paths the Elliot´s voice goes on.

This song amps me up in a way no other Elliott Smith song has; the tremolo guitar work that starts about 1:19 into it, flows across multiple voices and into the last chorus shows an artist at his prime of technical ability. But along with the heat and dazzle, is an urgency and poignancy -- when will the worst part be over? now? now? now?

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...

i'm going through a tough break up now and every word of this song relates to my feelings at this very moment. my ex, who i still love, has built a terrible love triangle around herself with this awful rebound guy. she's letting herself be seen as one-dimensional by this womanizer, and i'm the only one left that knows any better. but, even though she's hurt me more than i could have ever imagined being hurt, i've still done everything in my power to help her, and she just blocks me out. i finally hammered the seriousness of the situation into her head yesterday, and by the end of the day, i'll know the outcome of our entire relationship. she's either going to lose the zero and let me be her friend, or i'll never speak to her again. the worst part of my life will be over regardless.

i agree with goldtooth. only to me the meaning relates to any relationship, not just a romantic one. it's the singer as a friend trying to help another very close friend who keeps brushing him off and taking his criticisms, which are meant to be constructive, as insults. it's been a little while since the conflict has been goin on and other people have become involved in terms of knowing about the situation and judging and helping to fuel the friend's self-righteousness and denial of a problem. These of course are not real friends they are people who maybe don't know him as well as the singer does. Over time, the two friends have grown apart and thats where the line "worst parts almost over now" comes in. they're kinda at a crossroad in the relationship whether it continues or it ends. I've been using pronouns when i referred to elliott because I personally believe he was singing the song to himself as an outside observer. Beautiful song.

i agree with goldtooth. only to me the meaning relates to any relationship, not just a romantic one. it's the singer as a friend trying to help another very close friend who keeps brushing him off and taking his criticisms, which are meant to be constructive, as insults. it's been a little while since the conflict has been goin on and other people have become involved in terms of knowing about the situation and judging and helping to fuel the friend's self-righteousness and denial of a problem. These of course are not real friends they are people who maybe don't know him as well as the singer does. Over time, the two friends have grown apart and thats where the line "worst parts almost over now" comes in. they're kinda at a crossroad in the relationship whether it continues or it ends. I've been using pronouns when i referred to elliott because I personally believe he was singing the song to himself as an outside observer. Awesome song, i love the guitars and vocals are on point like always.

and also i think that the friend that the song is talking about was going through some problems, maybe recurring problems. always making the same mistakes, and getting down on him or herself and not seeing the bigger picture, and that's what caused the singer to call em out.

It's about someone living a life no one can understand. A life that seems to want the impossible, which I believe is also referenced in another song in the line "tell Mr. Man with impossible plans to just leave me alone".

I think this Elliott calling himself out--his own first worst critic.

I find that recently I've been able to relate to this song perfectly. I'd had it for an age, and listened to it to, but it had never really stuck home.

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.

This song reminds me of someone keeping secrets to themselves.
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.