this song makes me miss the old East Village so much... the bars and spots were so gritty and home to the notorious needle park. it was a hole within the hole, but times have changed and now its this hip, gotta be place. so sad. there was this bar, Wally's, that was named after a bum who hung out there a lot and drank (when he had the money). Its now infested with DJs and special people.

Sounds like Elliot was out with a friend (Constantina?), and she drank him way under the table- "you threw up whatever she shot down." there are so many bars in that area you can literally do a crawl and wind up in as bad a shape as he sounds in this song. What a great song.

this is gorgeous...seems sort of forgotten. a real gem.

this song seems like its about two people who are looking for love but are not in love with each other, they are just together because they both get what they want out of the relationship, however fake it is, they never really know each other, but they dont care cause they are getting what they want.

*there's a name you keep repeating
*you got nothing better to do
*and you're with someone who'll hear you say it and just nod


what a hidden gem of a song. the lyrics certainly sound as if this is a friendship/relationship of convenience. a different name on his or her tongue then the one he or she is with.

what a great, sweet song.

has anyone else notice that Elliott makes a number of references to names that are unpronounceable? i wonder what this is about. one example is in No Name #2:

"Her name was just a broken sound
A stuttered step you hear when you're falling down"

this is just one, there are others too although i cant remember off-hand. any theories as to what he is on about???

has anyone else notice that Elliott makes a number of references to names that are unpronounceable? i wonder what this is about. one example is in No Name #2:

"Her name was just a broken sound
A stuttered step you hear when you're falling down"

this is just one, there are others too although i cant remember off-hand. any theories as to what he is on about???

has anyone else notice that Elliott makes a number of references to names that are unpronounceable? i wonder what this is about. one example is in No Name #2:

"Her name was just a broken sound
A stuttered step you hear when you're falling down"

this is just one, there are others too although i cant remember off-hand. any theories as to what he is on about???

has anyone else notice that Elliott makes a number of references to names that are unpronounceable? i wonder what this is about. one example is in No Name #2:

"Her name was just a broken sound
A stuttered step you hear when you're falling down"

this is just one, there are others too although i cant remember off-hand. any theories as to what he is on about???

has anyone else notice that Elliott makes a number of references to names that are unpronounceable? i wonder what this is about. one example is in No Name #2:

"Her name was just a broken sound
A stuttered step you hear when you're falling down"

this is just one, there are others too although i cant remember off-hand. any theories as to what he is on about???

Am I the only person who thinks this is a reference to Sesame Street?

Apparently.

But just think about it: "Alphabet City?"

You know, Sesame Street, the alphabet... "And the letter of the day is..."

There wouldn't be much to that theory if it weren't for the harmonica in the background, just like the harmonica in the Sesame Street theme song.

A little research on Google revealed this interesting tidbit:

"Joan Ganz Cooney, Sesame Street's founder, said during a 1994 talk at the Museum of Television and Radio in New York that she'd wanted to call the show 123 Avenue B -- in the late '60s, this now prosperous part of the East Village was called Alphabet City, and was considered part of the Lower East Side."

So, there you go.

Perhaps the song's just about the same place in Manhattan that Sesame Street was based on, but that doesn't necessarily explain the harmonica.

But, if it is about Sesame Street, then I'll leave the implications of that to somebody else. Sort of.

But just think about the line, "Alphabet city is haunted. Constantina feels right at home. She probably won't say you're wrong, but you're already wrong, you're already wrong..." Does this put that in a new light?

I've always been intrigued by how desperately he sings, "So let's go out, I'm ready to go out," as though it was something that could never happen...

Especially with the context of, "I know what you are. I just don't mind. I won't say you're wrong. I know what you want, and it's what I want..."

I don't know. Perhaps I'm wrong. But maybe I'm onto something. Any comments, thoughts?

Kudos sadeyes, that was some really intriguing info. Thanks for sharing. I guess only Elliott could have told us the true meaning, but I always thought of "alphabet town" as a place that is really predictable and uneventful. Just like the alphabet, you always now what's coming next but you just wonder around like a ghost and talk to semi-strangers, etc. A truly beautiful song. Actually every song of Elliott's self-titled album haunts me.

I've been told that alphabet city is a part of New York City. All of the streets are named A, B, C, D, street, and etc. It makes sense since E. Smith went to back and forth to New York. (alphabet city is also famous for being a place where you can score drugs in NYC). ;-)

It reminds me of when in needle in the hay he says "your hand on his arm"
That gesture really signifies a lot for him.

He seems to have alot of little sayings that he alwasy likes to use like, idiot kid,shooting star, the moon

You're right. He did seem to be fond of particular words or phrases. "Good to go" being one of them. I also heard "deaf, dumb, and done" on different tracks (Sweet Adeline and Tomorrow, Tomorrow- which appear next to one another on XO).

Alphabet City makes sense to be in New York City, especially if you've seen Rent because they call the area they live in both Alphabet City and Bohemia and it is an easy place to score drugs.

As for "Alphabet Town", I'm pretty sure he's talking about the alphabet district in Portland, Oregon. Since he was a local artist and all...

"and you're with someone who'll hear you say it and just nod"

How is that "nod"?? There is clearly an extra word there. I always thought it was "just not mind". Listen closely.

just not mind sounds right to me. In the song i mean. Its haunting.

This is one of the many many reasons i love elliott smith. He can have a song, that has so many interpretations. One theory of sesame street, with valid facts, one with nyc, and one with oregon. Hes a very mysterious man, yet the mystery lies in his music, which, ironically is right infront of us. I freakin love it.

i won't say you're wrong
i know what you want
and it's what i want
so let's go out
i'm ready to go out
It sounds like he's talking about a dealer.

About the names:

Every time I hear Smith referring to a name that is hard to pronounce, it has been a woman's name. I think that it's a reference to how complicated women are. Could be wrong, but it seems that all men, including myself, have a hard time understanding women. This could be Elliott Smith's way of referring to his continuing struggle to pronounce, or "understand", women- especially the strung-out, fucked up type that he was usually around/with.

The Song:

Maybe this song is about going some place new to get high and, at first, having a bad trip OR about feeling morally incorrect for doing drugs? Both have happened to me before, and that may be why I think this way. Anyways, here are my thoughts: this place, Alphabet City/Town, OR drug is new to Elliott Smith and he is scared: "Alphabet City is haunted", but "Constantina feels right at home" because she (Constantina) has either been here before, or it is her place, or she’s just an evil woman, which may very well be the case regardless of your interpretation of the song. “she probably won't say you're wrong, but you're already wrong, you're already wrong”: Here Smith may be admitting and then readmitting that he feels bad, or “wrong”, for not enjoying his trip OR Smith feels morally wrong for having to get high to escape whatever may be bothering him in life and is pouring out his heart to poor Constantina, who only wished to get high with Smith. Constantina might try and comfort him by assuring Smith that he is not “wrong” for what is happening. Why would Constantina wish to do this? For Elliott Smith’s sake, so that he may enjoy a good high, and, ultimately or more likely, for her own, so that she may do the same without having to worry about Smith “wiggin’ out.” Constantina wanted to shut Smith up because he would not stop apologizing for his failure to enjoy his high/be morally correct, she kept trying to convince him, or “shoot down” what Smith was “throwing up” or admitting- that he was ruining her high by bringing up his unpleasant experience (whether it be morals or his bad high): “and you threw up whatever she shot down.” So, in order to become more secure and able to accept/enjoy this new place he is in OR drug he has been doing, Smith asks Constantina to “show me around this Alphabet Town.”


This next verse is about a later time in/use of this drug/place that Alphabet Town refers to. “there's a name you keep repeating, you got nothing better to do, you're with someone who'll hear you say it and just not mind, her hand on your arm, her hand on your arm, she put her hand on your arm, and told you her name you can't pronounce it, I'll show you around this alphabet town”: In my opinion, Elliott is so high in this instance, whether it be a good or bad high, he is almost in a transient state (which will soon pass into the third and final verse). Smith is referring to Constantina in this verse, she is the one “repeating the name” and he is the one who will “just not mind” (because he is so fucked up). When Constantina puts her hand on Smith’s arm, his senses react slowly and he has to reassure himself that her hand is actually on his arm- “her hand on your arm, her hand on your arm, she put her hand on your arm”: it’s almost as if it takes a little while longer for his arm to register Constantina’s touch in his brain. He may wonder at first, did she put her hand on my arm? Is she touching me? Smith may have actually SEEN Constantina put her hand on his arm, before he felt her touch.—I know this sounds kind of crazy, but I’ve been there before.—After recognizing her touch, Smith hears Constantina say her name to him, but he’s so high that he can’t properly “pronounce” her name.—Been here before too. Lol—OR this entire verse might be about how Elliott has now come to terms with this new drug that he is doing, and this verse symbolizes the point in time where he no longer feels “wrong” or bad for doing the drug. He is now able to show others “around Alphabet Town.” Which means he is on the road to addiction, and the third verse…


In the first two lines of the third verse, Smith recognizes what he and Constantina are- a couple of druggies OR he comes to terms with this new place (“I know what you are, I just don't mind”). “I won't say you're wrong, I know what you want, and it's what I want”: At this point, Smith does not consider himself or Constantina “wrong” and he realizes what he each of them wants: the drug. They have now become addicts. OR Later on down the road, Smith thinks this new place is okay now, and he thinks this new place is just misunderstood- the place seems evil or “haunting” at first, but is actually a place to have a good time, which is what Smith is looking for (“it’s what I want”). “so let's go out, I'm ready to go out, I'll show you around this Alphabet Town”: Now that Elliott has recognized the misunderstanding, he can enjoy this new place, and he wants to get high (“go out”), so that he is able to fully do so. Now that he is comfortable with the new place, he can show others how cool it is- notice Smith sings, “let’s” go out: referring to more people or others that he hopes will come and “go out” (get high) with him in this misunderstood, interesting, pleasant place, Alphabet Town. OR Smith, after reaching the point of addiction, is now desperate to experience the drug (“let’s go out, I’m ready…”). Smith finishes up by eerily assuring whoever may be listening that he is able to “show [them] around” or teach them all about “this Alphabet Town”, or drug that has now become the center of his life- his Sun, all that he lives for…

1 Reply

This kind of sounds like something that would come out of Portland, the harmonica and all

this is my favorite, its amazing.

my favourtie also. another combo of beautiful and haunting. Interesting points doyou_missme. There is deffinitely something with that 'pronounce/understand' theme. Key to his lovelife maybe as badge noticed above- all the women have complicated/unique names. Not simple enough for Elliott.

I don't like it when every song people refer to drugs, but this one is obvious, IMO.

"Constantina" isn't a girl, "Tina" is a common nickname/code for amphetamines. He was probably just incorporating this into a name. Constant-Tina?

Anywhoo, "She won't say your wrong, but you're already wrong" Well, drugs make you feel like you're not wrong at the time, but you're already wrong for doing them.

Throwing up is a common side effect of early usage in drugs. "the nod" is referring to heroin. they feel heavy and sleepy, you're "on the nod."

"Her hand on your arm" it's symbolism... "she" had left a mark on his arm. the affected area. kind of like "with my broken arms around you" in Angeles.

"Told you her name you can't pronounce it"
The mumbles, again with the heroin.

He encrypted it well, though. For the longest time I thought it was a love song until I carefully read the lyrics. It really is, though, still. Just, not with a real girl.
He's done this before, turning drugs into a love object/girl, i.e. "The White Lady loves you more"
Still a beautiful song, no matter. xo