He's pleased to meet you underneath the horse
In the cathedral with the glass stained black
Singing sweet high notes that echo back
To destroy their master

May be a long time til you get the call-up
But it's sure as fate and hard as your luck
No one'll know where you are
It's just a brief smile crossing your face

Running speed trials still standing in place

When the socket's not a shock enough
You little child what makes you think you're tough
When all the people you think you're above
They all know what's the matter

You're such a pinball yeah you know it's true
There's always something you come back running to
To follow the path of no resistance

It's just a brief smile crossing your face
Running speed trials standing in place
It's just a brief smile crossing your face
Running speed trials all over the place



Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus

Track duration: 03:01

"Speed Trials" as written by Steven P. Smith

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Speed Trials song meanings
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  • 0
    My Interpretation:i believe it's about drugs... elliott used to do a bunch of adderall and i'm sure meth. st ides heaven you'll hear "high on amphetamines" im not going to elaborate on the meaning of the words as other people have already nailed it pretty much. it's about doing speed.... one thing i like about this song is the line "to follow the path of no resistance" elliott was into electronics for music...building his own stuff... so he has knowledge of that... in an electronic circuit you know that power follows the path of least resistance..so that's an analogy of course for himself. i just realized this and made the connection. it's kind of cool to see where he comes from with certain lyrics.
    Flag kirkh34on December 14, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:After reading through all the comments, I can definitely see how this song could be about drugs - honestly, the thought never entered my mind. Thinking about it in that light, it really does make sense - I'm a former heroin addict (3 years off the horse in October!) & it's easy to connect-the-dots.

    When I first listened to this song, it felt more personal. I really liked the post that said song lyrics are interpreted from person-to-person, based on an individual's past experiences. For me, this song speaks volumes of my life.

    He's pleased to meet you underneath the horse
    In the cathedral with the glass stained black
    Singing sweet high notes that echo back
    To destroy their master
    ( I'm in a relationship with a guy who has slowly unfolded his 'true face', but because of his violent past & the deep care I have for him, I feel emotionally trapped. I am compelled to be with him, despite the fact that I know I am unhappy, & that I feel I may have found someone I could fall madly in love with, given the freedom. This eats at my soul. )

    May be a long time until you get the call-up
    But it's sure as fate and hard as your luck
    No one'll know where you are
    ( My friends & family are all very worried about me - they're scared that he's going to cut me off from the world & damage me. They don't want me to go through with our current plans. )

    It's just a brief smile crossing your face
    Running speed trials still standing in place
    ( I put all of my effort into looking happy, but I'm acutely aware of what's going on around me - it's almost as if I can feel the future, & I am unable to stop it. I can't move, & I'm allowing myself to be carried there. )

    When the socket's not a shock enough
    You little child, what makes you think you're tough?
    When all the people you think you're above
    They all know what's the matter
    You're such a pinball, yeah, you know it's true
    There's always something you come back running to
    To follow the path of no resistance
    ( Things keep getting worse & worse, to the point where I'm not able to identify common unacceptable acts & behaviors in a relationship - it feels normal. I tell myself & everyone who cares about me that I'm going to be okay, when I know I'm not. I respond to their concerns with a wide-eyed silence, or by brushing them off with unfaltering optimism, unable to let them know I acknowledge their fears, & my own. In all honesty, I sincerely know that I am at fault for this. I'm an intelligent, self-aware person, & in all actuality, I'm the one responsible for allowing all of this to happen. )
    Flag touchmyislandon July 22, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:just had an epiphany... clearly this song is about scoring drugs, etc. but the line "when the socket's not a shock enough, little child what makes you think you're tough" makes me think about method of ingestion. a lot of elliott's lyrics have multiple meanings, but a possible alternative could be the socket = nose, as in insufflation.

    when snorting the drug fails to give the user their desired high anymore, "not a shock enough," the next step could be IVing? "what makes you think you're tough" ie. the user has the assumption that they're somehow resistant to becoming addicted to IV use, which is often the next "exciting" step up of drug ingestion after insufflation.

    just a random thought i felt like sharing.
    Flag jewdifulon February 19, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:if you've never had problems with drugs, then i can see why it'd be difficult to understand this song.

    but i have, and i do. painfully and unfortunately so. at least listening to elliott's music helps me feel a little less alone when life gets unbearably difficult.
    Flag jewdifulon November 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's just a brief smile crossing your face




    It's just a brief smile crossing your face





    It's just a brief smile crossing your face




    It's just a brief smile crossing your face


    Flag Glowinon June 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hi it's still me leo from france can anybody tell me what "to run trials " means using simple words please? in my dictionnary trial means proceedings,so i don't understand to run trials!
    Flag leo1313on November 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hy my name is leo i'm french i think i understand this song but i have a translation probleme with the verse "running speed trials still standing in place" If somebody could explain me what it means using simple words it should be very nice Bye
    Flag leo1313on November 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's definitely about drugs and his days of doing drugs,and bad_at_best has interpreted to the very point.It's all about being useless,feeling a burden for everyone only in the sun when he's done with drugs...Reminds of my past days, the day would turn out good only after i'd done my fix..Then i wouldn't have to worry about anything"running speed trials in one place" only after the trip is over, tomorrow would be difficult day "you're such a pinball yeah you know it's true
    there's always something you come back running to
    to follow the path of no resistance" then would come time for friends for money, or suggestion but we all come to the same place...Anyways, elliots songs are wonderful, just wonderful, RIP Elliot Smith
    Flag ninetinon October 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's definitely about drugs and his days of doing drugs,and bad_at_best has interpreted to the very point.It's all about being useless,feeling a burden for everyone only in the sun when he's done with drugs...Reminds of my past days, the day would turn out good only after i'd done my fix..Then i wouldn't have to worry about anything"running speed trials in one place" only after the trip is over, tomorrow would be difficult day "you're such a pinball yeah you know it's true
    there's always something you come back running to
    to follow the path of no resistance" then would come time for friends for money, or suggestion but we all come to the same place...Anyways, elliots songs are wonderful, just wonderful, RIP Elliot Smith
    Flag ninetinon October 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's definitely about drugs and his days of doing drugs,and bad_at_best has interpreted to the very point.It's all about being useless,feeling a burden for everyone only in the sun when he's done with drugs...Reminds of my past days, the day would turn out good only after i'd done my fix..Then i wouldn't have to worry about anything"running speed trials in one place" only after the trip is over, tomorrow would be difficult day "you're such a pinball yeah you know it's true
    there's always something you come back running to
    to follow the path of no resistance" then would come time for friends for money, or suggestion but we all come to the same place...Anyways, elliots songs are wonderful, just wonderful, RIP Elliot Smith
    Flag ninetinon October 14, 2008   Link

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