Elliott Smith – Roman Candle

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  My Opinion:en..I think it's about a feeling about charlie and some other guy.sometimes I have a feeling that i wanna give somebody pain when i'm really low.
  
  but who knows?

  Flag shawbackon October 01, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:This is just a way out theory but...
  
  I was thinking about how sometimes when the child who was abused grows up and confronts the parent with what they did to them as a child, the abuser turns all 'sorry' and apologizes and such. What if the halucinating part is actually about this. Like he feels like he is hallucinating because he never thought he'd see either his mother or his step-father crying about what was done to him. But of course, the tears are cheap.

  Flag frejaon June 01, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I'm 15, and I swear i'm the biggest Elliott fan ever. I LOVE this song, but then again i have every song i can find anywhere, and i can't find one i don't like even a little. anyway, the lyrics to this song are amazing. My life is strangely like Elliott's was, as far as the domestic situation... And i love the "hallucinating" part because that's exactly what is feels like when you remember something that happened, you don't want it to be reality and you almost think it's a dream, but then you have to realize it's not. I think anyone can really relate to that... R.I.P Elliott Smith....

  Flag bradennn1on May 25, 2010   Link

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  My Interpretation:I interpret this song as "him" being God, and this roman candle is one you would find in a roman catholic church...
  he could be cool or cruel to You and Me.... and we'll put up with it. I take it as maybe I could hurt myself, something he has created.... maybe that would hurt him, give him a taste of his own medicine. A self destructive pretty burn. Being against yourself, being against God.
  
  Maybe it is about his stepfather, but that's how I take it in. No matter what he wrote it about I feel it.

  Flag sepecupon July 09, 2009   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:never before have i ever heard a song this raw, genuine, and darkly beautiful.
  
  most music that has really great meaning or feeling to it usually is hiding behind a genre and has to be interpreted, and i think that a lot of what is going on within the writers head gets lost in the translation to music. but this song wasn't written with an audience in mind. elliott wrote this song (along with most of the songs on this record) after his heatmiser shows in the backs of venues by himself. its appeal is that it is a gem of genuine feeling and how perfect the beautiful guitar fits the lyrics. the electric lead is like a flickering light in a small dark room which the acoustic set up from the beginning. his voice trembles with rage, knowing his feeling is beyond any words.
  
  from the beginning to end, it's just you and elliott

  Flag shindelinson February 06, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:i agree that the song is about charlie, also, i think that the halucinating part is refering to the idea that elliott thought that he may have been sexually abused but overall he is unsure. i've had my own um...moments with my father and its been about 4 years since i've lived with him and to this day i myself am unsure if things he did are sexual abuse, i feel like im sensoring myself from it, so, that may have been what elliott meant as well.

  Flag roseparadeon March 07, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:I've actually read many reviews and insights on this song. I'm almost positive it's about Elliott's step father Charlie, who was a test pilot for the airforce (often vituperate people) Charlie would often beat Smith and his mother and 2 sisters. It's really sad. I'm pretty sure the halucinating part is refernce to his drug experimentation which started when he was about 15 mainly because of the on going abuse.

  Flag Shroxon February 01, 2008   Link

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  General Comment:When I first heard this song, the title reminded me of those dribbley candles stuck on top of a scull, but that didn't make sense so I asked my dad (as I always do when I want to know something) and he told me that it was a pretty basic firework that you lit and it shot up in the sky and exploded everywhere.
  
  And I think that might kind of describe the anger that is coming out of this song.
  
  But thats all I could come up with. But yeah, in case you were wondering what a Roman Candle is (although, maybe it was just me who had no idea what it was) you know now.

  Flag Sweet_Amityon December 15, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:Oddly, it doesn't make me think of child abuse, but instead suicide.

  Flag wordsofamutemanon August 19, 2007   Link

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  General Comment:This might be far off the mark but I was just thinking about it the other day...
  
  Maybe the song is about a man, who abuses his wife while he's drunk, and hates himself for it when he's sober.

  Flag mrfantastic1010on July 04, 2007   Link

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