Lyrics for Alameda as interpreted by EnjOy IncUbus

Alameda Lyrics
You walk down Alameda
Shuffling your deck of trick cards over everyone
Like some precious only son
Face down, bow to the champion
You walk down Alameda
Looking at the cracks in the sidewalk
Thinking about your friends
How you maintain all them in a constant state of suspense
For your own protection over their affection
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Walk down Alameda
Brushing off the nightmare you wish
Could plague me when I'm awake
And now you see your first mistake
Was thinking that you could relate
For one or two minutes she liked you
But the fix is in
You're all pretension
I never pay attention
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
If you're alone it must be you that wants to be apart

Interaction
Mail to a friend Send Lyrics to a Friend
Share on Facebook

Stumble It
Add to Del.icio.us Add to Del.icio.us




  • 62 Comments
  • Printer Friendly Lyrics
oldest first     Expand All
AndForgetMeNots
04-14-2002

Rated 0 
I really like the last line.

Log in to reply
radiocakedoves
04-21-2003

Rated 0 
Ithink the song is about someone who never lets anyone get too close. A fear of rejection, or perhaps a fear that someone might actually see him for who he really is. However, he blames the world rather than himself. Yeah, that last line kinda says it all.

Log in to reply
mon no jigoku
06-07-2003

Rated 0 
My favorite Elliott song out of every one he's ever played... I think this song is psychological, I always thought of it as about how you and people close to you think. "how you maintain all them in a constant state of suspense for your own protection over their affection, nobody broke your heart..." people hurt themselves in trying to hurt others.

Log in to reply
nobody
06-17-2003

Rated 0 
Listened to this for the first time in ages today. Brings back memories. When I first got on the net a few years ago I chose 'nobodybroke' as a user name cos of this. I love this song, especially all the words.

Log in to reply
pinkglove
10-07-2004

Rated 0 
This song's my jam. Seriously though, I kind of shook even after the first chorus - it hit me pretty hard.

Log in to reply
pods
10-24-2004

Rated 0 
What can i say? This song speaks very loudly to me

Log in to reply
oh_doctor_doctor
10-30-2004

Rated 0 
One of my favorite Elliott songs.

I can't believe he's been gone for a year.

Log in to reply
danredding.com
11-18-2004

Rated 0 
This song is a perfect example of Smith's trademark bittersweet style. The song is gorgeous and ethereal in delivery, but the lyrics are brutal and scathing. Elliot adresses the listener by writing in the second person perspective - all of his accusations are directed at 'you.' This line is probably cruelest: "how you maintain all (your friends) in a constant state of suspense / for your own protection over their affection." It implies that an entire personality could be nothing more than a gimmick. It suggests that someone might be so insecure that they would utilize friendship as a scam. Elliot was very good at finding our worst flaws and exaggerating them. It must have been an awfully heavy cross to bear.


"If you can't get rid of the skeletons in your closet, you'd best teach them to dance."
-George Bernard Shaw

Log in to reply
themorningafter
12-02-2004

Rated +1 
I always listened to this song with an outside perspective, and now that I see it here, I realize that it's the story of my life. What a horrible epiphany - Elliott, ouch - so damn harsh.

This song just climbed significantly further up my list.

Log in to reply
themorningafter
12-02-2004

Rated 0 
I always listened to this song with an outside perspective, and now that I see it here, I realize that it's the story of my life. What a horrible epiphany - Elliott, ouch - so damn harsh.

This song just climbed significantly further up my list.

Log in to reply
fifteenthirtynine
01-10-2005

Rated 0 
i swear he wrote this song about me. everytime i hear it, it pinches a nerve and makes me want to bury my head into my hands. but i love it as much as i loathe how it screams me.
elliott, just...stop being so disgustingly amazing for a minute and let me catch my breath.

Log in to reply
manic_ash
01-26-2005

Rated 0 
i agree with themorningafter about seeing this song with a third person perspective and now kind of realising what it's probably about...damn. does cut deep but also makes me have a hundred times more of an appreciation for this song.

Log in to reply
modegirl
01-26-2005

Rated 0 
When I heard this song, it reminded me of my ex, who broke up everytime he got close to someone.

I think the song is definitely about someone who knows he breaks his own heart every time he pushes other people away, but lacks the courage to push through that and do something else.

Log in to reply
modegirl
01-26-2005

Rated 0 
When I heard this song, it reminded me of my ex, who broke up everytime he got close to someone.

I think the song is definitely about someone who knows he breaks his own heart every time he pushes other people away, but lacks the courage to push through that and do something else.

Log in to reply
brightxeyes1
03-16-2005

Rated 0 
"nobody broke your heart ..you broke your own because you can't finish what you start"

wow. that line just kills me cuz its soo true. makes me sad :(

Log in to reply
aisha_08
04-29-2005

Rated 0 
i think this song is about some guy who happens to be a "loser" and doesnt get alot of girls. But he makes up in his own mind that him and this beautiful girl are a thing b/c she talked to him a few times, and then gets himself depressed about nothing when they havent talked in awhile.

Log in to reply
samjuro
07-15-2005

Rated 0 
song is pretty easy to understand. the catch is that it sounds as if he's directing it to somebody else, when in fact he's speaking about himself.

Log in to reply
theNME
07-31-2005

Rated 0 
I know I'm not contributing anything but...I love listening to Elliott Smith when i feel blue. I live in a town called Alameda. It's kinda funny when i listen to this song on my MP3 player while im walking home from school.

Log in to reply
katemarie
08-06-2005

Rated 0 
I love the way Elliott seems to get inside everyone's heads. He always spits out right back at you what you've been trying to hide inside and deny all this time.



Log in to reply
schizorage
08-11-2005

Rated 0 
i think it's a song about someone who pushes people away, then tries to justify it by passing the buck.

I've been there.

Log in to reply
1 Reply
plaincl0thesman
08-14-2005

Rated 0 
elliott had an amazing ability to connect with the listener through his songs, so many of his listeners can really relate to songs such as this.

Log in to reply
listentohim
01-22-2006

Rated 0 
i think that elliott is speaking is talking about himself even though he is using second person. i also think he's using "you" so it affects the listener. I never know though he could easily be talking about someone else, like his girlfriend

Log in to reply
MusicIsMyCrack
02-02-2006

Rated 0 
I think Elliott is talking about himself a lot when he says "you," usually when it's some feeling he has of worthlessness. When he sounds reall angry I think you is directed at his stepdad. "for one or two minutes she liked you..." who else would be you except for himself?

Log in to reply
GeNtLe
02-07-2006

Rated 0 
nobody broke your heart
you broke your own because you can't finish what you start

These lines are very meaningful to me. I have gone through so many circumstances that these lines describe perfectly.

Log in to reply
onethinwallaway
02-10-2006

Rated 0 
this is my favorite elliott smith song. simply beautiful.

Log in to reply
1 Reply




  • Add Your Comments
What does this song mean to you?

You must be logged in to post your comments.

Feel free to create an account with us, or log in with your existing account, to start adding your comments to songs.





Popular
Top:   Lyrics, Artists, Albums
Random:   Lyric, Artist, Album

Your Ad Here