Elliott Smith – Amity

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Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity caught stars
In her arms
Hello, Hello Kitty happy in New York City
Amity walking like a lucky
Charm

I'm a neon sign and I stay open all the time
So let's go, go, go, go

Amity Amity God don't make no
Junk but it's plain to see
He still made me
He told me so
I'm good to go
I'm ready to go

Cause you laugh and talk
And 'cause you
Make my world rock
I'm so, so, so, so

Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity good to go

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Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus

Track duration: 02:20

"Amity" as written by Steven P. Smith

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Amity song meanings
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29 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:The song is about my boss. She dated Elliott when she was living in New York.
    Flag MaggiNoSockson June 15, 2012   Link
  • -3
    General Comment:Undoubtedly his worst song his only bad one
    Flag SherlockHolmeson March 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:also, when the arrangement shifts quickly from the second chorus into a cycle of sweeping chords accented by short drum fills he sings,

    "amity, amity, God don't make junk
    but it's plain to see that he still made me
    he told me so: i'm good to go
    i'm ready to go."

    though this may seem like an extremely positive sentiment, Elliott holds firm to his more dour instincts as he explains, "i was saying, 'i really like you and it's really great to hang out with someone who is so happy and easygoing, but i don't feel like that and i can't be with you.' but i don't know if that came across. when i said, 'ready to go,' it is supposed to mean tired of living."
    Flag sweetadeline112358on September 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:also, when the arrangement shifts quickly from the second chorus into a cycle of sweeping chords accented by short drum fills he sings,

    "amity, amity, God don't make junk
    but it's plain to see that he still made me
    he told me so: i'm good to go
    i'm ready to go."

    though this may seem like an extremely positive sentiment, Elliott holds firm to his more dour instincts as he explains, "i was saying, 'i really like you and it's really great to hang out with someone who is so happy and easygoing, but i don't feel like that and i can't be with you.' but i don't know if that came across. when i said, 'ready to go,' it is supposed to mean tired of living."
    Flag sweetadeline112358on September 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:as Elliott explains in an interview for Magnet magazine, "i made up the lyrics in a couple of minutes and didn't change them. i like the way it feels, although it's not an especially deep song. it's not about the words themselves, but more about how the whole thing sounds."
    Flag sweetadeline112358on September 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Amity tracked me down in a record shop in Portsmouth because she thought I shoplifted from her store. I hadn't, but it made me real sad that someone would steal from her because she is the nicest girl ever.
    Flag mariahcantswimon January 25, 2008   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:It's too bad you guys don't know what this song is about. I am from Amity, Oregon and we love this song because Elliott Smith actually came through Amity (population: 1500) and then wrote a song about it. The line about New York? He's comparing New York and Amity.
    Flag smalltownwonderon October 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:god dont make no junk but its plain to see that he still made me

    that line didnt even hit me until a few days ago
    Flag dubtigeron February 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I met Amity, she owns a small vintage shop in Portsmouth, NH. She's a kind soul.
    Flag beside the darkon December 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:*Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing by Benjamin Nugent*

    "When Smith toured with Santen in 1997 in 1997, Smith seemed to be trying to pull out of Portland emotionally. In his tradition of the including names of real people in his songs, he would record the song "Amity" for XO after getting involved with a young, pretty woman of the same name who appears in photographs taken during his 1997 tour" (Nugent 111). It then goes on to talk about those pictures, saying that Elliott and Amity could be seen walking around Cambridge with his arms around her waist and both smiling. During this time in Elliott's life though, he was determined to get his life in order. On his agenda was to buy a real home with the money he had earned (all this prior to the "Miss Misery" fame). So I think that this song is, in my opinion, most certainly about the Amity Elliott Smith was friends with.
    Flag Antonskeyon July 26, 2006   Link

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