Elliott Smith - Waltz #2 (XO)
Live at the Studion, Stockholm, Sweeden, June 2, 1998
Over on Tuneage davekoen posted a nice tribute to the Everly Brothers, including an mp3 of their song Cathy’s Clown (reblogged below). In the comments I noted that the discussion of the Everly Brothers’ influence could also include Elliot Smith’s song, which was one of the theme songs in my life in 1998 and 99.
First the mic then a half cigarette
Singing Cathy’s clown …
I was still in grad school then, working on a PhD in English which I did not finish. I used to drive my maroon 84 Honda Accord hatchback to BU, where I was teaching sections of composition and intro to poetry. I wasn’t really an Elliott Smith fan then like I am now (!), but WFNX had Waltz #2 on heavy rotation and I heard it a lot while I would drive around trying to score a good parking space on Bay State Road. I remember the song hitting me really hard one time as I was parking the car. I sat there with the engine off to hear the song to the end before heading into the department.
Like many of Elliott Smith’s songs the lyrics have added poignance following his tragic early death.
I’m here today and expected to stay on and on and on
I’m tired
I’m tired
Looking out on the substitute scene
Still going strong
XO, Mom
It’s ok, it’s all right, nothing’s wrong
Tell Mr. Man with impossible plans to just leave me alone
In the place where I make no mistakes
In the place where I have what it takes
And of course the song also has the that cool quotation of You’re No Good, first recorded by Dee Dee Warwick but immortalized by Linda Ronstadt.
I’m so glad that my memory’s remote
Cause I’m doing just fine hour to hour, note to note
Here it is, the revenge to the tune
“You’re no good,
You’re no good you’re no good you’re no good”
Can’t you tell that it’s well understood
