Elliott Smith quotes

Elliott Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician, acclaimed for his emotionally raw lyrics and distinctive melodic style. His music, often centered around themes of introspection and melancholy, gained a dedicated cult following. He influenced a generation of indie musicians and remains celebrated for his poignant songwriting. Here are 83 of his quotes:

Haven't laughed this hard in a long time,I better stop now before I start crying.Go off to sleep in the sunshine,I don't want to see the day when it's dying.

Elliott Smith

It's a lot easier to tell the truth usually.

Elliott Smith

I'm just writing songs about how I feel or about how people I know feel.

Elliott Smith

I'm comfortable apart,It's all written on my chartThat I take what's given to meMost cooperatively.I do what people sayAnd lie in bed all dayAbsolutely horrified,I hope you're satisfied.

Elliott Smith

I think the music business will eventually crush me, but I [smiles]... I'm ready.

Elliott Smith

I didn't know how many people knew who Ferdinand was.

Elliott Smith

I didn't have a hard time making it, I had a hard time letting it go.

Elliott Smith

I watched myself put my paw in the bear trap on that one because there was this clause about leaving members.

Elliott Smith

Because God only knows why people like what they like and don't like something else.

Elliott Smith

Elliott: "Do you want to hear a happy or a sad song?" Crowd: "Happy!" Elliott: "Old or new?" Crowd: "Old!" Elliott: "Happy and old, that's a strange choice."

Elliott Smith

The clock moved a quarter of a turn, the time it took a cigarette to burn.

Elliott Smith

Church bells and now I'm awake And I guess it must be some kind of holiday I can't seem to join in the celebration But I'll go to the service And I'll go to pray And I'll sing the praises of my maker's name Like I was as good as she made me...

Elliott Smith

Drink up, baby, look at the starsI'll kiss you againBetween the barsWhere I'm seeing you thereWith your hands in the airWaiting to finally be caughtDrink up one more time and I'll make you mine...

Elliott Smith

"This is the place you end up when you lose the chase,Where you're dragged against your will from a basement on a hill,And all anybody knows, is you're not like them,So they kick you in the head...and send you back to bed.

Elliott Smith

Veins full of disappearing ink Vomitting in the kitchen sink.

Elliott Smith

I'm going out now like a baby A naïve unsatisfiable baby Grabbing onto whatever's around For the soaring high or the crushing down With hidden cracks that don't show, but that constantly just grow.

Elliott Smith

I met a girl, snowball in hell she was hard and as cracked as the liberty bell.

Elliott Smith

I don't intend to write depressing songs and I'd probably rather write happy ones.

Elliott Smith

I'd say you make the perfect angel in the snow all crushed out on the way you are, I'd better stop before it goes too far.

Elliott Smith

Here's a song I made up while I was watching Xena the Warrior Princess with the sound off. It's a fact. I had a secret crush on Xena. It was a secret to me too. I wouldn't admit it. She's pretty fuckin' tough. She has a good yell... she kills the stupid gladiators with the log-trap. Release the log-trap! She releases the log-trap and they all get... crushed. They'd all wanna be with her if they could, but unfortunately they're not on her side. It's a lot better with the sound off. Really, it is. And the song didn't have anything to do with Xena... but... I was about half a bottle through Jameson's... if that makes any sense.

Elliott Smith

I'm a junkyard full of false starts And I don't need your permission To bury my love under this bare light bulb. The moon is a sickle cell It'll kill you in time.

Elliott Smith

Wearing clothes that clash Wondering 'is this treasure, is this trash?' Still trying to decide.

Elliott Smith