![]() Either/Or (1997) [ larger cover art ] |
Drink up, baby, stay up all night
With the things you could do, you won't but you might
The potential you'll be that you'll never see
The promises you'll only make
Drink up with me now and forget all about
The pressure of days, do what I say
And I'll make you okay and drive them away
The images stuck in your head
People you've been before that you
Don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
Drink up, baby, look at the stars
I'll kiss you again, between the bars
Where I'm seeing you there, with your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught
Drink up one more time and I'll make you mine
Keep you apart, deep in my heart
Separate from the rest, where I like you the best
And keep the things you forgot
People you've been before that you
Don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
| casey1024 (Here and Now) | Posted: Mar 12, 2013 - 06:06 Another of the great contributors to the score of my life. RIP Elliot. |
| adamcoacher (Morristown, NJ) | Posted: Jan 19, 2013 - 15:49 Best song ever. |
| Stingray | Posted: Sep 20, 2012 - 06:58 mauflex wrote: God, this song... makes me cry. Old memories, an old love, gone with my heart.. i'll never forget you, my one and only real love of my life. You Italians are way-way too emotional! Many more love's to come. Better ones. Bet...? |
| drsteevo (Location Location) | Posted: Aug 15, 2012 - 13:15 leafmold wrote: such a loss.... Yes, I was just thinking the same thing... |
| leafmold | Posted: Aug 15, 2012 - 13:14 such a loss.... |
| mauflex (florence, italy) | Posted: Jul 19, 2012 - 08:53 God, this song... makes me cry. Old memories, an old love, gone with my heart.. i'll never forget you, my one and only real love of my life. |
| AliGator (The Bluegrass) | Posted: May 28, 2012 - 21:45 Cynaera wrote: I knew SOMEONE would have posted the lyrics to this song. Bumping it up because, well, because it's Elliott Smith. Damn - I said it before, and I'll say it again: Why do the good ones die young while the crappy ones seem to be eternal? RIP Cynaera. You were one of the good ones, and you died too young. |
| HonduranRed (near a dry dam, Denver) | Posted: Mar 14, 2012 - 15:51 this is a beautifully sad song that makes me want to sit cross-legged, head drooped down in a dark room, smoking a cigarette, with the speaker turned up loud. |
| madebytim (Denmark) | Posted: Dec 22, 2011 - 07:39 He was incredible |
| MJdub (California) | Posted: Aug 06, 2011 - 14:23 Happy birthday Elliott. I miss you more than ever. |
| Carl (The Summit City) | Posted: Jul 21, 2011 - 19:56 Cynaera wrote: Why do the good ones die young while the crappy ones seem to be eternal? Wondered the same ever since I heard ES for the first time here, and several others, for that matter. They were just really good (he, especially) and knowing that this is "all she wrote" makes it all the more poignant, methinks. But really love ES. |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: May 19, 2011 - 12:46 Bocephus wrote: For anyone that has had a problem with the bottle this song is about as honest as it comes. Quite a poetic description of becoming an alcoholic. drink up, baby, stay up all night the things you could do, you won't but you might the potential you'll be, that you'll never see the promises you'll only make drink up with me now and forget all about the pressure of days do what I say and I'll make you okay and drive them away the images stuck in your head people you've been before that you don't want around anymore that push and shove and won't bend to your will I'll keep them still drink up, baby, look at the stars I'll kiss you again between the bars where I'm seeing you there with your hands in the air, waiting to finally be caught drink up one more time and I'll make you mine keep you apart deep in my heart separate from the rest where I like you the best and keep the things you forgot the people you've been before that you don't want around anymore that push and shove and won't bend to your will I'll keep them still I knew SOMEONE would have posted the lyrics to this song. Bumping it up because, well, because it's Elliott Smith. Damn - I said it before, and I'll say it again: Why do the good ones die young while the crappy ones seem to be eternal? |
| gabrielle7nt (On a 1974 Gran Criterium) | Posted: Mar 17, 2011 - 12:08 I'd only ever heard the Peyroux cover. I like the original more. |
| casey1024 (Here and Now) | Posted: Feb 25, 2011 - 08:27 I really like his work. Sad his life was so short. |
| helgigermany (Germany) | Posted: Sep 20, 2010 - 15:13 Have not heared ES since months! this tune... Very nice! |
| Huey (Netherlands) | Posted: Aug 19, 2010 - 14:30 Short & SWEET. He made good use of the stereo effect. Lovely song. 9. |
| Giselle62 (many bear, big rock, estuary California) | Posted: Jul 28, 2010 - 20:38 Jamunca wrote: I'm really hoping you didn't mean to make a pun there, but I do agree that his music is exquisite. The comment kind of just came out; I thought "Maybe I should delete this?" I mostly say what I mean...funny how things can be perceived as rudeness, sarcasm, innuendo or wit when you're just saying what you mean: sort of like that Peter Seller's movie "Being There." |
| Jamunca (Asheville, NC) | Posted: Jun 16, 2010 - 19:16 Giselle62 wrote: It's kind of strange that Elliot died the way he did, his songs make me real sad and pierce my heart. I almost can't listen, but it's so exquisite. I'm really hoping you didn't mean to make a pun there, but I do agree that his music is exquisite. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: May 23, 2010 - 17:51 ![]() elliott by ~reganr ©2007-2010 ~reganr smith |
| jagdriver (Just a nod and a wink south of Paradise) | Posted: May 04, 2010 - 16:20 heatherchickenlady wrote: Elliot's music really is very pretty, and it is nice to hear it from time to time, but it is really very depressing, too. Could you maybe play him just a little bit less often? |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Apr 30, 2010 - 19:35 Elliott Smith - "Between The Bars" Live-acoustic |
| On_The_Beach (Vancouver BC, Bud) | Posted: Mar 29, 2010 - 15:32 Another talent who's life was cut tragically short, like so many others in the music biz. R.I.P. Elliot. |
| heatherchickenlady (PDX from MKE) | Posted: Mar 29, 2010 - 15:25 Elliot's music really is very pretty, and it is nice to hear it from time to time, but it is really very depressing, too. Could you maybe play him just a little bit less often? |
| mauflex (florence, italy) | Posted: Mar 02, 2010 - 09:07 This song makes me almost cry... wonderful |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Mar 02, 2010 - 09:05 azdcryan wrote: Man, this dude breaks my heart every time...first couple chords of any song of his and it's like a tractor beam into a base sadness that exists deep inside of my being. I used to be a sad person, and have since learned that life is a symphony; with point and counterpoint, ecstacy and grief, hopefulness and despairing, triumph and failure...all used in movements and proportions that bring our days and nights alive with color. Well said. Thank you.In spite of all the blessings that my life today is filled with, the music of E.S. can without fail bring a lump in my throat, a weight in my chest, and an almost insatiable desire to weep...but not because it makes me sad - more because it makes me feel almost overwhelmed with joy. He slays me. His music, for me is that intensely beautiful. I feel that my life has been enriched by Elliot's sound; as well the sounds of others like Brian Wilson, Nick Drake, John Lennon, James Taylor, Tom Petty, Chris Robinson, and Billie Holiday to name a very very few. Thanks RP, for providing a soundtrack to all of our lives. |
| jkhandy (O'vale,CA) | Posted: Jan 29, 2010 - 21:54 azdcryan wrote: Man, this dude breaks my heart every time...first couple chords of any song of his and it's like a tractor beam into a base sadness that exists deep inside of my being. I used to be a sad person, and have since learned that life is a symphony; with point and counterpoint, ecstacy and grief, hopefulness and despairing, triumph and failure...all used in movements and proportions that bring our days and nights alive with color. In spite of all the blessings that my life today is filled with, the music of E.S. can without fail bring a lump in my throat, a weight in my chest, and an almost insatiable desire to weep...but not because it makes me sad - more because it makes me feel almost overwhelmed with joy. He slays me. His music, for me is that intensely beautiful. I feel that my life has been enriched by Elliot's sound; as well the sounds of others like Brian Wilson, Nick Drake, John Lennon, James Taylor, Tom Petty, Chris Robinson, and Billie Holiday to name a very very few. Thanks RP, for providing a soundtrack to all of our lives. Thank you Azdcryan |
| azdcryan (Sunny Arizona) | Posted: Jan 25, 2010 - 14:37 Man, this dude breaks my heart every time...first couple chords of any song of his and it's like a tractor beam into a base sadness that exists deep inside of my being. I used to be a sad person, and have since learned that life is a symphony; with point and counterpoint, ecstacy and grief, hopefulness and despairing, triumph and failure...all used in movements and proportions that bring our days and nights alive with color. In spite of all the blessings that my life today is filled with, the music of E.S. can without fail bring a lump in my throat, a weight in my chest, and an almost insatiable desire to weep...but not because it makes me sad - more because it makes me feel almost overwhelmed with joy. He slays me. His music, for me is that intensely beautiful. I feel that my life has been enriched by Elliot's sound; as well the sounds of others like Brian Wilson, Nick Drake, John Lennon, James Taylor, Tom Petty, Chris Robinson, and Billie Holiday to name a very very few. Thanks RP, for providing a soundtrack to all of our lives. |
| Giselle62 (California's Cental Coast) | Posted: Dec 29, 2009 - 11:22 It's kind of strange that Elliot died the way he did, his songs make me real sad and pierce my heart. I almost can't listen, but it's so exquisite. |
| SmileOnADog (Arizona) | Posted: Oct 27, 2009 - 16:49 Wow, if this hadn't played just now while I was listening (its been a while), and if I hadn't checked this song specifically, and seen a comment from a year ago that seemed kind of unusual - until I realized that I had written it - then I might never have remembered my RP username. I'm not sure whether to call it a senior moment, a synchronicity, or just random witlessness. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Oct 15, 2009 - 11:52 Metric, Emily Haines - "Between The Bars" Live Acoustic |
| geordiezimmerman (Brighton U.K) | Posted: Oct 11, 2009 - 14:52 Genius. |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Aug 25, 2009 - 14:42 la la la ...speak up baby, look at the stars... |
| dBdwg | Posted: Jun 23, 2009 - 06:34 Wow who just slammed on the breaks......Teddy Thompson to this......warn me next time, audio whiplash. |
| tribeca18 | Posted: May 06, 2009 - 09:57 It's all just Nick Drake re-visted. |
| two2fly (Madison, Wisconsin, US) | Posted: Mar 31, 2009 - 13:41 robco1 wrote: Radio Paradise, please keep playing Elliott Smith's brilliantly-written songs with their lack of overproduction so prevalent in commercial music (especially that produced in NYC). And trolls, please suck it. Its not an original. |
| robco1 (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Feb 12, 2009 - 09:13 Radio Paradise, please keep playing Elliott Smith's brilliantly-written songs with their lack of overproduction so prevalent in commercial music (especially that produced in NYC). And trolls, please suck it. |
| 1wolfy (Mission Viejo California) | Posted: Feb 12, 2009 - 09:09 My 19 year old son and his friends like this artist..alot of it being played around my house these days..it is ok with me.. |
| cgrove (New York, NY) | Posted: Nov 29, 2008 - 12:25 Ugh!...Radio Paradise, PLEASE, stop playing Elliott Smith and his entire library of sound-alike, melancholic songs. |
| songbirdfemme (syracuse ny) | Posted: Oct 13, 2008 - 07:10 just love his sound |
| sub-arctic (63°50' N) | Posted: Aug 11, 2008 - 01:50 And after this: When I Was Drinking with Hem... |
| oscar_driver (Planet Earth) | Posted: May 08, 2008 - 12:26 Yep, is that good! |
| DoctorHooey (/etc) | Posted: Mar 06, 2008 - 11:54 Hey! I was just listening to this on the subway this morning. And it's still awesome. |
| shanester | Posted: Dec 18, 2007 - 17:43 ThePoose wrote: Starts out like Rocky Raccoon.
Ha! I thought that too for a few seconds. Then fell asleep."> |
| Blasserman (Banning, CA (80 Mi. east of LA)) | Posted: Dec 18, 2007 - 17:39 alisams wrote: Great song, but BILL are you recycling your PLAYLISTS?? Back in March (as quoted below), the lineup was
Radiohead, Calexico, and Elliot Smith... EXACTLY what you just did moments ago! This is a terrific song if I do say so m'self. He did it again... |
| b17m4p | Posted: Dec 18, 2007 - 17:37 Reminds me of high school - in a good way - somehow |
| (former member) (Land of the Long White Cloud) | Posted: Nov 01, 2007 - 21:14 uh, i really like this version |
| geordiezimmerman (Brighton U.K) | Posted: Oct 01, 2007 - 10:19 horstman wrote: If that's your attempt at humour, it's pretty tasteless. Well said. and for what it's worth it was a knife to the heart. |
| horstman (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Sep 11, 2007 - 09:01 bigB_3 wrote: Like a knife to the gut. If that's your attempt at humour, it's pretty tasteless. |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet) | Posted: Aug 10, 2007 - 22:30 The jury is still out on this one. |
| out_to_lunch (Philly by way of CT) | Posted: Jul 30, 2007 - 13:34 meydele wrote: More Elliott . . . he was the best at making suicidal depression sound so sweet. Miss him.
except he was frequently berating himself in the lyrics. He showed how sad and smothering it could be and was for him. Not sure if it was sweet...musically I would call it bittersweet at best. And this is coming from one who loves his music, its just I always knew what he was talking about. (and I didn't mean that in a superior way, sorry if it came off as such) |

