Needle in the Hay
Elliott Smith Lyrics

Valerie Neilson

@Ouroborus Nicely said.

Valerie Neilson

@Louie O.Blevins Music Nicely said.

Valerie Neilson

I almost sent this song to someone. But thank you for your either horrible or interesting remark.
I didn’t send it. Because some monsters need to starve.
I will never again weaponize this.
Elliott Smith deserves better.
It’s a talisman of sorrow and survival.
I will always love this song. But, from now on, it will be just for me...and remembering what I don’t feed.

Da baby

Oof

Roberto Rodriguez

"Snap out of it!" "What's wrong with you?" "Stop being that way!" "OMG!, you're never going to change, you are ruining my life!" "People have it worse than you, you need to be thankful and appreciate what you have!" but what they don't know is I can't recall a time when as a whole; I didn't feel this way. THIS is the most comfortable feeling I can feel, because feeling good scares me, makes me feel uncomfortable, it takes all my energy and being to put up a front of it's not that bad. Inside, all I can envision is a prison, and instead of trying to escape, I make the walls higher, leaving only a small hole to peak and hope. I want to make the hole bigger, but I can't, I feel like I don't deserve it.

Amiracle One

Because No one deserves it, that's why you don't feel worthy because you are not. The good news is No one is or ever was. So hopefully that can help you understand you deserve a big hole of hope to reach for as much as anyone. Your not alone we are all on this spaceship called earth with you.

Pietro W

One of the most iconic Wes Anderson music ever.
"I'm gonna kill myself tomorrow."

s g

I was looking for someone else who has seen the film! Such a powrful scene. I get light headed everytime I watch it

Jaie Dormi

Shout out to everyone that put the needle down, to the ones preparing their next fix, and lastly to the ones we lost because of it all. I miss my friends. 6 months & change clean. Stay strong! Much love from NY

undo

respect hope your still clean bro <3

Jaie Dormi

@KATERI LEVASSEUR sending positive vibrations your way - thanks for writing that. I relapsed since then a ways back but right now I am doing great and ainvdjust grateful. For family,friends, having the land (condo, its not land) I live on. I watched a documentary last night made by Abby Martin and I believe it was called "Gaza fights for freedom" and wow. If that doesn't (not you personally: speaking you meaning anyone) humble you, Im not sure what would. Abby Martin: def my top 3 favorite journalist. I cant believe most Americans have no clue whats happening there. Its genocide (they call it ethnic cleansing) and theres 2 million Palestinians crammed into 6 miles wide and roughly 20 - 25 long. No clean water. Sorry I kind of just typed my thoughts as they came 🤦🏼‍♂️sorry about that. Much love

KATERI LEVASSEUR

☝Sending you Peace & Love.... Hope you're still keeping well.

Matt Crosby

At some point, being lost is just who you are.

Cam

All my life

Detention Sickness

i wanna say thanks for putting it into words. cheers mate. cant say i knew what that feeling was inside for a long time. sometimes, it only takes a comment. much love to yall

Damiel Tanon

I hate this comment. Because I read it right after I realized it...

Seth

I've been thinking about this for three days straight

For Felines

Yes. Exactly

Aide p

Man he is one of the most under rated guitarists in music history. The chord progression trails you around and makes you feel like you are experiencing that dreaded drug walk in Portland with him. The way it ends on a deceptive cadence is just so beautiful. You can interpret that chord as a resolution and feel content it is over or see it as unfinished and feel sad. That is what is so great about his song writing and composition, he always left it open to people to hear it how they wanted to.

Alexa Reamer

I’ve done this walk too many times to count. Yes these places still exist and Lloyd Center park in front of the max is definitely the place if you want to meet sketchy dealers.

One time I was so sick and couldn’t wait until I got home, I ducked into a bush and shot up there. I thought of this song this morning because I would walk to the ends of the earth, sick AF, raining down on me but it never phased me because I had a purpose back then

1212simonsays

Great description.

Bob Papadopoulos

Underrated? No. Townes Van Zandt's guitar is underrated. Blaze Foley's guitar is underrated. Elliott's is pretty straightforward easy stuff.

nosmartyr

Oh really? Aside from the screaming pain of a soul bleeding thru music the way he does, Ive heard Elliot Smith done better by musicians ive known irl. I guess its just a matter of who gets big first. Or he was channeling a soul that sings thru whatever vessel can house it. My friends were clean & sober, inspired by Kurt Cobain. Art is Hard-Cursive hehe to the pain

Bugsy

You must be guitar guy

Biting Back

Can't believe it's 2016. We're still here, together, in our own little midnights, missing you. I hope so hard you're free now.

Leiana Hope

Through you, to be free

Leiana Hope

Yes ❤️

Emmi Autumnn

hi from 2021 :)

Paul

This didn’t age well, 2020 got much worse bud

alec geinitz

Haven't you ever been to the Amytiville Crack House

stella

Elliott is without a doubt one of the best composers of the last 40 years.

stella

Kevin Beatsman Daniel johnston is the best of them all

stella

Jack Evans Why do you say that?

Jack Evans

@Kevin Beatsman Joanna Newsom and Thom Yorke in my opinion

Kevin Beatsman

Honestly, who is better? It's all subjective anyway, but I say no one.

Sharon Ruiz

Wow I haven’t heard this song in about 7 years... definitely brings back a lot of memories. Always one of my favorite

Kirc Cohen

Fighting depression with depression, thx

Christopher Carr

Try Leonard Cohen next.

Colin Asay

It’s a good idea

the nobody

You should be greatful this shit exist

xX_Summoned-Skeletor_Xx

Personally, it's just your own interpretation of his songs, I construe it in a different way, it actually helps me in my darkest times to stay inspired, albeit I have depression.

For Felines

Well said!

Darkwarrior125

The saddest people are the ones that don't even show it to you, they just wear a mask to hide it all.

Susannah Is cool

This song makes me cry. But by the end I have a warm feeling in my heart meanwhile my guitar gently weeps

BABA YaGa

Johnny Depp said that he listened to this song on repeat for his Mort Rainey character from Secret Window. ✌🏻

Christian

That is really cool I didn't know that

Софья Горшкова

This song surely hits different, but my favorite part is when he sings “I can’t be myself and I don’t wanna talk”. Such a simple way to put it and yet you can feel the quiet despair behind these words. Reminds me of my high school years, when I was lonely, burned out and somewhat suicidal. I couldn’t be myself and I didn’t want to talk…

Ashley Lala

Since this is the anthem to many a suicidal person, I would like to offer a hug and the encouragement to keep hanging in there for one more day. Know that you are loved and everything will turn out ok. 😘

DJGamingSmash

@wisterV Whoops. Very poor choice of words. Maybe DON'T keep hanging?

wisterV

Keep hanging,
really?

The Navigator

@M M Cool B not with that attitude

Philip Eaton

Some days are so hard.

sjh

Thanks

tiller man

im not depressed im just here because I think its a beautiful song

Brokenhill

"Gonna walk walk walk, 4 more blocks (plus the one in my brain)" is one of my favorite one-liners in music.

Anita Raggini

same here, i'm even considering getting it tattoed

Inko Infinity2

@Brokenhill that line is also a reference to velvet underground's run run run I heard

Brokenhill

@johnson monkEman If you've had an upsetting event occur and you feel like leaving, you go for a walk but it's not just the space/distance you need from the person, there is the mental process that takes place where you're walking through what happened and trying to be free of it from within, hence walking an extra block in his brain.

johnson monkEman

I don t get it mane

Marta Andrijić

Mine too :)

Ian O 'Neill

I love this album. It always makes me feel so good inside.

Riliko hai kas

men, Elliot was a king, nobody going to forget you. RIP Elliot

Leah Gee

A couple nights ago I had a dream where I got to see Elliott perform again. It was beautiful. To think we’ve lost him forever, and will never again get a chance to see him play, is utterly heartbreaking. May he rest in peace ): xx

Patrick O'Brien

I listened to elliot smith nearly exclusively through my 12 year addiction to iv heroin and several tragedies and heartbreaks. Had these albums on in the background through many excruciating kicks. And it played in my head most all of the time. Its hard to listen to now. Like going back to your childhood home is hard after the death of a loved one. I still love the music and the company it provided during a time of bleak loneliness. Been clean for 6 years. Wouldn't change a thing but also wouldn't want to re-live it either.

Autumn Blair

2018 and still one of the most depressing songs of all time.

KyCurley

Somedays are joyful, somedays are harder than others. I give back. Giving great advice, like yawl do here, to others who are going thru tough times. I give my condolences, appreciation and support. You're the higher influence to make or change a life. Needless, to say. I ain't wanna make it past 2021. But yawl are doing great things. Love u all.

Erika Martinez

His music is timeless, especially this album and I can't believe it has been 20 years since I first listened to it. I'm getting the same feels in 2018 just like in 1998.

PomPom

The Royal Tenenbaums is a great movie that deals with some pretty serious issues beyond its light demeanour. I really love this song

Finn Cullin

"I'm going to kill myself tomorrow...."

northCALIFA

@PwnsPandas very observative arent we...... jk jk. sorry. royal tenenbaums is a great movie that can be disected so many ways. i love that movie. i dont see it as very light demeanored at all.... but thats why i love film. have agood one

Daniel ,dan' Thompson

"If I ever learned a lesson, it was probably several or zero."
,dan' (the ghost of Gulliver, exhausted and full of what felt like papercuts, stopped to rest as he sat back against a tower in Pisa)

xComfortIsAMysteryx

Sometimes you lose the grasp on the illusion of who you once thought you were. Then the only reason you try to keep going is for those who love you because you don't ever want them to hurt because of something stupid you've done. At least that is something especially when you feel there is nothing left inside of yourself.

Josh G.

Great song even though its about addiction. Its sad the plight we put ourselves through. Great scene with this song in the royal tenenbaums, it plays when Richie attempts suicide and the song conveys the mood excellently.

Demikachuu

Anytime I hear any Elliott Smith. I'm just reminded that my mind isn't broken. It just sings back up vocals with itself.

IndustrialGaming

Thank you Royal Tenenbaums for introducing me to this beautiful song.

Poundland Gang

This song makes me tear up. Listening it takes me back to my childhood.

Ben Sawyer

If anyone see's this in 2020, 2021, 2030. I don't care. Just know that this guy is a legend.

June Asiimwe

Stone cold fact!

Enrico Scerri

Amen brother.

Captain Swan

Absolutely!!! He is the most underrated musical artist ever!

operalung99

Damn right he is.

Alexis Arrizon

Elliott Smith was my favorite singer growing up in the mid 90s still crushed over his death.

Gavino

This is and always will be my favorite song ever.

p

Omg the melody in his voice just cradles me! Even if i dnt like the song its hard to stop listening.

jackson b

much love to everyone here. you're great and im so happy to see everyone being bros in this comment section. i hope you're all doing great, big love

Mak Eldridge2022

This is my absolute favorite song. Hands down.

DJGamingSmash

All my favorite songs I discover from movies and tv are always Elliot Smith.

Toñin

El mejor álbum the Elliott el primero, sin lugar a dudas, se vacía, y son las canciones más bellas y sinceras que jamás haya grabado, un genio!!!

Elisabeth Jondahl

This is the song that started it all for me. RIP Elliott.

WhalinBoi

"How can someone so talented die so young?"

bjwzwart

This man was and still is the best songwriter for me RIP ES

Damian O'Brien

This is my all time favorite song of all time.

no-go mado

This song makes me cry almost instantly.. like I just can't help it.

Alex Goldberg

One of two people with music that makes me feel this way. Y’all try the music of Eyedea. It’s sits like Elliott yo.

GVilleAnarcho

The Bad Astronaut version is a really good power pop cover of this song. That was the first time I heard this song. Then I heard the original and it floored me. But the BA version is also fantastic in its own way.

Marianne STRGZR

the stereo at the beginning of the song is amazing

Daniel ,dan' Thompson

"If you knew everything then I would doubt you just to find out what I don't already know."
,dan'
(in five more days I will've been born yesterday)
"The person or perdaughter who knows everything can tell anyone at anytime that they're wrong, even if they're right."

Jeremy

this is the real one, the one that has the most soul and raw power in its message. god bless elliott smith.

Stefan

Went to investigate this after hearing a cover of it by drone band Nadja on their cover album When I See The Sun Always Shines On Tv. Fell quickly in love with Elliott's music straight after that.

Wes

Even though I know damn well that he would've hated being labelled a musical genius, there's no denying it. He influenced the way in which my friends and I composed and arranged our own songs, right alongside artists like Nick Drake, John Martyn, Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Cash, and the early Dave Mathews & Tim Reynolds live recordings.

Daniel ,dan' Thompson

"You are the soul of something that existed before you or the body of a soul that will one day exist."
,dan'

Donovan McCormick

He was a beast and he is missed.

Joseph Blanco

I remember being about 14/15 in 2005, and I played the hell out of this. My cousin hated me for playing it on repeat for hours.

Jaefar SABNW

@Joseph Blanco People are at fault, but look at someone's choice of media and you see what values they will potentially live.

Joseph Blanco

@Jaefar SABNW you make sound as if the music is at fault. Or is that just the wording. I apologize if I'm wrong.

Jaefar SABNW

I am thinking if someone who decided to destroy her life around that time after such music, but it took her a few years to get to dirty smack.

matthew jones

im just here because i grew up listening to this....

Darrin Nelson

me 2. well. l was around 18 when this came out.

seven

I love this album. .so depressing so right...so strung out so real..

Ben

I love this album. .so depressing so right...so strung out so real..

minah lee

I love this album. .so depressing so right...so strung out so real..

StealPinch

I love this album. .so depressing so right...so strung out so real ..

Corey Cann

This will always be my favorite album, but fuck man the vocals drown out the guitar

Sad Homie

Heartbreakingly beautiful.

Will Baska

oh the nostalgia is literally overwhelming......

It'sWhereTheComedyComesIn

it sounds like even if we feel like we're different we're still as small as everyone else...idk if thats what elliot meant, but thats how I see the song

Puppy Puppington

Reminds me of when I cared too much about “love”. Getting broken hearted and lied to is so horrid. Spending weeks in the bathroom shooting up to forget & slashing at my body mutilating myself covered in blood. It seems like ages ago. I hate that I still have scars all over. I hope they disappear someday. It’s rather embarrassing. But of course I didn’t give a single atom of care at that moment. I’m glad I’m not in that same mindset anymore.

Datorflicka

don't be embarrassed for the way you chose to illustrate your pain. it's hard when you feel like you're alone. i'm also glad you're not in that mindset anymore but, for anyone who is, hang in there please.

Matthew Williams

Self inflicted wounds never heal, constant reminders of who we once were but to never be again.

vjone2127

@Sarah C ❤️

Sarah C

I'm glad you're doing better. Don't be embarrassed, it's part of your history, and although you may think it's unsavoury, you should be proud of yourself for surviving and putting it behind you. We all have our war wounds, you're still here to appreciate them.

July Cardoza

I spent so much of my youth reveling in this sound..... and I believe it's a huge reason why I made it out the other side. I reflect now on these years and what I thought was a tortured soul was really just a kid trying to be understood not realizing that the key to it all was spacing - removing myself from the center of life. I was as self centered as most young people who are seeking to be understood instead of seeking understanding of the world that surrounds them. Elliott helped me see that there were others feeling the same way and he took me away from that depressed laser focus for just long enough to realize there was more to life. Thank you Elliott, can I call you Elliott? I feel you wouldnt mind.

Grace

i hate how scary this song is to me. it’s so haughtily beautiful that i had to remove it from my playlists.

lincoln

Sometimes I’m worried they won’t make it through the night. I love my friends and I know they’re sick but I also know I can’t change it. They’re hurting and it makes them hurt less but I’m so worried. I haven’t talked to her for months. I hope she’s ok. I hope she’s safe.

hxhdfj ifzir st c

I remember the sick glee in my room mate's voice when he announced that Elliot had died.

I was never the biggest fan (had a few records), but I was totally disgusted by the demonic thrill at death and drama.

G M

You're roommate sounds like a horrible person. Sounds like he enjoyed making others miserable

john denis dunne

Love this song. I felt like this song the other day making a cup of tea

David Williamson

The american soul has a sickness. The most sensitive souls suffer the most from it. I don't know if it is just an appearance or not but it seems that others around me are fine and mostly don't notice the slow decay of the american spirit. I struggle with my soul. It hungers for something that it can only express in images and melodies that haunt me and cause me so much pain that sometimes I think it would be better to not feel at all than to endure another day. It's like I feel the suffering of ten thousand years of broken humans and it feels like its mine to bear alone in silence because whenever I talk about it with anyone they get uncomfortable and quiet. I feel like a drama queen because from the outside there is nothing obviously wrong with my life and it doesn't seem like I deserve to feel this pain, but my pain demands my respect and reverence nonetheless and the only way I can talk about it is in the most serious tone I can muster. Any one else feel like me?

beacon dog

This was my introduction to his music

Sara Pau

i listen to this every time it seems impossible to see a future and i feel like drowning in some way it helps hope you reading this are ok

sundaysinrome

ah <3 i love this song

Filberto Gonzalez

God, I can relate to this song

Egregious Philbin

I shave to this song. Is that weird?

Keith Franzen

Not weird... but maybeeeee do something nice for yourself afterwards...maybe an icecream..or....coffee...ooooorrr maybe some nice HAPPY weed...
But then again some people can vibe to horribly sad, depressing stuff... and Mr. E. Smith is about as soul shreddingly, hole in your soul, heart sinkingly depressing stuff out there..
Just about every song can torpedo the heart AND AND THEN, if you know about him and his issues and how deeply, hopelessly lost so far from the refuge of any mental or emotional safe harbor inside of himself he was..... and how it ended. You realize he wasn't just writing sad, depressing shit for a label's idea of image shaping and album sales because darkness and depression was sexy or some stupid shit at the time,..he truly was in agony...and that adds a whole other shitty feeling or sadness while listening....blah...rambling ...yep I be ramblin' Lol.

Anyway, the long ago point I think I was making was.. some people find comfort in listening to stuff like this... maybe they relate in one of many ways and it helps them to not feel alone... or maybe ya just love and respect him as an artist....

Point is NOT WEIRD dude :)
You rock n vibe to what ever whilst shaving... can be quite monotonous ....

JEEEZE!! I MUST BE BORED AS HELL HUH?? LOL :)

James Brett

same

Shady Pandas

@Habanero Jones he was actually referencing the movie.. and being sarcastic... lol. Making a reference that only people that watched it would understand rather than saying "WHOS HERE CUZA ROYAL TENENBAUMS"

monty nelson

don't do a tennembaum-

Paul Phoenix

@Habanero Jones you need a pepsi bro

Manesk Fernal

Ya know that feeling when your gettin a bag and your trying to not to shit yourself/puke on the way home to do up? Lately everytime im getting close tp ending everything i get the same feeling and its making it feel impossible to stop myself haha.

kittycake 101

Love this song

In Cognito

Winter 1996 was spent strung out hitching I-5 from Eugene to Portland to Seattle. Shows at Paris Theater, Oak Street Theater, LaLuna, Satyricon, then north to Seattle-Ok Hotel, Crocodile, 700 club, beautiful and tragic times.

Paul Paradis

"You oughta be proud that I'm getting good marks..." Makes me think of a few friends from my high school days who got too many good marks, and turned their lives into sad clichés.... Such a deceptively powerful song.

Mason Minor

Thanks to this beautiful song, shaving is now a lot quicker for me!

The 18

You have to meet my friend as Bob Dylan did. Ed is the reason that I am who I am today.

Portland Oregon

I've fallin out on 10th and powell, yep at the jack in the box. 8th and powell, 2 blocks north, the hondo made it all ok.

Adam Farr

Never done heroin....been through enough though to really apperciate and savor this amazing poetry.. Rest in Peace Elliot Smith your forever in our thoughts

Alexander Fraktman

Elliott is such an amazing artist! He greatly impacted me and his music (as well as Kurt and Daniel's) helped inspire my sound.

Daniel ,dan' Thompson

''A door that you're not ready for."
,dan' (knocks)

Siddhartha Sharma

haha I am already dying slowly from an year.. I wish I could get over her just the way she did

Kendra Wilde

i love you elliot smith, you are buried deep in my soft heart forever

Daniel ,dan' Thompson

"Incognative."
,dan' (i have a way of thinking things through years later)

esra yakabağ

Şarkım be! 💙💙

Desmond English

First song of his that I listened to, certainly not the last

Antonio Larco

Fills me with feelings

Hella Anxious

This song reminds me it’s okay to be sad

Lucy Elias

god what a simple simple beautiful song, elliott smith was a god

h4t3 m3

I wish I still had my CD so that I could listen to this without reading comments

K Towe

h4t3 m3 as you comment

The Ceo Of Complete Global Saturation

I am here because i can identify with him a lot.I've always been good at predictions,and i can sadly say i will probably share elliot's fate one day.

UniverseMelMae··

Me too..

Jacob Trueman

I feel the same way...

Patrick Oconnor

sucktastic

So leave me alone, you ought to be proud I'm getting good marks. 

octopuscollective

markssssss

Med Otaku

My wife tattled on me today and reported to my grandmother that I relapsed a few months ago. I've been a pin cushion ever since then for the first time in 3 years. And the subs may have kept me off the shit those years but they launched my tolerance higher than I ever thought possible. And just trying to get back on the subs has thus far proven impossible, for the sickness.

3 grand and several grams later, whatever pain I'm trying to heal with medicine isn't capable of dissipating. Maybe it's all the people I had to kill which led to this minor catastrophe, or maybe my grandmother is right in saying it's all the shit I was subjected to which paved the course of my destiny.

In any case, what the fuck do we do now?
And how do we get the ride to stop ?

I want to get off, but I don't want it to end.
That is, I don't want to ride. And I don't want to die.

So, where do we go now?

John Elliot

Pickup something you don’t have to put in to your body to feel good

Stop the Philosophical Zombies

Subs are a trap man. I was on them for years and couldn't get off 'em. Taper down to 4 mgs and then switch to a methadone program and then do 3-6 month taper from 30mgs to 1 or 2 mgs and jump off. That's what I did and I'm now off the shit. No cravings and minimal pain. Only thing that is tough is getting a decent night's sleep at the end. It gets better though.

Evan Cargill

Dude, so pleased to subscribe. Top shelf. You take the edge off like a file.

kittycake 101

Love this song

Clarence Warley

Loneliness brought me here..now Elliot can take me away.

Lola Correa

for everyone out there struggling with depression: i want you to do two things.
1.)Take a walk. outside, somewhere in the woods, maybe. anywhere quiet, with nature. i want you to walk. maybe take your dog. no music allowed. you're just going to walk, and think, and look. look at the trees! they're so old, and so strong. look at the sky! it's so infinite and so blue! look at the sun shining through the leaves, look at plants! it's all so lovely! so if you really can't live for yourself or the sake of living, or if you think you're hideous, or if you think you're a burden, or if you can't live for your friends and family, live for the earth, and the beauty on it, and the beauty in it.
2.)i'm not going to say it's okay, or you'll be fine. you won't be. you'll have bad days, and you'll have good days. but if an athlete sprains something, what do they do? they say, "it's okay, i'll rest it and let it heal before i go out again." and that's what you should do. the brain is a muscle and an organ. and if everything is too much, stay home! skip work, or school. take a day to relax.
please be smart. you are loved.

DJGamingSmash

This is the epitone of "uh, this ant is pretty cool"? from "Smiling Friends". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiWL_ilmfmo

Paul Stanway

@KATERI LEVASSEUR Yeah but you've got to treat suicdal people like complex human beings, not as simple problems to solve with catch-all "cures". However well intentioned, doing that only compounds alienation, and doesn't do anything to heal the social bonds that make life worth living. Plus, proscriptive solutions also contain an implicit threat: if you DON'T do X, Y and Z, it's your fault.

The best thing anybody can do is share the experience of "negativity", and to try and find a purpose in life from where that depressed person actually is, not from where you ideally want them to be.

I'm not going to go into "what I do". It's not especially helpful.

KATERI LEVASSEUR

☝💝☝@Paul Stanway The fact that this is your reply to this comment says so much about you. You may want to check yourself when your being negative to a Person trying to ENCOURAGE PEOPLE NOT TO GIVE UP & END THEIR LIFE.....

What are you doing to help?

six rats in a trenchcoat

thank you

escalatorfrenzy

the brain is not a muscle, thats bullshit ... but hey, its ok