Roman Candle was Elliott Smith's debut album as a solo artist, even though … Read Full Bio ↴Roman Candle was Elliott Smith's debut album as a solo artist, even though he was still a singer and guitarist for the band Heatmiser. The album has a raw, homemade sound (see Lo-fi music), with Smith playing each instrument and recording it on his four-track recorder. Kid Tulsa (Pete Krebs) played snare and cymbal on tracks "No Name #1" and "Kiwi Maddog 20/20". According to the Elliott Smith biography, Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing, Elliott recorded the album in the basement of the home of then-girlfriend and Heatmiser manager J.J. Gonson. The album was never intended for release, as Smith only expected to get a deal for a seven-inch record, however, after Gonson played the album for Cavity Search Records, they immediately requested permission to release it in its entirety. Smith at first hesitated, and then allowed permission. On April 6, 2010, Roman Candle (remastered by Larry Crane) was re-released by Kill Rock Stars, now with a US vinyl version.

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01Roman Candle3:37 Elliott Smith

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02Condor Ave.3:34 Elliott Smith

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03No Name #13:03 Elliott Smith

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04No Name #23:34 Elliott Smith

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05No Name #33:10 Elliott Smith

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Roman Candle
Elliott Smith Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

He played himself
Didn't need me to give him hell
He could be cool and cruel to you and me
Knew we'd put up with anything

I want to hurt him
I want to give him pain
I'm a roman candle
My head is full of flames

I'm hallucinating
Hallucinating
I hear you cry your tears
Cheap wet hot red swollen cheeks
Fall asleep

I want to hurt him
I want to give him pain
I'm a roman candle
My head is full of flames

I want to hurt him
I want to hurt him
I want to hurt him
I want to give him pain

Make him feel this pretty burn

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Elliott Smith's "Roman Candle" are a poignant confessional that reveals the psyche of a person who is dealing with conflicting emotions. The first verse is a reflection of the singer's ambivalent feelings towards the person he is referring to. He acknowledges the person's cruel behavior but also notes that the person didn't require any provocation to display it. The second verse indicates an intense desire to hurt the person; however, it is ambiguous if the singer desires vengeance or self-inflicted pain. The chorus repeats, "I'm a roman candle, my head is full of flames," which perhaps signifies the singer's inner turmoil.

The final verse provides a glimpse of the person's emotional state as the singer enters a hallucinatory state, listening to the person cry. The use of imagery such as "cheap wet hot red swollen cheeks" is vivid and powerful. The repeated desire to hurt the person highlights the singer's struggle with their feelings and inability to cope with them. Perhaps, the person mentioned is an abusive partner or a tormentor, and the singer is dealing with their trauma.

Line by Line Meaning

He played himself
He was good at manipulating and controlling situations, didn't require any help from me.

Didn't need me to give him hell
He didn't want my involvement or nitpicking in his life.

He could be cool and cruel to you and me
He was capable of being friendly or harsh depending on the situation or people involved.

Knew we'd put up with anything
He was aware of our tolerance level and took advantage of it.

I want to hurt him
I desire revenge and retribution against him.

I want to give him pain
I wish to cause him physical or emotional discomfort.

I'm a roman candle
I am an explosive and unpredictable person.

My head is full of flames
My thoughts and emotions are consuming me, making me restless and agitated.

I'm hallucinating
I am experiencing an altered sense of perception and reality.

Hallucinating
Continuation of above line emphasizing the intensity of hallucination.

I hear you cry your tears
I can imagine and hear in my mind the sound of you weeping.

Cheap wet hot red swollen cheeks
The sight of your crying face and swollen eyes is disturbing and unsettling.

Fall asleep
I am exhausted by the contradicting emotions engulfing me, leading me to drift off to sleep.

Make him feel this pretty burn
I want him to experience the same pain and hurt that I am feeling inside, and I want to do it beautifully and effectively.