Alameda
Elliott Smith Lyrics
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Shuffling your deck of trick cards
Over everyone
Like some precious only son
Face down, bow to the champion
You walk down Alameda
Looking at the cracks in the sidewalk
Thinking about your friends
How you maintain all them in
A constant state of suspense
For your own protection
Over their affection
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own 'cause you can't finish what you start
Walk down Alameda
Brushing off the nightmares you wish
Could plague me when I'm awake
So now you see your first mistake
Was thinking that you could relate
For one or two minutes she liked you
But the fix is in
You're all pretension
I never pay attention
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own 'cause you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own 'cause you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own 'cause you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
If you're alone, it must be you that wants to be apart
The lyrics of Elliott Smith's song "Alameda" are rich in poetic imagery, capturing the inner turmoil of a person observing their own destructive tendencies. The singer walks down Alameda, shuffling their deck of trick cards over everyone, creating an illusion of superiority and invincibility. The line "face down, bow to the champion" suggests a power play, where the singer is the one in control but is also hiding behind a facade. They are essentially the only important person in their own life, akin to a precious only son.
As the singer walks down Alameda, the cracks in the sidewalk become a metaphor for their own emotional state. They think about their friends and how they keep them all in a state of suspense. This implies a level of manipulation and deceit, where the singer enjoys keeping those around them on edge. They do this for their own protection, over their affection, which suggests that they are not capable of true emotional connection. It's unclear who the "you" in the song is referencing, but it adds a layer of complexity to the singer's mental state.
The chorus reveals the root of the singer's troubles - they are unable to finish what they start. This implies a sense of insecurity and fear of failure. The line "brushing off the nightmares you wish could plague me when I'm awake" adds to this idea of vulnerability and self-doubt. The singer realizes their first mistake was thinking they could relate to others, suggesting a sense of isolation and disconnection. In the final verse, the singer admits that it's their own fault they are alone and that they are the ones who have broken their own heart.
Overall, "Alameda" is a poignant and powerful piece of songwriting that captures the inner turmoil of someone struggling with their own insecurities and fears.
Line by Line Meaning
You walk down alameda shuffling your deck of trick cards over everyone
You walk with confidence, manipulating people to your advantage as if you hold all the cards
Like some precious only son
You see yourself as special and above others
Face down, bow to the champion
You are willing to submit to whoever holds the power
You walk down alameda looking at the cracks in the sidewalk
You are lost in your own thoughts and insecurities
Thinking about your friends
You are constantly worried about maintaining your relationships with others
How you maintain all them in a constant state of suspense
You use manipulation and control to keep your friends on edge and under your power
For your own protection over their affection
You prioritize your own safety and interests above the love and care of others
Nobody broke your heart
You are responsible for your own emotional pain
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Your fear of failure and inability to follow through causes you to self-destruct
Walk down alameda brushing off the nightmares you wish
You try to ignore the troubling anxieties that haunt you
Could plague me when I'm awake
These fears are so intense that they affect your waking life
And now you see your first mistake was thinking that you could relate
Your attempts to connect with others have failed due to your inability to truly empathize with them
For one or two minutes she liked you
You briefly had the affection of someone, but it was fleeting
But the fix is in
Your poor behavior has predetermined your negative outcome
You're all pretension
You put on a facade to impress others but lack true substance
I never pay attention
Others are starting to see through your act and disengage from you
If you're alone it must be you that wants to be apart
Your isolation is self-imposed due to your inability to form genuine connections with others
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@roiybenkel682
You walk down alameda shuffling your deck
Of trick cards over everyone
Like some precious only son
Face down, bow to the champion
You walk down alameda looking at the
Cracks in the sidewalk
Thinking about your friends
How you maintain all them in a constant state of suspense
For your own protection over their affection
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Walk down alameda brushing off the nightmare you wish
Could plague me when I'm awake
And now you see your first mistake was thinking that you could relate
For one or two minutes she liked you
But the fix is in
You're all pretension
I never pay attention
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
If you're alone it must be you that wants to be apart
@regzzuse280
@@platotle2106 Getting over your ego:
"You walk down alameda shuffling your deck of trick cards over everyone
Like some precious only son"
Realizing it brings you more bad then good for simply feeling quickly disappearing facade of pride, which serves you as a defense mechanism:
"You walk down alameda looking at the cracks in the sidewalk
Thinking about your friends
How you maintain all them in a constant state of suspense"
"For one or two minutes she liked you
But the fix is in
You're all pretension
I never pay attention"
And eventually facing the reality:
"Nobody broke your heart
You broke your own because you can't finish what you start
Nobody broke your heart
If you're alone it must be you that wants to be apart."
In my opinion I should say...probably mixed with Elliot's addiction that luckily, I can't relate to.
@killrockstars
Check out this rare live footage of Elliott's 1999 New Year's Eve performance at The Knitting Factory: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6KwzgIePF4Dy7347Om6Ijcsr4vh6JJjP
@johnnihil1689
I didn't know there was an expanded version of Either Or until just now
@nickolasmuilaert78
What I love about this song is that he not only creates an image with his lyrics, but the whole rhythm of the song makes me feel like I’m walking down Alameda.
@ismaelgarrido1719
I heared this while I was walking through the Alameda of Santiago de Chile 🇨🇱 . Xoxo elliott fans around the world
@monklingtoneverjet2536
Xoxo@@ismaelgarrido1719
@percussi0ngun
elliott has the kind of voice you want to hug
@shilothorp8691
I like to say I wish I could fill a bathtub up with his voice and soak for a few years
@monklingtoneverjet2536
I get orbs in this room when listening to his music
@rodrigo354
The last line of this song kills me every time.
@juliocarpio9436
Its like au 1:25 when he says " finish what you start" the next verse inturrupts and it says "what you sta-" genius...