Throwing candy out to the crowd
Dragging down the main
The helpless little thing with the dirty mouth
Who's always got something to say
You're sitting around at home now
Waiting for your brother to call
I saw him down in the alley
Having had enough of it all

Said, "You can do what you want to
Whenever you want to
You can do what you want to
There's no one to stop you"

All spit and spite, you're up all night
And down every day
A tired man with only hours to go
Just waiting to be taken away
Getting into the back of a car
For candy from some stranger
Watching the parade with pinpoint eyes
Full of smoldering anger

You can do what you want to
Whenever you want to
You can do what you want to
There's no one to stop you

Now, you can do what you want to
Whenever you want to (oh, yeah)
Do what you want to
Whenever you want to (oh, yeah)
Do what you want to
Whenever you want to
Though it doesn't mean a thing
Big nothing

Overall Meaning

In the opening lines of Elliott Smith's "Ballad of Big Nothing", there is an interesting juxtaposition between the image of throwing candy to the crowd and dragging down the main. While the former seems to suggest generosity and kindness, the latter is suggestive of a darker, oppressive undercurrent. The song is full of such contrasts, with the helpless little thing having a dirty mouth always having something to say, and the tired man waiting to be taken away. The repeated phrase "You can do what you want to whenever you want to" is evocative of a sense of freedom, yet the following line "there's no one to stop you" only amplifies the loneliness and emptiness.

The song seems to be a commentary on the human condition and the choices we make in life. The candy and parade imagery suggest that we are often lured by bright, shiny things, while the smoldering anger and tiredness suggest the exhaustion that can come from chasing them. Ultimately, the "big nothing" of the title suggests that, despite all our striving and desire, life can feel ultimately meaningless.

Line by Line Meaning

Throwing candy out to the crowd
Someone is giving away something, perhaps superficially delightful, to the people around them

Dragging down the main
Moving aimlessly through life down the main road/path, without clear direction or purpose

The helpless little thing with the dirty mouth
A person who may have been vulnerable or taken advantage of in some way, but who still expresses themselves freely and openly with a foul mouth

Who's always got something to say
A person who is continually speaking their mind, regardless of the reception or repercussions

You're sitting around at home now waiting for your brother to call
Being idle and waiting for someone else to take action or responsibility

I saw him down in the alley
Seeing someone in a dark or questionable place, perhaps engaging in activities that are not socially acceptable

Having had enough of it all
Reaching a breaking point and feeling like one cannot handle any more stress or negativity

Said you can do what you want to whenever you want to
Giving oneself permission to act or behave without restrictions or consequences

You can do what you want to there's no one to stop you
Feeling free and unrestrained to make choices and decisions, without fear of judgement or obstacles

All spit and spite you're up all night and down every day
Being moody and angry, perhaps with a chip on one's shoulder, and not having a consistent daily routine

A tired man with only hours to go just waiting to be taken away
Feeling exhausted and defeated, with little time left before something significant happens or ends

Getting in to the back of a car for candy from some stranger
Being lured into a potentially dangerous or unhealthy situation, enticed by something seemingly sweet or appealing

Watching the parade with pinpoint eyes full of smoldering anger
Observing a public display or event with intense disdain or frustration, barely concealing these emotions

Now you can do what you want to whenever you want to
Reiterating the idea that freedom and lack of restriction is possible, and that this choice remains in one's own hands

Do what you want to whenever you want to
Encouraging oneself to live without inhibition or otherwise impose limitations on one's desires, behaviors, or actions

Do what you want to whenever you want to
Repeating this refrain to reinforce the central concept that freedom is at one's disposal, and that this is an empowering notion

Though it doesn't mean a thing
Acknowledging that, despite the emphasis on personal autonomy, these actions may not carry any real significance or effect in the grand scheme of things

Big nothing
Adding to the sense of insignificance or emptiness, creating a tone of nihilism or apathy towards these possible choices and freedoms

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