Baby Britain
Elliott Smith/Elliot Smith Lyrics
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Floating over a sea of vodka
Separated from the rest
Fights problems with bigger problems
Sees the ocean fall and rise
Counts the waves that somehow didn't hit her
Water pouring from her eyes
For someone half as smart
You'd be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can't help until you start
We knocked another couple back
The dead soldiers lined up on the table
Still prepared for an attack
They didn't know they'd been disabled
Felt a wave a rush of blood
You won't be happy 'til the bottle's broken
And you're out swimming in the flood
You kept back you kept unspoken
For someone half as smart
You'd be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can't help until you start
You got a look in your eye
When you're saying goodbye
Like you want to say hi
The light was on but it was dim
Revolver's been turned over
And now it's ready once again
The radio was playing "crimson and clover"
London bridge is safe and sound
No matter what you keep repeating
Nothing's gonna drag me down
To a death that's not worth cheating
For someone half as smart
You'd be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can't help until you start
For someone half as smart
You'd be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can't help until you start
The song "Baby Britain" by Elliott Smith is a melancholic and somber tune that tells the story of a person who chooses to numb their pain and deal with their problems by drinking alcohol. The first verse sets the tone by describing the feeling of being "floating over a sea of vodka," and the singer's way of fighting problems with "bigger problems." The second verse talks about the singer's sense of isolation and bitterness, which is beautifully phrased as "Water pouring from her eyes/ Alcoholic and very bitter."
The chorus of the song is particularly interesting as it juxtaposes the singer's self-defeating behaviors with their potential for brilliance if only they could get past their issues. This is seen in the lines, "For someone half as smart/ You'd be a work of art/ You put yourself apart/ And I can't help until you start." The song's final verses describe the singer's destructive tendencies and their inability to communicate their true feelings. The final line of the song, "Like you want to say hi," is particularly poignant, as it portrays the singer's desire for connection but their inability to achieve it.
Overall, "Baby Britain" is a masterful exploration of addiction, isolation, and the crushing weight of one's inner demons.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby Britain feels the best
Baby Britain, probably the singer's lover, is feeling euphoric
Floating over a sea of vodka
Baby Britain has been drinking heavily
Separated from the rest
Baby Britain feels isolated from others
Fights problems with bigger problems
Baby Britain deals with issues through self-destructive behaviors
Sees the ocean fall and rise
Baby Britain observes the waves and tides
Counts the waves that somehow didn't hit her
Baby Britain is lucky to avoid harm despite living dangerously
Water pouring from her eyes
Baby Britain is crying
Alcoholic and very bitter
Baby Britain is an alcoholic and resentful
For someone half as smart
If Baby Britain were less intelligent,
You'd be a work of art
she would be an extraordinary person
You put yourself apart
But Baby Britain keeps herself at a distance
And I can't help until you start
The artist cannot intervene unless Baby Britain changes
We knocked another couple back
The singer and Baby Britain drink some more
The dead soldiers lined up on the table
Empty liquor bottles accumulate
Still prepared for an attack
Baby Britain anticipates difficulties
They didn't know they'd been disabled
Inanimate objects, such as empty bottles, have no say or awareness
Felt a wave a rush of blood
The artist experiences a sudden surge of emotions
You won't be happy 'til the bottle's broken
Baby Britain's drinking is out of control and may lead to destruction
And you're out swimming in the flood
Baby Britain will remain reckless and face the consequences
You kept back you kept unspoken
Baby Britain conceals her feelings and thoughts
You got a look in your eye
The artist can sense Baby Britain's emotions
When you're saying goodbye
Baby Britain may be leaving or distancing herself
Like you want to say hi
But her expression seems inconsistent and ambivalent
The light was on but it was dim
The situation appears to offer hope, but it is uncertain and dim
Revolver's been turned over
The revolver, perhaps a metaphor for Baby Britain's tendencies, has been reset
And now it's ready once again
It is a matter of time until Baby Britain relapses
The radio was playing "crimson and clover"
The surroundings are incongruously cheerful despite the ominous atmosphere
London bridge is safe and sound
The artist reassures himself that he is safe from harm and despair
No matter what you keep repeating
Even if Baby Britain protests or objects
Nothing's gonna drag me down
The singer will stay resilient
To a death that's not worth cheating
But not to a pointless demise
For someone half as smart
If Baby Britain were less intelligent,
You'd be a work of art
she would still be unique and remarkable
You put yourself apart
But Baby Britain still isolates herself
And I can't help until you start
The singer can assist Baby Britain only if she initiates a change
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@benjaminbarahona6947
first comment omg
Baby Britain feels the best
Floating over a sea of vodka
Separated from the rest
Fights problems with bigger problems
Sees the ocean fall and rise
Counts the waves that somehow didn't hit her
Water pouring from her eyes
Alcoholic and very bitter
For someone half as smart
You'd be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can't help until you start
We knocked another couple back
The dead soldiers lined up on the table
Still prepared for an attack
They didn't know they'd been disabled
Felt a wave a rush of blood
You won't be happy 'til the bottle's broken
And you're out swimming in the flood
You kept back you kept unspoken
For someone half as smart
You'd be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can't help until you start
You got a look in your eye
When you're saying goodbye
Like you want to say hi
The light was on but it was dim
Revolver's been turned over
And now it's ready once again
The radio was playing "crimson and clover"
London bridge is safe and sound
No matter what you keep repeating
Nothing's gonna drag me down
To a death that's not worth cheating
For someone half as smart
You'd be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can't help until you start
For someone half as smart
You'd be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can't help until you start.
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you're welcome.
@CuzDud
[Em7]baby britain feels the [Am7]best [G]floating over a [C]sea of vodka [Em7]separated from the [Am7]rest [G]fights problems with [C]bigger problems
[Em7]sees the ocean fall and [Am7]rise
[G]counts the waves that somehow [C]didn't hit her [Em7]water pouring from her [Am7]eyes [G]alcoholic and [C]very bitter
For [Em]some[Em/F#]one [Em/G]half
[Em/A]as [C]smart, you'd [Em]be [Em/F#]a [Em/G]work [Em/A]of [C]art, you [Em]put [Em/F#]your[Em/G]self [Em/A] a[C]part
[Am]and I can't help until [C]you start
[Em7]we knocked another couple [Am7]back [G]the dead soliders lined [C]up on the table [Em7]still prepared for an [Am7]attack [G]they didn't know they'd been [C]disabled
[Em7]felt a wave a rush of [Am7]blood
[G]you won't be happy til [C]the bottle's broken [Em7]you're out swimming in the [Am7]flood [G]you kept back kept [C]unspoken
For [Em]some[Em/F#]one [Em/G]half
[Em/A]as [C]smart, you'd [Em]be [Em/F#]a [Em/G]work [Em/A]of [C]art, you [Em]put [Em/F#]your[Em/G]self [Em/A] a[C]part
[Am]and I can't you help until [C]you start
[C]you got a look in your [A/C#]eye when you're saying good[D]bye like you wanna say [B/D#]hi
Instrumental: [Em Em/F# Em/G Em/A C (3X) Am C
[Em7]the light was on but it was [Am]dim
[G]revolver's been [C]turned over [Em7]and now it's ready once a[Am7]gain
[G]the radio was playing [C]crimson and clover
[Em7]london bridge is safe and [Am7]sound [G]no matter what you keep [C]repeating [Em7]nothing's gonna drag me [Am7]down [G]to a death that's [C]not worth cheating
For [Em]some[Em/F#]one [Em/G]half
[Em/A]as [C]smart, you'd [Em]be [Em/F#]a [Em/G]work [Em/A]of [C]art, you [Em]put [Em/F#]your[Em/G]self [Em/A] a[C]part
[Am]and I can't help until [C]you start-- x2
@capellidipaja
This was his way of saying "It's getting better all the tiime"
@Missjunebugfreak
Damn, I never thought of that reference. You can hear the Beatles influence in this song. It's beautiful.
@notbennyboi730
My father used to sing this song to me when I was very young and now I’ve finally found it
@sithspitdanikan4725
Aw, i love when that happens
@wubbalubbadubx2
Pretty dark song to sing to a child but I can see how the melody would stay with you forever.
@SubtitlesXO
@@wubbalubbadubx2Could you please explain to me the" drag me down to a death.." part? .. English is not my native language..though I understand every word, I don't get the meaning.. Cheating like when you cheat on someone or when you cheat on a game?.. In Spanish those are different things..If you could use synonyms would help a lot..thanks!!
@wubbalubbadubx2
A lot of people ruminate over the meaning. It's a clever turn of phrase. Cheating death means just surviving a situation in which you should have died. A death not worth cheat might mean one that is pathetic and unavoidable anyway, as a heroin addicts' might be. But in saying "nothing's going to drag me down to a death not worth cheating" sounds like he's got some hope and determination to not reach that point.
@@SubtitlesXO
@SubtitlesXO
@@wubbalubbadubx2 Thank you so much!! .. I thought it would be something like that.
I've read that some people interpret the "Revolver" thing as playing Russian roulette instead of the album... so I have to choose wisely which word to use in Spanish😅
@AmberSupernova2
Im 17.. and Elliott is my inspiration.. miss you Elliott.. Im never gonna know you now, but Im gonna love you enyhow.
@Charles5431
and now we are 25