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Alameda
Elliott Smith Lyrics


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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 '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

Overall Meaning

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
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@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

@platotle 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.



@user-ip9yu7lp1q

you walk down alameda shuffling your deck of trick cards over everyone
무슨 소중한 외동아들이라도 되는것처럼 아무한테나
like some precious only son
속임수 카드한버을 섞어대며 가로수 길을 걷는 너
face down, bow to the champion
고개숙이거 챔피언에게 인사를 해야지
you walk down alameda looking at the cracks in the sidewalk
길가 보드에 갈라진 틈을 처다보며 가로수 길을 걷던 너는
thinking about your friends
친구들에 생각에 미친다
how you maintain all them
그들의 애정은 생각해주지도 않고 네 자신만 보호하기 위해
in a constant state of suspense
넌 그들 모두를 그 얼마나 끊임없이 애태우게 했던가
for your own protection over their affection
그 모든 애정 따윈 아랑곳 없이 너 자신만을 보호했지

nobody broke your heart
널 실연 시킨 사람은 아무도 없어
you broke your own because you can't finish what you start
넌 나한테 상처 입은 거지,왜냐면 넌 시작한 걸 제대로 끝내지 못하는 녀석이니까

walk down alameda brushing off the nightmare you wish
내가 깨어 있을때 나를 괴롭혔으면 하는 악몽을
could plague me when i'm awake
슥극 털어내며 가로수 길을 걷는너
and now you see your first mistake
이제 알겟지, 네 첫번쨰 실수는
was thinking that you could relate
네 스스로가 공감 할 수 있다고 생각한 거란걸
for one or two minutes she liked you
1분 아니면 2분 이나마 그녀는 널 좋아했었어
but the fix is in
하지만 약효는 곧 퍼지고
you're all pretension
넌 잘난체 덩어리 였지
i never pay attention
어차피 난 신경도 안썼지만

if you're alone it must be you that wants to be apart
네가 만약 혼자라면 그건 버림 받고 싶어하는게 바로 네 자신이기 때문이야



All comments from YouTube:

@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

@brianthompson6744

Your music changed my life. Gave me hope when I had none. And most importantly helped me realize that I wasn't alone. That somebody had the same demons and hurdles. You helped me love myself. Thank you Elliott. Thank you so much

@dreydreary3735

Still struggling here, but Elliot and a few choice others have helped me love and accept myself and my struggles as they are. :)

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