In… Read Full Bio ↴A tongue-in-cheek song about a disenchanted, drug-addicted loser.
In 2012, Elliott’s former record label Kill Rock Stars released the project "Alternate Versions From Either/Or", which included alternate lyrics to various songs off of Elliott’s 1997 "Either/Or" album—including an alternate version of “Ballad of Big Nothing”.
Centers around the oft-heard innocent phrase "you can do whatever you want to." But the innocent phrase of optimism is skewed by the reality that shapes Elliot's life. He thinks he has gone too far away, seen too many things, screwed up too many times and is angry and afraid. Could be about the desire to kick a drug habit - with the second use of "candy" - but not knowing the first thing about how to do it. All that Elliot sees is a patterned cycle that he doesn't know how to escape, so he just keeps on keeping on and becomes bitter at those who live with wide-eyed innocence. - Tubesocks via Song Meanings
Ballad of Big Nothing
Elliott Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@knuckle12356
Quite true! I would posit that the fact of the junkie's experiences of pain, loss, betrayal and grief tend to adhere to some particular metrics, resulting in a more standardized experience than one might expect.
Extrapolating from there, the people who do all the same things, and have messed up, given up, been given up on in all the same ways; trying to plug empty pieces of ourselves with all the same tricks.
Add to that a talent like Elliott's, and he's able to distill those universal experiences and feelings and decant them into something we all recognize.
Even if they weren't fully autobiographical, I think he was working from personal or observed experiences which makes them true to someone's life, and they get spun into this piece of art that reflects that truth at the people listening to it.
It's so much more than just writing good metaphors or rhymes.
I have come to especially appreciate the songs we have multiple lyrical and structural versions of. There aren't a lot of musicians who will take a song to the point of published studio album, and then continue to play earlier versions of the song. Changing lyrics, and not always the same changes night by night... playing with different harmonies or tuning. They used to be living, breathing things, and Elliott was like, coaxing them out from the wild from time to time to take a picture for the rest of us to see.
That's a collateral loss from his death that really bums me out as I make my way through his alt takes and early versions and live shenanigans; the life that was stolen from every single one of his songs. Now they're all just snapshots and memories. Hey at least there's like 200 songs, without getting into the whole alt and live material.
He was so prolific as to be called driven to write and record his music. And bully for us that he did. Bully, Bully I say!!
@roiybenkel682
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 at home now waiting for your brother to call
I saw him down at 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 in to 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
Do what you want to whenever you want to
Do what you want to whenever you want to though it doesn't mean a thing
Big nothing
@franskorvman8820
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
Do what you want to whenever you want to
Do what you want to whenever you want to though it doesn't mean a thing
Big nothing
@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
@punkgrl7991
I saw Elliott in the 90's at the Black Cat...a small venue in DC that holds mostly punk rock shows. Paid $5. Watching him on the stage with his guitar and that haunting and amazing voice was unforgettable. He really was a poet. A calming presence writing stories about storms. He walked to the bar after he finished his set and got a beer. I got a drink. I told him "you carried me through some of my darkest times." He thanked me in that very shy and gentle voice. He smiled and I raised my glass. I don't know if he ever knew what kind of healer he was to us? Rest in Peace.
@Unterkatobu
biggest lucky
@lukemei5ter
You should have bought him a drink
@lukemei5ter
I live in fairfax va by dc...if elliot smith an I were at a bar together after a show, lol hell I'd buy everyone a round
@initiateerror2409
Even after all these years there's nothing better than revisiting this man's craft.
@junkbondtrader645
Hell yeah well said mate
@TicTacYo100
I agree
@holloify_tensa_zangetsu
Definitely, Makes me keep living on
Weirdly enough I've said that so many times. I meant it when I said it,but it hits you SUPER hard as an adult. A few seconds ago I was very overwhelmed by life. I am at the stage of actually knowing what's gonna be taken from you. I already feel the weight gonna crush me.
Then elliott sings and I am happy and at ease. I sill have a HUGE amount of time.but still its not enough
@johnarose2837
I do it like twice a year