In "King's Crossing", after Smith sings "give me one good reason not to do it," a woman's voice (Jennifer Chiba) can be faintly heard saying, "because we love you." It reflects the phrase being shouted at shows in which Smith performed the song.
King's Crossing
Elliott Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dominoes are falling in a chain reaction
The scraping subject ruled by fear told me
Whiskey works better than beer
The judge is on vinyl, decisions are final
And nobody gets a reprieve
And every wave is tidal - if you hang around
You're going to get wet
I can't prepare for death any more than I already have
All you can do now is watch the shells
The game looks easy that's why it sells
Frustrated fireworks inside your head
Are going to stand and deliver talk instead
The method acting that pays my bills
Keeps the fat man feeding in beverly hills
I got a heavy metal mouth that hurls obscenity
And I get my check from the trash treasury
'Cause I took my own insides out
It don't matter 'cause I had no sex life
All I want to do now is inject my ex wife
I've seen the movie and I know what happens
It's a Christmas time
And the needles on the tree
A skinny Santa is bringing something to me
His voice is overwhelming, but his speech is slurred
And I only understand every other word
"Open your parachute and grab your gun
Falling down like an omen, a setting sun
Read the part and we turn out fine
It's a hell of a role if you can keep it alive
But I don't care if I fuck up
I'm going on a date with a rich white lady
Ain't life great?
Give me one good reason not to do it
This is a place where time reverses
Dead men talk to all the pretty nurses
Instruments shine on a silver tray
Don't let me be carried away
Don't let me be carried away
Don't let me be carried away
The lyrics of "King's Crossing" by Elliott Smith paint a bleak picture of someone who is struggling with addiction, mental illness, and the inevitability of death. The opening lines suggest that the song's narrator is aware of his own downfall and the consequences of his actions. "The big problem is the main attraction," he sings, referring to the allure of self-destructive behavior. "Dominoes are falling in a chain reaction" suggests that his problems are multiplying and becoming more difficult to control.
As the song progresses, Smith's lyrics touch on various themes, from the legal system ("the judge is on vinyl, decisions are final") to the desire for escapism ("whiskey works better than beer") to the pressure of fame ("the frustrated fireworks inside your head"). The singer seems resigned to his fate, singing "I can't prepare for death any more than I already have" and "all you can do now is watch the shells."
Line by Line Meaning
The big problem is the main attraction
The central issue at hand is the primary focus of attention
Dominoes are falling in a chain reaction
One event is causing a series of connected, escalating consequences
The scraping subject ruled by fear told me
The person suffering has been controlled by anxiety and relayed this message to me
Whiskey works better than beer
Alcohol is used as a coping mechanism, with hard liquor being more effective than beer
The judge is on vinyl, decisions are final
The justice system is permanent, and there are no second chances
And nobody gets a reprieve
No one is exempt from the consequences of their actions
And every wave is tidal - if you hang around
Life is unpredictable, and staying in one place means being swept up in the highs and lows
You're going to get wet
You will experience the consequences, good or bad
I can't prepare for death any more than I already have
I cannot anticipate or plan for the inevitability of dying any more than I already have
All you can do now is watch the shells
There is nothing one can do but witness the aftermath
The game looks easy that's why it sells
Difficulty sells, but the ease of something can be deceiving
Frustrated fireworks inside your head
Feeling both excited and angry at the same time
Are going to stand and deliver talk instead
Talking is the only option, even when action would be more desirable
The method acting that pays my bills
Performing is my livelihood
Keeps the fat man feeding in beverly hills
One can make a living from entertaining others, sometimes extravagantly
I got a heavy metal mouth that hurls obscenity
My words are profane and sharp, with a harsh delivery
And I get my check from the trash treasury
I earn a living through controversial or taboo methods
'Cause I took my own insides out
I have harmed myself extensively, leaving emotional and psychological damage
It don't matter 'cause I had no sex life
My sexual experiences are irrelevant to the current situation
All I want to do now is inject my ex wife
I am fixated on my former spouse and want to harm them
I've seen the movie and I know what happens
Experience has allowed me to anticipate the outcome
It's a Christmas time
The setting is festive, holiday-themed
And the needles on the tree
The traditional decoration of the tree is present
A skinny Santa is bringing something to me
The representation of the holiday figure is disturbingly thin and is delivering something ominous
His voice is overwhelming, but his speech is slurred
The voice is commanding, but unclear and difficult to understand
And I only understand every other word
Only some of the message is comprehensible
'Open your parachute and grab your gun
A call to arms in a dangerous situation
Falling down like an omen, a setting sun
The situation is ominous and appears to be heading towards an end
Read the part and we turn out fine
Following one's given role can lead to success
It's a hell of a role if you can keep it alive
It is a difficult, taxing position to maintain
But I don't care if I fuck up
Failure is acceptable, even disregarded
I'm going on a date with a rich white lady
A date with a wealthy, privileged individual
Ain't life great?
A sarcastic expression of the opposite of the true sentiment
Give me one good reason not to do it
Challenging someone to counter an action, often rhetorical
This is a place where time reverses
A setting where things do not progress normally, possibly referring to a surreal or fantastical atmosphere
Dead men talk to all the pretty nurses
The dead communicate with the living, even the attractive ones
Instruments shine on a silver tray
Musical instruments are displayed ostentatiously
Don't let me be carried away
A plea to not let one be swept up in the moment, possibly losing control
Don't let me be carried away
A repetition of the previous plea, emphasizing its importance
Don't let me be carried away
A final repetition of the plea, reinforcing its significance
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN P. SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roiy Benkel
The king's crossing is the main attraction
Dominoes are falling in a chain reaction
The scraping subject ruled by fear told me
Whiskey works better than beer
The judge is on vinyl, decisions are final
And nobody gets a reprieve
And every wave is tidal - if you hang around
You're going to get wet
I can't prepare for death any more than I already have
All you can do now is watch the shells
The game looks easy that's why it sells
Frustrated fireworks inside your head
Are going to stand and deliver talk instead
The method acting that pays my bills
Keeps a fat man feeding in Beverly Hills
I got a heavy metal mouth that hurls obscenity
And I get my check from the trash treasury
Because I took my own insides out
It don't matter ‘cause I have no sex life
All I want to do now is inject my ex wife
I've seen the movie and I know what happens
It's Christmas time
And the needles on the tree
A skinny Santa is bringing something to me
His voice is overwhelming, but his speech is slurred
And I only understand every other word
Open your parachute and grab your gun
Falling down like an omen, a setting sun
Read the part and return at five
It's a hell of a role if you can keep it alive
But I don't care if I fuck up
I'm going on a date with a rich white lady
Ain't life great?
Give me one good reason not to do it
(because I love you)
So do it
This is the place where time reverses
Dead men talk to all the pretty nurses
Instruments shine on a silver tray
Don't let me get carried away
Don't let me get carried away
Don't let me be carried away
rafecolii
Lyrics:
The King's crossing was the main attraction
Dominoes falling in a chain reaction
The scraping subject ruled by fear told me
Whiskey works better than beer
The judge is on vinyl, decisions are final
And nobody gets a reprieve
And every wave is tidal
If you hang around you're going to get wet
I can't prepare for death any more than I already have
All you can do now is watch the shells
The game looks easy that's why it sells
Frustrated fireworks inside your head
Are going to stand and deliver talk instead
The method acting that pays my bills
Keeps the fat man feeding in Beverly Hills
I got a heavy metal mouth, it hurls obscenity
And I get my check from the trash treasury
Because I took my own insides out
It don't matter 'cause I have no sex life
And all I wanna do now is inject my ex-wife
I've seen the movie
And I know what happens
It's Christmas time
And the needles on the tree
A skinny Santa is bringing something to me
His voice is overwhelming
But his speech is slurred
And I only understand every other word
Open your parachute and grab your gun
Falling down like an omen, a setting sun
Read the part and return at five
It's a hell of a role if you can keep it alive
But I don't care if I fuck up
I'm going on a date
With a rich wife lady
Ain't life great?
Give me one good reason not to do it
(Because we love you)
So do it
This is the place where time reverses
And dead men talk to all the pretty nurses
Instruments shine on a silver tray
Don't let me get carried away
Don't let me get carried away
Don't let me be carried away
LateNightRewrites
No matter how far I make it from my days as a junkie I always come back to Elliott. So much of his later work speaks to that part of me the most clearly.
I don't know why I can't excise that part of me. The hopeless, scared, numb, alone 22 year old. Surrounded by people who love me (unlike most in my position) but unable to see it. I want to cut him out of me and leave him behind but no matter how hard I try he's still there, woven into my soul like a patchwork quilt.
Every few months I come back to these songs and as a result I come back to that part of me. The part of me I don't speak of, that part I can only write about for random internet strangers.
When I listen to songs like this I want to cry, I desperately need to cry, but I can't. And because I can't, that scared, numb 22 year old, the one with so many reasons to live but who lives like he has so many reasons to die, he sticks around in spite of my most fervent wishes. When it's quiet he whispers in my ear that I can put on a suit and tie, I can start a career, but somewhere deep down there will always be a part of me salivating for the chance to bang a needle full of golden brown oblivion straight into the crook of my arm
If you got to the end of this, I am sorry for rambling. I just don't know how to forgive myself and forget. I guess I just needed to put it into words
FRANCISCO ARMIJO
I am not a specialist in anything, but I am still going to recommend things:
1.- Every person has problems and every person has a personal history.
2.- You have to accept the past as necessary. If you deny your past, you end up denying yourself (if you didn't have your particular past, you wouldn't be you). I'm not saying it's easy, but I'm pretty convinced that in order to make sense of the things you do now, you must first have the past more or less reconciled (you can always work on this).
3.- Try to think about your best virtue and orient the things you do according to this virtue (this point goes hand in hand with the previous one).
4.- You must know that you, as a subject, do not exist independently of the world, just as the world does not exist independently of the subject. The world has influenced what you are, because you seek recognition from the world. But the world cannot determine what you are, for the reason that only you know your personal history fully. As you do not know, so the world does not know.
Opinion: Every emotional problem can be seen as a logical problem. You should aim to be honest with yourself and try to make your actions consistent with your thinking of what is right. Being and thinking, need and freedom, etc. should not appear to be in opposition to each other, but should try to come together.
Ex: To the extent that you accept your past as necessary, you have, at the same time, more freedom, because you are more aware of the problem and how to solve it.
Eating habits:
-eating brown sugar
-try to drink only water
-Eat cauliflower and broccoli.
Kill Rock Stars
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
Steven Chavez
Kill Rock Stars happy New Years!
June Asiimwe
This song is one of Elliott's masterpieces in my opinion. Absolutely haunting and captivating in equal measure. It always breaks my heart to know he's no longer here, but I'm grateful for the wonderful art he left with us.
Weaves90
Brilliantly spoken! I found his music through my brother’s album collection . 🫶🏻 Elliott Smith R.I.P.
Tyler
The "give me one good reason not to do it" line always gives me chills.
Charles Glass
Yeah, especially coupled with the just barely audible "Because we love you" that comes right after. Absurd how good this song is
G B
and "I can't prepare for death any more than I already have"
Dylan H
@G B that line always gives me chills especially when everything crescendos right after he says it and its such a haunting sound that sounds kinda like he just played some random notes but it blends perfectly.... such an intense part of the song...
G B
@Dylan H yeah i miss him too
Kurt Cox
Who wonders if he's not in a better place than we are?!