Plainclothes Man
Elliott Smith Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You're everybody's second home
Always trying to get me alone
An easy way to lose it all
Always there when all else fails
Over by the west side rails

But I don't really need that now
I never really did anyhow
I only really needed alcohol
Something that'll treat me okay
And wouldn't say the things you'd say

Please turn out the light
I get a sick confusion headache trying to figure out who's right

Dreaming on the silver strand
Waking up to plainclothes man
You little bastard, little boy in blue
Someone's gonna get to you
And fuck up everything you do

He's so unhappy inside
He's serious with everyone
And he thinks he'll win you with his angry kiss
Acting like he has no needs
Wanting you to watch him bleed

Made for each other bet you pay me any mind
Just goes to show my continual decline
They say that I'll recover my love of her once in a while
But I don't know
I don't think so...

There's something that I'll tell you now
Now that no one else is around
The sort of lesson that I learned from you
Not quite the way you planned
But I know you'll understand

Someone takes a photograph
A picture while their sweetheart laughs
A perfect moment in a flash of light
Counting back from 3 to 1
That's exactly what you've done

And I'm so unsurprised
I remember, I remember why I dream in black & white

Goes to show my continual decline
They say that I'll recover my love of her once in a while
But I don't know




I don't think so
I don't think so...

Overall Meaning

"Plainclothes Man" by Elliott Smith is a song that touches on themes of relationships, loneliness, and the use of substances to cope with one's emotions. The lyrics describe a person who is always there when all else fails, an easy way out when it comes to finding comfort. This person is described as somebody’s "second home" who is always trying to get the singer alone. Despite the character's constant presence, the singer makes it clear that they don't need them and they never did need them. Instead, the only thing they needed was alcohol as it treated them ok and wouldn't say the things this character would say.


The chorus, "Please turn out the light, I get a sick confusion headache trying to figure out who's right,” touches on the confusion that comes with trying to figure out who to trust, especially when in a vulnerable state. The second verse continues to describe this person who acts as the singer's "plainclothes man," someone who is always lurking in the background yet is serious with everyone. The anger that seeps out of their "angry kiss" does not mask their neediness.


The lyrics then describe the singer's own relationship struggles as they "decline" and try to recover their love for another person. The song ends with a reflective comment, suggesting that the singer has learned a valuable lesson about the nature of human relationships as they watch someone else experience a perfect moment, captured in a photograph. Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on fraught connections of people with their emotional needs and their struggles to reach others genuinely.


Line by Line Meaning

You're everybody's second home
You try to be close with everyone and get involved in their lives


Always trying to get me alone
You have your own motives for wanting to be alone with me


An easy way to lose it all
Being around you can lead to negative consequences and risks


Always there when all else fails
You only show up when something has gone wrong or there's a problem to solve


Over by the west side rails
We're in a specific location, near some railway tracks on the west side


But I don't really need that now
I don't need your presence or help anymore


I never really did anyhow
I don't think I ever truly needed you or your support


I only really needed alcohol
I thought alcohol would be enough to make me feel better instead of relying on you


Something that'll treat me okay
I was searching for something to help numb the pain or make me feel okay


And wouldn't say the things you'd say
I wanted something that wouldn't say hurtful or insulting things, like you sometimes do


Please turn out the light
Can you please turn off the light, it's causing me discomfort right now


I get a sick confusion headache trying to figure out who's right
I feel overwhelmed and drained from trying to determine who's correct or has the best answer


Dreaming on the silver strand
I'm having a dream or indulging in a fantasy on the beach


Waking up to plainclothes man
Suddenly being brought back to reality by a police officer in plain clothes


You little bastard, little boy in blue
I'm angry and frustrated at you for being a cop and possibly ruining my dream or freedom


Someone's gonna get to you
You're not invincible and someone will eventually catch you for your actions or mistakes


And fuck up everything you do
They'll make sure to ruin any plans or actions you have in the future


He's so unhappy inside
The plainclothes man seems to have a lot of internal issues or unhappiness in his life


He's serious with everyone
He has a stern or solemn demeanor with everyone he meets


And he thinks he'll win you with his angry kiss
He believes that getting physical or intense will make him more desirable or attractive


Acting like he has no needs
He puts on a façade of being independent and needing nothing from anyone


Wanting you to watch him bleed
He desires someone to witness his pain or vulnerability


Made for each other bet you pay me any mind
We seem like a good match, but you don't seem to care or notice


Just goes to show my continual decline
This situation or relationship is just another example of things going wrong or getting worse in my life


They say that I'll recover my love of her once in a while
People believe that I'll fall back in love with someone from my past every so often


But I don't know
I'm unsure if this prediction or assumption is true


I don't think so...
I doubt that I'll ever regain those feelings for them again


There's something that I'll tell you now
I need to share something with you that I haven't told anyone else


Now that no one else is around
Since we're alone and no one else is here, I feel comfortable enough to confide in you


The sort of lesson that I learned from you
I learned something important or valuable from our interactions or relationship


Not quite the way you planned
The lesson wasn't what you intended or expected to teach me


But I know you'll understand
Despite the unexpected lesson, I think you'll be able to comprehend what I mean


Someone takes a photograph
A picture is being taken by someone


A picture while their sweetheart laughs
The picture is of a sweet moment between two people, with one of them laughing


A perfect moment in a flash of light
This is a beautiful, ideal moment that was captured in a flash of light


Counting back from 3 to 1
The picture is being taken with a countdown from 3 to 1


That's exactly what you've done
The song concludes by saying that the person has done exactly what was described in the song (being everybody's second home, trying to get me alone, etc.)


And I'm so unsurprised
The singer isn't shocked but actually expected this behavior from the person


I remember, I remember why I dream in black & white
The singer remembers why they always dream in black and white, possibly due to negative experiences with this person




Contributed by David L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@hazelhumor

You're everybody's second home
Always trying to get me alone
An easy way to lose it all
Always there when all else fails
Over by the west side rails

But I don't really need that now
I never really did anyhow
I only really needed alcohol
Something that'd treat me okay
And wouldn't say the things you'd say

Please turn out the light
I get a sick confusion headache 
Trying to figure out who's right

Dreaming on the silver strand
Waking up to plainclothes man
You little bastard, little boy in blue
Someone's gonna get to you
And fuck up everything you do

He's so unhappy inside
He's serious with everyone
And he thinks he'll win you with his angry kiss
Acting like he has no needs
Wanting you to watch him bleed

Made for each other bet you pay me any mind
Just goes to show my continual decline
They say that I'll recover my love of her once in a while
But I don't know
I don't think so

There's something that I'll tell you now
Now that no one else is around
The sort of lesson that I learned from you
Not quite the way you planned
But I know you'll understand

Someone takes a photograph
A picture while their sweetheart laughs
A perfect moment in a flash of light
Counting back from three till one
That's exactly what you've done

And I'm so 
Unsurprised
I remember, I remember why I dream in black and white
Goes to show my continual decline
They say that I'll recover 
My love of her 
Once in a while
But I don't know
I don't think so
I don't think so



@user-df9kd4kq7o

Agree with you, guys! I dont even know what do these lyrics mean but I like how my imagination works when I hear them

"Always there where all else fails
Over by the east side rails" - it sounds so interesting

"Coast to coast" and "A fond farewell" is another lyricaly great songs. It's full of unusual words:
"Last stop for a resolution
End of the line
Is it confusion?"
"So I wait for confirmation that you never gonna use your starting gun
Unless it's me it sounds like being him just wasn't that much fun"
"A dying man in a living room
Who's shadow paces the floor
Who'll take you out in the open door
God knows what for"



@rkf87

...Lyrics for this version...

You're everybody's second home
Always trying to get me alone
An easy way to lose it all
Always there when all else fails
Over by the east side rails

I don't really need that now
I never really did anyhow
I only really needed alcohol
Something that'd treat me okay
Wouldn't say the things you'd say

Please turn out the light
I get a sick confusion headache
Trying to figure out who's right

Working on the silver strand
Waking up to plainclothes man
You little bastard, little boy in blue
Someone's gonna get to you
Fuck up everything you do

He's so unhappy inside
He's serious with everyone
He thinks he'll win you with his angry kiss
Acting like he has no needs
Wanting you to watch him bleed

Made for each other
Bet you pay me any mind
Just goes to show my continual decline
They say that I'll recover my love of her once in a while
But I don't know
I don't think so

Something that I'll tell you now
Now that no one else is around
A little story that I heard from you
Not quite the way you planned
But I know you'll understand

Someone takes a photograph
A picture while their sweetheart laughs
A perfect moment in a flash of light
Counting back from three till one
Watching all the colors run

Cover up your eyes
I remember, I remember why I dream in black and white
Goes to show my continual decline
They say that I'll recover
My love of her
Once in a while
But I don't know
I don't think so
I don't think so



All comments from YouTube:

@chrislt5843

Favorite song by him. He's becoming my favorite musician very fast

@timothywyatt72

You still feel that way? For me 20 years later there’s Elliott Smith and the Beatles. Seriously. I am so thankful for the editor that compared our music all those years ago. I don’t have shit on this man and never will. If I only made music for that comparison, so that I could hear Elliott Smith, I am thankful for that.

@seionne85

Have you listened to the version of this he did with heatmiser yet? I didn't really listen to them at first, but once I finally did, I found a few that I actually prefer that version! I'm on the fence on this one, depends on my mood I guess lol

@corkk3298

good

@yungdarko7774

Elliott, I’m never gonna know you now, but I’m gonna love you anyhow ❤️

@charveeagrawal1274

Waltz#2

@MrCocoaLotion

thank you for saving my life over and over. I've never owned so much to somebody I never met.

@1997finalfantasy

Finding this version made me love my life just a little more! :D

@barryg528

Had to put my dog down today. Idk why but this song came to mind. Gave me a cathartic feeling I can’t begin to describe. I miss you Coal and I always will

@smithorange17

この曲を聴くと、
悲しいような
怒りを叫びたくなるような、
でも、なんか、それでもいい気分な様な
そういう曲。
すごく好き!

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