Speed Trials
Elliott Smith Lyrics
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In the cathedral with the glass stained black
Singing sweet, high notes that echo back
To destroy their master
May be a long time 'til you get the call-up
But it's sure as fate and hard as your luck
No one'll know where you are
It's just a brief smile
Crossing your face
I'm running speed trials
Standing in place
When the socket's not a shock enough
You little child, what makes you think you're tough?
When all the people you think you're above
They all know what's the matter
You're such a pinball, yeah, you know it's true
There's always something you go back running to
To follow the path of no resistance
It's just a brief smile
Crossing your face
I'm running speed trials
Standing in place
It's just a brief smile
Crossing your face
I'm running speed trials
All over the place
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
The lyrics of Elliott Smith's song Speed Trials evoke a sense of restlessness, confusion, and the pursuit of something unattainable. The opening lines, "He's pleased to meet you underneath the horse, in the cathedral with the glass stained black" create a surrealistic image, which speaks to the sense of disorientation that the singer is feeling. The following lines, "Singing sweet high notes that echo back, to destroy their master," create a sense of rebellion and the desire to upend established systems.
The next two lines, "May be a long time 'til you get the call-up, but it's sure as fate and hard as your luck" hints at the idea that success may be elusive and uncertain but still an almost foregone conclusion. The sense of being lost and searching is captured in the lines, "No one'll know where you are, it's just a brief smile crossing your face / Running speed trials, still standing in place." The repetition of the phrase "running speed trials" creates a sense of perpetual motion and an inability to find rest.
The second verse further explores the sense of insecurity and lack of direction. The line, "When the socket's not a shock enough, you little child, what makes you think you're tough?" captures a sense of dislocation and the idea that the singer doesn't quite fit into the world. The following lines about being a "pinball" speak to the idea of being aimless and ungrounded. The closing lines, "To follow the path of no resistance / It's just a brief smile crossing your face / Running speed trials all over the place" create a sense of restlessness and a search for something elusive and undefinable.
Line by Line Meaning
He's pleased to meet you underneath the horse
He greets you with a smile, hidden beneath a dark and ominous place
In the cathedral with the glass stained black
The setting is an eerie and unsettling place, a cathedral with stained glass windows that have been corrupted and turned black
Singing sweet high notes that echo back
Despite the darkness of the setting, there is a beautiful sound of singing that bounces off the walls
To destroy their master
The singing represents the voice that will defeat and overthrow the master, who is causing problems
May be a long time 'til you get the call-up
It may take some time before you are able to take action against the master
But it's sure as fate and hard as your luck
Your destiny to confront the master is certain, but it will not be an easy task
No one'll know where you are
You will be alone and isolated during your mission
It's just a brief smile crossing your face
Despite the danger and uncertainty, you remain confident and hopeful
Running speed trials still standing in place
You are preparing yourself for the inevitable confrontation by constantly testing and improving your abilities, even if it seems like you're not making progress
When the socket's not a shock enough
Even though you have experienced pain and hardship before, you must prepare for something even more difficult and shocking
You little child what makes you think you're tough
Others may underestimate you and think you're not strong enough for the challenge, but you know better
When all the people you think you're above
You may have a tendency to look down on others, but they actually understand the gravity of the situation more than you do
They all know what's the matter
Despite your confidence, others can see that you may not be as prepared for the task as you think
You're such a pinball yeah you know it's true
You tend to bounce around from idea to idea, without a clear direction or plan
There's always something you come back running to
Despite your lack of direction, you always find yourself returning to the same goal or objective
To follow the path of no resistance
You may take the easiest path, rather than the one that will truly challenge and prepare you for the confrontation ahead
Running speed trials all over the place
Your preparation for the confrontation takes many forms, and may seem scattered or unorganized, but it is still effective
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind