A Question Mark
Elliott Smith (album) Lyrics
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You got a need to always take some shot in the dark
I don't have to make pretend the picture I'm in is totally clear
You think that all things have a way they ought to appear
'Cause you know you know you know you know
You know you know you know you know you know
I don't
Don't know what you mean
Panic called you out and took you in
Giving you an easy game and letting you win
You're giving back a little hatred now to the world
'Cause it treated you bad
'cod you couldn't keep the great unknown from making you mad
'Cause you know you know you know you know
You know you know you know you know you know
I don't
I dream
Don't know what you mean
Said your final word, but honesty and love could've kept us together
One day you'll see it's worth it after all
If you ever want to say you're sorry you can give me a call
The song "A Question Mark" by Elliott Smith is a poignant piece that explores the theme of communication breakdown and the challenges of interpersonal relationships. The song employs soft, melancholic guitar chords to create a somber and introspective atmosphere, which underscores the artist's intimately-told tale of unrequited love and frustration.
The lyrics describe a situation where two people are struggling to communicate effectively with one another. The singer expresses his willingness to accept that all is not perfectly clear and is willing to live in a world of ambiguity. However, his partner seems to crave a sense of certainty and has a tendency to lash out when things don't go her way. She feels angry at the world for being unfair to her and seems to have little patience for anything that contradicts her pre-conceived notions of how things should be.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses his fundamental hope that his partner will eventually come around and realize the value of honest communication and the power of love to unite people. He reveals his vulnerability by saying that he dreams about a world where people are able to connect on a deep and meaningful level. Ultimately, the song is a meditation on how difficult it can be to find meaning and connection in a world that sometimes seems hostile and indifferent.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a question mark
I am uncertain about something
You got a need to always take some shot in the dark
You always take risks or make guesses
I don't have to make pretend the picture I'm in is totally clear
I don't have to pretend everything is clear to me
You think that all things have a way they ought to appear
You believe that things should have a certain appearance
'Cause you know you know you know you know
You know you know you know you know you know
I don't
I dream
You are certain about something, but I am not sure and I dream instead
Don't know what you mean
I don't understand what you're saying
Panic called you out and took you in
You were anxious and it affected you
Giving you an easy game and letting you win
You were given an easy task and you succeeded
You're giving back a little hatred now to the world
You are now expressing negativity towards the world
'Cause it treated you bad
'cod you couldn't keep the great unknown from making you mad
'Cause you know you know you know you know
You know you know you know you know you know
You are upset with the world because you couldn't control the unknown, and you are certain about this
I don't
I dream
Don't know what you mean
I am still unsure about what you are saying and I only dream
Said your final word, but honesty and love could've kept us together
You said your final words, but if you were honest and showed love, we could have stayed together
One day you'll see it's worth it after all
If you ever want to say you're sorry you can give me a call
One day you'll realize it was worth it, and if you want to apologize, you can contact me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN P. SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind