Can't Make A Sound
Elliott Smith (album) Lyrics
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The hero killed the clown
Can't make a sound
Can't make a sound
Can't make a sound
Nobody knows what he's doing
Still hanging around
Can't make a sound
Can't make a sound
Can't make a sound
The slow motion moves me
The monologue means nothing to me
Bored in the role, but he can't stop
Standing up to sit back down
Or lose the one thing found
Spinning the world like a toy top
'Til there's a ghost in every town
Can't make a sound
Can't make a sound
Can't make a sound
Can't make a sound
Eyes locked and shining
Can't you tell me what's happening?
Why should you want any other when you're a world within a world?
Why should you want any other when you're a world within a world?
Why should you want any other when you're a world within a world?
Why should you want any other when you're a world within a world?
The song "Can't Make a Sound" by Elliott Smith is a poignant portrayal of being lost, silent, and having a feeling of invisibility. The melancholic track begins with the singer becoming a silent movie character. The hero has killed the clown, and it seems as though everything around him is a performance, lacking true feeling or expression. Smith sings about somebody who is idle, hanging around without an apparent reason, unable to communicate or express himself, or unable to make a sound. The individual spins the world like a toy top, but to no avail, as there is a ghost in every town.
Smith, through these lyrics, is describing the emptiness of life and the search for meaning. The hero has killed the clown but is now muted, with his slow movements meaning nothing. The singer, who is portrayed as standing up to sit back down, is bored with the role he is playing but can't stop, while his monologues are meaningless. The lines "why should you want any other when you're a world within a world" suggest one's struggle to find happiness and fulfillment in the world. the song is a sad yet relevant reminder that life can be lonely, and we all experience moments of feeling invisible, unheard, and misunderstood.
Line by Line Meaning
I have become a silent movie
I am no longer able to express myself through sound or speech; my emotions are now just visual like in a silent movie.
The hero killed the clown
In this metaphorical story, the hero (the serious, grown-up part of me) has overtaken and defeated the clown (the fun, carefree part of me).
Can't make a sound
I am completely silenced, unable to communicate or express myself in any way.
Nobody knows what he's doing
I am lost, and even I do not fully understand what I am doing or what is going on in my life.
Still hanging around
Despite feeling lost and unable to communicate, I am still present, lingering and waiting for something to happen.
The slow motion moves me
Despite feeling stagnant, everything around me seems to be moving in slow motion and dragging me along with it.
The monologue means nothing to me
I am struggling to find purpose in the things that people say to me, and their words feel empty and meaningless.
Bored in the role, but he can't stop
I am stuck in a role or situation that is no longer fulfilling or interesting to me, but I feel powerless to change it.
Standing up to sit back down
I may try to change my situation, but ultimately end up right back where I started, feeling defeated.
Or lose the one thing found
I fear losing the one thing that I have found or accomplished, even if it is no longer fulfilling, because it is the only thing that gives me a sense of purpose.
Spinning the world like a toy top
I feel like I am in control of my life, but in reality, it is all just a game or facade that is spinning out of control like a toy top.
Til there's a ghost in every town
As my life spins out of control, I feel like I am leaving a trail of haunted memories or 'ghosts' in every place that I have been.
Eyes locked and shining
Despite feeling lost and silenced, there is still a glimmer of hope and determination in my eyes.
Can't you tell me what's happening?
I am reaching out for help or guidance, desperate for someone to explain what is going on in my life and give me direction.
Why should you want any other when you're a world within a world?
Even though I feel lost and disconnected from the world around me, I realize that I am a unique and complex individual with my own world inside of me, and I should not try to conform to others' expectations or desires.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEVEN P. SMITH, STEVEN PAUL SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind