Smith Westerns consists of Cullen Omori (vocals), Max Kakacek (Guitar), Cam… Read Full Bio ↴Smith Westerns consists of Cullen Omori (vocals), Max Kakacek (Guitar), Cameron Omori (Bass), and Julien Ehrlich (drums). All members range in age from 21 to 22. Since forming in 2007 in Chicago, Illinois, United States, Smith Westerns have managed to tour both the United States and Europe while supporting the likes of MGMT, Florence and the Machine, Belle and Sebastian, Girls, and Passion Pit. Their self recorded “lo-fi” debut Smith Westerns, released in 2009, garnered critical acclaim for their youthful and glam rock tinged approach to pop music. In 2010, Smith Westerns teamed up with Chris Coady (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Beach House) and current record label Fat Possum to record their sophomore effort in a proper studio. The result was a cleaner/higher quality recording of lush, layered timeless pop songs. The band split up at the end of 2014.

Since then, Max Kakacek and Julian Ehrlich have started a new project, Whitney. sees them teaming up with Touching Voids’ Ziyad Asrar - who also occasionally played keyboards for Smith Westerns.

Best Friend
Smith Westerns Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I watch you up on the screen
Wish well's thinking is a curse
Black velvet won't let you breathe
Why won't you let me see you again

And you're the one
And you're the one
And you're the one

My best friend

I'll just listen through the walls
I'll open my open the sun
Drinking myself just to get by
Why won't you let me see you again

And you're the one
And you're the one
And you're the one
My best friend

And you're the one
And you're the one

And you're the one
My best friend

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Smith Westerns' song "Best Friend" tell a story of unrequited love and longing for someone who seems unattainable. The first stanza sets the scene: the singer is watching their love interest on a screen (perhaps in a movie or on social media), and feels cursed by their own well wishes for this person. The line "black velvet won't let you breathe" could be interpreted in a few ways - velvet is often associated with luxury and glamour, but it can also be stifling and suffocating. Perhaps the singer sees their love interest as being trapped in a life of fame and attention, unable to escape the expectations placed upon them.

The second stanza is equally melancholy. The singer is literally listening through walls, trying to catch a glimpse of their best friend. They're drinking to numb the pain of not being able to be with this person, but it's not helping. The repeated refrain of "And you're the one / My best friend" highlights the internal conflict - the singer loves their best friend but can't be with them romantically. The repetition adds a sense of desperation and longing to the song.

Overall, "Best Friend" is a poignant and relatable song about a common experience - loving someone who doesn't love you back. The lyrics capture the frustration and heartache of being trapped in that situation, dreaming of a connection that may never be possible.

Line by Line Meaning

I watch you up on the screen
I see you on the TV, wishing that my thoughts of you weren't a burden

Wish well's thinking is a curse
Wanting the best for you is weighing heavily on me

Black velvet won't let you breathe
Something is suffocating you and making it hard for you to feel free

Why won't you let me see you again
I miss you and want to be in your presence once more

And you're the one
You're the person I value the most and cherish above all others

My best friend
You're not just anyone to me; you're my closest confidant and ally

I'll just listen through the walls
I'll do anything to hear what's going on with you even if I have to eavesdrop

I'll open my open the sun
I'll try to find happiness in anything, even if it means creating it myself

Drinking myself just to get by
I'm struggling to cope without you and sometimes rely on alcohol to numb the pain

Contributed by Abigail V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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