Smith, Elliott - King's Crossing Lyrics

Really wish all elliott smith songs had comments disabled. misery loves company its well understood at this point catch up with the silence that co wrote these brilliant songs.

because we love you

This is seriously one of the saddest and most devastating things I've ever heard in my life. To me, this was a real cry for help from Elliott. I'm so sad and so sorry that he had the problems that he had... I wish that he could have gotten the help that he needed. Maybe then he would still be here and hopefully be in a better place in his life... 😢

Christmas music

"It don't matter 'cause I have no sex life, and all I wanna do now is inject my ex-wife"

So Elliott wrote this song before he died, or killed himself.. rip Elliott. So I was reading about his life and turns out this album wasn't finished until a year after his suicide. The people who finished it were friends and family of Elliott, mainly friends I guess. But his family choose the songs for this album. But anyway, I always thought, that when they were mastering this song, the "because we love you" part between "give me one good reason not to do it" and "So do it" was added by his lady friend who was mastering it. I didn't really explain that super elegantly but I always thought that it was interesting. And super sad, I love you elliott. We miss you.

I love that little guitar line at 00:25

Same. It's a beautiful riff. Nice to see people are still commenting on this track.


Winter is coming though.

Elliott was an absolute genius songwriter. Such a shame.

Danny Russell indeed.

Up there with Lennon... Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes is an excellent songwriter as well

Always love the acoustic versions but there is just something more real about this,so glad they went with this one

That guitar and piano is sublime. Btw. Whiskey AND beer work better than either or

Still think of you

Im going on a date with a rich white lady. Aint life great?

Crack cocaine

I know absolutely everywhere says otherwise, but I think the line is "frustrated fireworks inside your head, stand to deliver/dark instead"
I think its about feeling incredibly unsettled and anxious and having a voice in your head telling you that you need to do something, and then totally freezing up. "Going dark"
Idk its just my interpretation

I hear it

Imma just go and click like on every comment....

Whatever his actual meaning and intent of this song, it is hands down the most beautiful/painful artifact I have of his life.

Every wave is tidal, if you hang around you are going to get wet.......

If you hang around drugs or people that do them you're eventually gonna give in and indulge

When will LOVE ever win? Transform your mind into the renewing of senseless sense and rumors of war. Hats off socks on seagulls slur and scary cakes glide
Take it all in Matthew and hold on because tonight your gonna feel alive

I can't prepare for death anymore than I already have

His parents lived in the same town I live and grew up in they lived across the street of a dear friend that used to mow the lawn of Elliott's folks my friend was pretty young at the time and had no clue who elliott was they waved to eachother a couple times

thats amazing! its pretty awesome that you and your people you hold dear can say that!

When you bottom out, but still feel like shit will change :/

The piano gets me every time. It's so tragically beautiful.

Check out this rare live footage of Elliott's 1999 New Year's Eve performance at The Knitting Factory: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6KwzgIePF4Dy7347Om6Ijcsr4vh6JJjP

Kill Rock Stars happy New Years!

give me one good reason not to do it.

"Frustrated fireworks inside your head are going to stand and deliver, darkness instead". That part hurts

talk instead*

@Noah Boddy my bad. i always watch this live version habitually, and i could've sworn he said "dark instead" every time.... 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R57A8naur18&t=1598s

Darkness instead is a better line imo

I think you got carried away. Is this funny to anybody? Wakka wakka wakka

It's hilarious to me, but then again I am widely considered to be a piece of shit and that's what he alluded to

Vodka works better than beer for me. Whiskey gives a nasty hangover.

This song is a masterpiece.

Aint life great..

merry christmas elliott

15 years. RIP Elliott.

Yahoo article brought me here

Fifteen years ago today Elliott left us. Rest in peace....we love you <3
"Give me one good reason not to do it."

god bless you

The king's crossing is the main attraction
Dominoes are falling in a chain reaction
The scraping subject ruled by fear told me
Whiskey works better than beer
The judge is on vinyl, decisions are final
And nobody gets a reprieve
And every wave is tidal - if you hang around
You're going to get wet
I can't prepare for death any more than I already have
All you can do now is watch the shells
The game looks easy that's why it sells
Frustrated fireworks inside your head
Are going to stand and deliver talk instead
The method acting that pays my bills
Keeps a fat man feeding in Beverly Hills
I got a heavy metal mouth that hurls obscenity
And I get my check from the trash treasury
Because I took my own insides out
It don't matter ‘cause I have no sex life
All I want to do now is inject my ex wife
I've seen the movie and I know what happens
It's Christmas time
And the needles on the tree
A skinny Santa is bringing something to me
His voice is overwhelming, but his speech is slurred
And I only understand every other word
Open your parachute and grab your gun
Falling down like an omen, a setting sun
Read the part and return at five
It's a hell of a role if you can keep it alive
But I don't care if I fuck up
I'm going on a date with a rich white lady
Ain't life great?
Give me one good reason not to do it
(because I love you)
So do it
This is the place where time reverses
Dead men talk to all the pretty nurses
Instruments shine on a silver tray
Don't let me get carried away
Don't let me get carried away
Don't let me be carried away

I've always thought the lyric that you put as "read the part and return at five" was "Read the porn and return at five". I guess in my mind it will always be that, as I like the imagery of depraved self gratification before getting back on the treadmill of life.

this hurt to read. I wish his album reached us as he wanted it to

Lyrically I dont know anyone who matches Elliott.

Red Beardman agreed

Maybe Conor Oberst idk

Check out Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground

Elliotts' gift for songwriting is absolutely unrivaled. It's a shame so many great artists perish early... Always leaving so much unsaid.

this song breaks my heart. Elliott. God. please. I am praying. God. Elliott. I am praying you are okay and in a good place. You suffered. God. take care of our Elliott. amen

James McKenna Elliott went to heaven... I know it

"I can't prepare for death any more than I already have" Jesus fucking Christ. Don't do heroin.

I literally can't listen to this song anymore and it's one of his all time best. When you know what happened to this guy, and that it was written in 1999 at the height of his addictions (it only came out on basement four years later) it's just too much. Don't do heroin.

Or crack

Or meth, or pills

Or alcohol people always take the effect of it for granted... it destroys lives... stick to smoking weed

“But i dont care if i fuck up im going on a date”

Used to broken dance to this in rehab ....just licking the last drops of tragedy from the bottom of the cup now

now THIS is the song to blast fucking lines to.

J Lansdale xD fuck I'm stoned brah

Will Quick hell yes my killa. Live your life!!!!

I feel it man it's a groovy time America is ain't it? My brother from another mother

But the real question is how much is too many fruit snack pouches in a day I've already had 14

Will Quick yes sor. I thrive on this song.

I love how the context changes at the end of the song... "don't let me get carried away, don't let me get carried away, to don't let me BE carried away" as in a body bag....!!! Elliott was a master in writing lyrics obviously....! Fuck man this song will. ALWAYS hold a place in my heart.... Regardless of my mental State

"Don't let me be Burried away"

Cause I took my own insides out

❦❤❦ Oh, Elliott, almost 15 years, but neither you nor your music will wither, ever. You are sorely missed ❦❤❦

Give me one good reason not to do it.... So do it..

Nope thats hard to find, there some good shit out there though if u dont know pat the bunny and his bands check them out as well as daze n days, jeffry lewis, bat country, todd benjamin, lost dog street band, to a lesser extent matt pless...elliott though fuck man hes an extreme rarity

REALLY haunting lyrics. Imagine how amazing this record would have been. This is not even done. Strong and honest.

"This is not even done." What the fuck? It's well and truly done. Couldn't be any more done.

@True Funk Soul I think what OP is saying is it was released posthumously, Elliott hadn't finished it.

My all-time favorite Elliott Smith song....

As someone who struggles w my own addictions I take a lot of meaning from this song. I really see how someone can care so much but not see any other way out of it.

What are you addicted to? Just curiosity

Yeah man lifes hard enough but we seem to make it worse with our struggles... Like in "Baby Britain" he says "for someone half as smart you'd be a work of art" as in he cant get out of his own way even tho he knows hes much more capable

Dude this was published on my birthday omg thank youuuuuuuuuuu

Midori Gruinuu This isn't about you bitch.

I absolutely love the piano parts in this song

This sounds so modern, or maybe music hasn't changed

This is my favorite Christmas song. Wish I were kidding.

same lol

Mine too! Most applicable (to me) song mentioning Christmas that I've ever heard.

Same here

So much. Originality.

Knowing that Elliott struggled with mental health and eventually killed himself affects the listening experience profoundly, especially with this one. The first time I heard this it was so chilling, and still is.

c'est la vegan actually there's no proof he stabbed himself. His gf at the time were having an argument she locked herself upstairs and came down after hearing a scream. Kinda strange just like C.C and K.C but whatcha gonna do. He was already starting to believe people were following him.

@Will Quick Yeah and he had no hesitation marks with both stabs. That's almost unheard of.

Kind of hard to believe someone could stab themselves with enough force to penetrate thru the heart

Reminds me of Queen...

Hmm never thought of that, but I can see it. Definitely a Queen-ey intro.

This song's dope!

A skinny santa is bringing something to me

Yeah, bringing that H

Kleasone
It's not about his MAN...
It's about Santa... aka Satan.. who brought him the role...

A skinny santa is the drug dealer!

No shit Will!

great musician

My first reaction: horror, beauty, and twisted sadness. I'm coming from hearing this song only from a concert that's floating around and I thought it was simple and mournful. Anyone else found this incredible and devastating in the best way?

Yeah, definitely.

Beautiful yet tragic, like so much of his work ...

Samantha Goldfarb yes

The "give me one good reason not to do it" line always gives me chills.

Yeah, especially coupled with the just barely audible "Because we love you" that comes right after. Absurd how good this song is

and "I can't prepare for death any more than I already have"

@G B that line always gives me chills especially when everything crescendos right after he says it and its such a haunting sound that sounds kinda like he just played some random notes but it blends perfectly.... such an intense part of the song...

@Dylan H yeah i miss him too

Reminds me of my little brother

Heroin addiction and suicide? o.o

Clearly not suicide if you look into it at all :/

John Arundell what do you think happened? this whole album is a "goodbye"

And I don't care if I Fuck up, I'm going on a date with a rich white lady, ain't life great?

Mike Eroyan _give me one good reason not to do it, so do it_

Mike Eroyan _give me one good reason not to do it, so do it_

Greirat The Thief he says give me one good reason not to do it. (then a woman's voice says because I love you) so do it

Because We Love You

holy....holy shit. i don't know if I just hit the high point of my life or rock bottom

Either/or

Rain Chittester
YES

that seriously is such a brilliant comment, of such clarity, and description of listening to this song, Elliott and these words and melody. Seriously accurate to a scary level hahaha all the best to ya' Rain. Ya truly feel this song and Elliott clearly. be well

High point of rock bottom

Why not both haha

When I told myself that I couldn't find another great Elliott Smith song to listen to, I stumbled onto this beautiful masterpiece while watching one of his live performances.

Christian Brothers and King's Crossing are my number one favorite songs by Elliott Smith.

He is my biggest inspiration for music and even life.

You have great taste. though for me personally, i like to add "Either/Or" and "Memory Lane" to that list, too.

But who am i kidding? They are all beautiful and amazing.

Nobody gets a reprieve.

Amazing song. So much talent gone so soon.

fuck what a song

Pure and utter brilliance. Nothing less.

Guy Budziak
Opus No. Last...

Is this my favourite Elliott Smith song? It's tough, but I think it might just be.

+theproleswillrise Every time i think some other song of his is my favourite i listen to this and realise that i'm wrong. I couldn't have another favourite song even if i wanted to. He's such an excellent artist.

It's mine. That line
Cuz I'm going on a date with a rich, white lady, ain't life great?
So give me one good reason not to do it
(Because we love you...)
So do it!!!!

I favorite ES songs changes all the time, depending on my mood, the time of the year, real life occurances, etc.

It's been my favourite since I first heard this album a couple of days after release.

Fuck, Elliott... I'll see you soon.

+Alex Berry Pls dont : /\... I constantly feel suicidal, but it takes more strength to resist than surrender.

You'll be there eventually dude. We'll all be dead eventually. Find what is fun and do that and ignore every person and thing that you dislike. It's not easy, but neither is anything worth it.

+Will Holbrook yes my brother that is key

"DON'T LET ME GET CARRIED AWAY., DON'T LET ME BE CARRIED AWAY"

@EMPTy ANGELO no its carried

@Noah Boddy word.... i thought he slipped in a little extra buh- in there, like kurt from all apologies "in the sun, i feel as one. married... married.. buried..." i've been listening to elliott every damn day since i commented on here. love this man

EMPTy ANGELO I know man, I’ve been in love with his music for years. For the last 2 years, I’ve literally listened to from a basement on the hill multiple times a day, with only a couple month breaks here and there.

As in dont let me get carried away with my addiction to the point of being carried away in a body bag or at least that's my interpretation.... Elliott Smith was truly one of a kind and from poets who are battling demons it seems to spawn the most beautiful music lyrically... hope that doesn't sound pretentious haha

@Noah Boddy yeah man his music brings back bad memories becuz I was listening to him a lot when I was in a downward spiral... I wish I can thank him for his music that helped me thru those desperate times man 😢😢😢


Edit: I still stumble from time to time and always come back to his songs for comfort in an odd way... I'm not out of the woods yet but I'm not where I was 5 years ago so that's progress lol

This is one of his darkest songs he wrote, and that's saying something.

"Everything Means Nothing to Me" has got to be up there too.

His unreleased song called abuse is one of his saddest songs too

"i can't prepare for death any more than i already have."

@Zachary Martin you know what he's feeling if you've been there.... that line hurts me to hear sometimes...

Whiskey works better than beer

i can't prepare for death more than i already have....

All you can do now is watch the shells the game looks easy that's why it sells

Why would he buy an urn? It's not like he's gonna be takin care of his own cremation.

IT's Christmas time, and there's needles on the tree, the skinny Santa is bringing something to me"

seymour engelbert give me one good reason not to do it (because we love you) so do it!
That is pretty epic

@Russell Paloor I heard that becuz we love you part was recorded after he died by his sister.. fucking sad man

Hear some Jane's Addiction in the beginning for sure

@basecamp11 Three Days

@basecamp11 But so much more...lol

+basecamp11 At this moment, you should be with us...feeling like we do...

jonathan401 like you love to. Like never again

'gimme one good reason not to do it' (cuz we love you) 'so do it'
poor elliott. i wonder....

Mickey G :'(

it was added to the recording after his death. it's his mom and sister

@Puber T. Snatches Is that true? Looking at your name it's hard to take this seriously, but I don't know this man's history and would like to know at least a few things.

Danielle Marin it’s true.

If I remember correctly, his girlfriend and another other close friend used to yell it during live performances so it was there before he died.