Smith, Elliott - Rose Parade 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.

Happy New Year 2020! It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine.

Been to the rose parade in portland. I agree with Elliott is was kinda bullshit! lol

Everyone's interest is stronger than mine.

Love this song!

Mighty ES

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

Thanks for putting all these songs on youtube.

I care about Elliot Smiths' work

This song has becoming more and more metaphorical to me. He is not literally going to the rose parade for example.

Elliott Smith I'd follow you anywhere!

I loooooove this song!

so simple, so great.

*energizer

Who else is here on 1/1 for their fix of this song? Only Elliott could make a parade sound like a beautiful bummer...

they asked me to come down and watch the parade
and to march down the street like the duracell bunny
with a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
throwing out candy that looks like money
to people passing by that all seem to be going the other way
said won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
people were shouting and pushing and saying
and when i traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
a ridiculous marching band started playing
and got me singing along with some half-hearted victory song
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
the trumpet has obviously been drinking
because he's fucking up even the simplest lines
i'd say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
it's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
and when they clean the street i'll be the only shit that's left behind
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
won't you follow me down to the rose parade?

Only 282 k views???

The great thing about Either/Or, and the bulk of Elliot Smith's output is the DIY ethic he used to record and produce his albums. Always inspiring!

I wish Portia Sabin would sign me I love this record label

https://soundcloud.com/jamesmonahanmusic/rose-parade

My cover

https://www.facebook.com/LillyOfTheValley13

They asked me to come down and watch the parade
And to march down the street like the Duracell bunny
With a wink and a wave from the cavalcade
Throwing out candy that looks like money
To people passing by that all seem to be going the other way
Said won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
And when I traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
A ridiculous marching band started playing
And got me singing along with some half-hearted victory song
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
The trumpet has obviously been drinking
Because he's fucking up even the simplest lines
I'd say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing
It's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine
And when they clean the street I'll be the only shit that's left behind
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?
Won't you follow me down to the rose parade?

My buddy Kelon and i went to the Subgalley one day in 2000 or so, a bar notorious for junkies dying in the bathroom, and we played this whole album on the jukebox from speed trials to say yes and we alienated everyone else in the bar who would have much preferred Motorhead or the Exploited. We were on methadone tho and for that one day, or one hour or whatever, we were happy. Elliott Smith got me through so much in my life i cannot overstate it. The fact that his brilliance is not universally recognized is a scandal. But perhaps i prefer it that way

My favorite Teletubby remains cloaked in a vail of extreme secrecy.

Trying to score on parade day in Old Town was as hard as Christmas Eve if your dealer was closed.

Move to Cincinnati

2:15 I've listened to this song probably hundreds of times and just now heard the trumpet taking a drink

Trumpet was his dude

Makes me overwhelming happy with a wave of nostalgic depression

I listened to this song today while I was on the Max today going through Downtown Portland

Also: today

My math teacher recommended me this song it's amazing

what a cool maths teacher

I really like this song

Listen to this every year at this day and time.

I don't care that it's about Portland and not the Rose Bowl Parade.

Got me singing along with some half hearted victory song

When they clean the streets, i'll be the only shit that's left behind.

Elliot Smith was murdered

Intro: [D - A - E - G x2]

They [D]asked me to [A]come down and [E]watch the pa[G]rade to [D]march down the [A]street like the [E]Duracell [G]bunny

With a [D]wink and a [A]wave from the [E]caval[G]cade
[D]Throwing out [A]candy that [E]looks like [G]money
[F#]To people passing [Bm]by that all [A]seem to be [E]going the [G]other way[F#]

so won't you [D]follow me [A]down to the [E]rose pa[G]rade?

Tripped [D]over a [A]dog in a [E]choke chain [G]collar
[D]People were [A]shouting and [E]pushing and [G]saying
when I [D]traded a [A]smoke for a [E]food stamp [G]dollar
a [D]ridiculous [A]marching [E]band started [G]playing
[F#]got me singing a[Bm]long with [A]some half-[E]hearted [G]victory song [F#]

Won't you [D]follow me [A]down to the [E]rose pa[G]rade?
won't you [D]follow me [A]down to the [E]rose pa[G]rade?
won't you [F#]follow me [Bm]down to the [A] rose pa[E]rade?
[G]

The [D]trumpet has [A]obvious[E]ly been [G]drinking
cause he's [D]fucking up [A]even the [E]simplest [G]lines
I'd [D]say it's a [A]sight that's [E]quite worth [G]seeing
it's just that [D]everyone's [A]interest is [E]stronger than [G]mine
and [F#]when they clean the [Bm]street I'll be the [A]only [E]shit that's [G]left behind
[F#]

Won't you [D]follow me [A]down to the [E]rose pa[G]rade?
Won't you [D]follow me [A]down to the [E]rose pa[G]rade?
Won't you [F#]follow me [Bm]down to the [A] rose pa[E]rade? [G]

Thanks!

For years they played this song on the Muzak at my work, I'd hear it multiple times a day in a corporate building. For years I never knew who it was until a few months ago...

Someone reply!

I'm getting really into acoustic guitar/songwriting. I sort of want to start singing, but I'm not confident at all. Also, what chords should I learn to sound at least in some way like Elliott's untouchable songwriting?
Favorite songs to put his sound in context would be: Between The Bars, Condor Ave, Speed Trials, Alameda, Ballad of Big Nothing.

Musically I feel like Elliot was really influenced by the Beatles. Learn Rose Parade for sure (lot's of covers w/ instruction on this site), its beauty is in its simplicity with subtly ingenious "tweeks" here and there that are married perfectly to great hangdog lyrics.

follow us down...

This song is about Portland, Oregon... the Rose City. Anyone who is a fan of Elliott Smith knows he was sarcastic and synical. He also loved Portland. So alll your stupid comments about him hating parades ect are just ignorant. Do your research or stop claiming to adore elliott smith.

It’s also about being depressed and feeling forced to enjoy yourself. ‘It’s just that everyone’s interest is stronger than mines.’

I heard some idiot say this song was about protesting capitalism. Like what?

it's whatever it is for whoever you are and

My favorite Elliott track <3

always something special from this amazing artist

Real talk: parades suck.

This song is so underrated. it's beautifully melancholy.

not sure why this song doesn't pop up when searching Elliott Smith ?

I love this song, Elliott and all the people who are listening to this at the moment. Hugs!

hug back to you

Love you too hugs

Hugs from France!

I love you too

I needed one. Thank you!
Shit if this wasnt one of his best songs...

im watching the parade

Oh what a gem

Traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar

Throwing out candy that looks like money

Elliott Smith is my spirit animal.

There you go

My favorite Elliott Smith song....

Hopefully it won't rain ;D

It's a good song but complaining about a PARADE... no wonder he was depressed. And before I get hit with a ton of hate comments, I've been depressed, been addicted to drugs.... at some point you have to change your mind set and find some joy in the world or your end will be similar to Elliotts

Even in the song, does he really "complain" about the parade? It's more of a character song, describing these images of desperate and dirty people around the image of this idealistic parade, "throwing out candy that looks like money". But it's not like it's a protest song. The closest thing to that on this record would be "Ballad of Big Nothing", where the narrator cops dope and then "Watches the parade with pinpoint-eyes full of smoldering anger"

How did you miss the point of this song so hard?

WickedDuckSC2 lol my thoughts exactly

this song is about Portland Oregon, not a parade.... he loved portland. hes just sarcastic as hell.. portland is the Rose city... idiots

Well i feel the same way about parades aas elliott, but i like other stuff

i think one person went through this album and disliked every song one by one.

...Im quite a new fan of Elliotts and now i dont know what id do without him!! Iabsolutely LOVE,LOVE,LOVE him..<3 xxx

elliott became my sole musical interest and influence in 2011

Man, who's the one philistine that disliked this?

+Russell TerBeek (dr spacewizard) ...I know..Я they MENTAL oя summat? xxx

+Russell TerBeek (dr spacewizard) hehe... those damned Philistines... it was probably was Goliath that dead beat cyclops.... nah but i've never called anyone a Philistine.... just know them from the Bible.... but I dig your use of the word lol. I'm gonna incorporate that word into everyday usage.

Today was the day, 12 years ago, that we lost this artist.

And much more sad, he lost himself. It's sad to me that he couldn't stop himself from drowning. I'm lucky, I sad somebody to help me swim.

+Will Holbrook Elliott Smith allegedly stabbed himself in the heart, I'm assuming you're mistaking him for Jeff Buckley?

He was being metaphoric, brotha

+Jimbo Hardizzle (James) no someone broke into his apartment while his gf was locked in the bathroom while they were arguing. someone stabbed him. He had been paranoid days before he died like people were following him. Ballad of big nothing has some weird shit on it hombre

@Mellon Collie How come anytime an artist commits suicide is has to be something else complicated? Even when one of their last recordings has them crying out in plain english "Give me one good reason not to do it". Actually King's Crossing is creepy in the way it maps out his death in general

wherever elliott smith soul is, i dont think it misses too much of what the world is today.

Always disappointed. I think he felt that way, and a lot of people that listen feel that way. And society decries disappointment leaving the disappointment to fester and turn internal.

+Will Holbrook society does hate disappointment. It will search to squash anyone filled with disappointment anger or shame it's quite cruel. People don't help people when they need help. They would rather see how far they will far go until they destroy themselves or accomplish something incredible

Emotionally Detached ?!?!? You must have never listened to his music.... smh

he was too pure

Andres Gonzalez That is an interesting and accurate observation. He did not suffer fools gladly and the world, seemingly, has become exponentially foolisher.

No, I'm the only shit that's left behind. Sorry Elliott

Love you brother.

if he were singing about the one in pasadena, he would've said:

"wink and a wave from the cavalcade,
throwing up gang signs that look so funny."

that's a stretch seeing as Pasadena is a relatively safe and wealthy suburb of LA

California :]

They say it's a sight that's quite worth seeing, it's just that everyone's interest is stronger than mine

Got me singing along with some half hearted victory song

+madison hermon what is the neutral milk hotel reference?

What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
What a beautiful dream
That could flash on the screen
In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
Soft and sweet
Let me hold it close and keep it here with me

I know the song and the band I'm wondering where the reference is to neutral in this song.

Nowhere it was just random.

+Alexander Sahs was there a nmh reference in this song man? I really only listen to that one song lyrics

Are we all from Portland?

Pennsylvania yo!!! But I'd much rather be in Portland

Sitting on my balcony with Elliot - very mellow - Medellin, Colombia

+Michael Milano Australia, but visiting Portland in November :)

I am.
Miss seeing this dude and what our city used to be. Rose festival has always been weird though.

Michael Milano Wisconsin, but close enough haha

Man. As ever.

happy fucking new year

Hope it's gotten better, lady.

This is one of his best songs where he plays with a full band. 

@***** I didn't realize that. I just meant a lot of the other songs are just acoustic and vocal ya know

rose parade and speed trials, definitely my two favorite elliott songs

kimivdot Pictures of Me is my fave 😊

"When they clean the street, I'll be the only shit that's left behind."

this song is so fucking good

That label name is unfortunate. :(

@Sean Byrne Again, I disagree, you cannot say that my opinion is wrong. The label name is a reference to the rock star persona of drugs, sex, and rock and roll. It is not meant to be taken as literally as you seem to think.

@Aeroexorcist  Dude, c'mon.

@Joseph Forte Nice refutation, dingleberry.

@Sean Byrne It is unfortunate how people associate things in their mind

@Sean Byrne Ballad of Big Nothing is on this same 'album', so isn't the label quite a fortunate name??? Boy, the Christian fear of death is sad and pathetic; how 'fans' can post posts like this and enjoy his work is beyond me. It appears to me you want to have your cake and eat it too.

So won't you follow me down to the rose parade?