This a poem for Elliott Smith I arranged using his own words, lyrics, song titles, etc. I didn't know him but he touched me and I feel a tremendous loss. I wanted to do something. Thanks for everything, Elliott.
:
:
:
: Where Were You When Elliott Died?
:
:
: Lying here on the ground
: waiting for sleep to overtake me
: concrete hands pick up the telephone ring
: quiet terror news
: arrived too late
: he was sick of it all
: the endless stream of reminders
: wanted everything to stop
: acting under orders from above
:
: What’s the matter, man
: nothing’s wrong that wasn’t wrong before
: you found another audience
: why should you want any other
: when you’re a world within a world
: you can do what you want to
: there’s no one to stop you
: all your secret wishes
: could right now be coming true
:
: In my sleep tonight
: mute memories start talking
: I got a long way to go
: cuz I don’t know what I am
: grabbin’ on to whatever’s around
: the moon is a light bulb breaking
: every thought a ricochet
: about to implode
: nightmares become me
: it’s so fucking clear
: don’t think it’ll ever pass
:
: I was about to throw it all away
: make the same mistake twice
: you beat it in me
: that part of you
: give the people
: easy way out
: something they understand
: everything means nothing to me
:
: I don’t need a remedy
: won’t take your medicine
: I want to hurt him
: to give him pain
: I just told the biggest lie
: I’m so angry
: my head is full of flames
:
: I’ll go to the service
: to pray and I’ll sing
: follow me down
: to the rose parade
: here’s what you get
: praises of my maker’s name
: damaged bad at best
: getting further away
:
: What I used to be will pass
: away and then you’ll see
: I have become a silent movie
: looking out on the substitute scene
: for somebody’s arms
: to wave away past harms
: somebody that I used to know
: I don’t want nobody else
: throwing candy out to the crowd
:
: So come on night
: killing time won’t stop this crying
: let’s just forget all about it
: just walk away
: slip out quiet
: home to oblivion
: I’m in love with the world
: like the man in the moon
: brushing off the nightmare
:
: Whatever’s left of you
: buried below
: in the lost and found
: you’re coming up roses
: in a place meant to hide
: stay with me
: stay up all night
: I’ll protect you
: it’ll all be yesteryear soon
: you can’t ask for more
:
: Look at me
: I’m talking to you
: all I want now
: is happiness
: for you and me
: keep you apart
: separate from the rest
: deep in my heart
: where I like you the best
: do you know who you’re talking to
: say yes
:
: Wish you gave me your number
: wish I could call you today
: just to hear a voice
: riding high again
: high on the sound
: I’m never gonna know you now
: but I’m gonna love you anyhow

wonderfully put together and useful to me at just the right time,,,,,thanks for that

[i wrote a tribute too; liked yours a LOT as well]

If I would shut off the music,
I could write.

If I could close this or that book
I would too.

But [and if] there weren't that song or that word
I'd lay it all down

not putting out my poems
and out my glis
I'd just sit there, drowning in some wasted time.

This problem rests
and I don't
The songs and the words,
they steal the poetry

if poetry were the means to flight
and the songs and the word, the substitute:

steal those turns, those rushes and drives
and take me back to that when those things
gave me supply

let me put it out there.

** for Elliott Smith (1969 - 2003) **