Elliott Smith - Condor Ave. (from Roman Candle)

[@marknm]

The man was truly a master at crafting those chord changes, with the stories behind the words. You could always tell his songs were never in it for the fame. I just wished I would've found out about him sooner.

[@seanhinshaw3736]

I feel the same. Elliott's been my favorite artist for many years now, but didn't discover him till a few months before he killed himself. One of my biggest regrets is never seeing him perform live..

[@badmanners9141]

Yes, elliott made these songs because he had to.. not for fame, but out of a necessity. He was one of a kind. My favorite songwriter 🖤

[@waterfowl0]

@@badmanners9141 it was his medicine

[@bmcdermott32]

I love everyone’s comments! I got a tattoo of the figure eight mural on my shoulder. This man had literally saved my life. Typing this is a trippy thing, because without him I’d be gone lol.!his music was not only genuine but genius . Beautiful soul he was.

[@LtGregoryStevens]

​@@seanhinshaw3736He didn't kill himself. He was brutally murdered by his girlfriend

[@andrewnicon]

Some of his best lyrics. "Threw the screen door like a bastard back and forth" is a real image of anger.

[@rightleftofthemiddle4240]

This is the kinda song that grabs your soul and forces you to pay attention. Genius.

[@lovewhatisgood]

I don't know what it is about this song, but I can picture everything he describes in the lyrics in great detail: the house on Condor, a bungalow, third from the corner, across the street from a park. A quiet Sunday evening with the sun setting behind the street. Several cars are parked along the street, including a blue 1978 Oldsmobile Toronado in front of the house. I can hear the screen door creaking and the chimes clanging as Elliott throws it open, and I can see and hear him yelling at her to come back as she starts the ignition and drives off. The same for the rest of the lyrics. The images I see are so clear that they're almost like a memory. I've never had such a reaction to any other song.

[@xenostim]

I love how he dances somewhere between seemingly ordinary/mundane real-life imagery and metaphor.

[@geetanjalid.5403]

Proof that beautiful things often come from dark places.

[@jmpsthrufyre]

He seemed full of light too. Maybe more like moonlight. Light nonetheless. But where there is light and something to reflect it, there is shadow. Obviously. Too bad his shadow took over. Maybe some people can learn from what happened. Like do not just cold turkey meds. If it can helped.

[@roiybenkel682]

She took the Oldsmobile out past condor Ave. And she locked the car and slipped past Into rhythmic quietude Lights burning Voice dry and hoarse I threw the screen door like a bastard back and forth The chimes fell over each other I fell onto my knees The sound of the car driving off made me feel diseased A sick shouting like you hear at the fairground Now I'm picking up to put away anything of yours that's still around I don't know what to do with your clothes or your letters It'll make a whisper out of you She took the Oldsmobile out past condor Ave. The fairground's lit A drunk man sits by the gate she's driving through Got his hat tipped bottle back in between his teeth Looks like he's buried in the sand at the beach I can't think about you driving off to leave barely awake To take a little nap while the road is straight I wish that car had never been discovered They took away the bottle and the hat he was under That's the one thing that he could never do And it'll make a whisper out of you She took the Oldsmobile out past condor Ave. Cops were running around the scene Looking for some kind of clue They never get uptight when a moth gets crushed Unless a light bulb really loved him very much I'm lying down Blowing smoke from my cigarette Little whisper smoke signs that you'll never get You're in your Oldsmobile driving by the moon Headlights burning bright ahead of you And someone's burning out, out on condor Ave. Trying to make a whisper out of you What a shitty thing to say Did you really mean it? You never said a word to me about what passed between us So now I'm leaving you alone You can do whatever the hell you want to Na, na, na, na, na, na, na

[@ebbtide4233]

literally one of the best songs about grief and the unknowable cruelty of the universe ever and the man wrote it when he was 17

[@erikagrl1]

I can't help to think of 95 when Elliott was just introduced to me via a cassette my friend gave me and I was just a 17 year old trying to find herself in the world without a care of the future. I miss those days! His music is timeless and beautiful.

[@Keiran19]

Wow! What do you do now?

[@williamcole60]

I was born in 95 and Elliott is my favorite artist ever

[@jmpsthrufyre]

Same. Except I'm older. Obviously. A ratty cassette copy. Which only added to the charm of it all.

[@rparra4667]

I was in college. Fell in love with his music quickly. Lucky enough to see him once live. Unlucky enough to see him only once. Listening to him now.

[@concars1234]

@@williamcole60 hey same on both counts Will hope you're doing good bro

[@elliottsmith93]

We still miss you, Elliott

[@themyshow8625]

This album is a true headbanger album.

[@Mellifex]

Just a good album

[@jeralddean9432]

Lol I love this. Headbanging to Drive all Over Town next

[@ebbtide4233]

I go ham to this song

[@andrem9370]

yeah I cant help but go crazy mosh pit style when no name #3 plays

[@JunkBondTrader]

I 💙Metal

[@paultruemner7438]

A certain music critic said that "Elliott was ferociously talented." I absolutely have to agree one hundred per cent.

[@31alking]

Such a phenomenal song. He is so underrated.

[@christophermadman1314]

Elliot smith music helped me out wished I met him

[@shsk8937]

I did 💙 he was so sweet! Idk if he was high at the time but his vibe was so peaceful despite his internal struggles offstage 🙏🏻

[@TheSmiths10Tons]

Absolutely beautiful. Been listening for years. Never gets old.

[@vangoghsseveredear]

Learning this on guitar is mindblowing. Not only is it because its quite difficult, but because I seriously can't comprehend how someone can write this. Especially at 17

[@kookythymes2838]

Wasn't he 24 at the recording of this record?

[@vangoghsseveredear]

@@kookythymes2838 yes, but he had wrote this song when he was 17

[@kookythymes2838]

@@vangoghsseveredear wow that's insane!

[@jessicacolding9904]

His mom was a classical guitar instructor. That's how hah.

[@backtotheglorydaze]

Elliott wrote this when he was only 17!

[@notjessie2033]

True talent.

[@AirGuitar]

Where did you see this?

[@liljdabscrazy]

backtotheglorydaze genius level

[@juliadzik4545]

how do you know that?

[@pewiwannadiepie69]

Air Guitar he says it himself. You can watch him say it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGmonnZojLN3etk

[@neotu]

honestly I'm shocked, because I never even heard one song from elliott on the radio here in germany like what the hell?! all the time just boring stuff is played yet this genius here never appeared for me. I randomly found him because of an episode of rick and morty (for which I'm endlessly thankful for). every song of his is special and the way he plays his instruments is legendary and unique. sounds so beautiful. wish I had found him earlier

[@davidcoxon4710]

America's Nick Drake. A genius taken far too soon. This song is a masterpeice. His guitar playing is stunning

[@slaythembeforeme]

Except Elliott is superior in every way.

[@davidcoxon4710]

@@slaythembeforeme subjective. And don't forget Drake wrote river man when 20 years old.

[@Kuethonymus]

@@davidcoxon4710 And Elliott wrote this song when he was 17; However, "Comparison is the thief of joy."

[@davidcoxon4710]

@@Kuethonymus 🤔you started the comparison not me😂

[@victorruizmartin6212]

@@davidcoxon4710 you literally said "America's Nick Drake". It was you who opened that door 😂 Anyway, comparisons with Nick Drake were a constant through Elliott's career.

[@connormchugh8456]

This songs been stuck in my head for probably like two months.

[@jmpsthrufyre]

What.a solo debut.

[@James-ke4gq]

after listening to elliots music not only does other chart topping artists sound shameful and embarrassing like someone below said its like all other music is he really finds that medium of songs and poetry so melodic but never corny no filler lyrics and structurally his guitar lines blossom like a beautiful fucking flower smh this is perfection

[@nofriendsnoadam4182]

This makes me weep past the deep of solitude

[@jeanrogershu]

A masterpiece written by a real genius. Miss you so, Elliott.

[@Joe-fr8yd]

I saw Elliot play in Providence, RI on 2000, it was amazing.

[@Jonleespradlin777]

Elliott lives on. His spirit is in his music. I play it now, and he's the one songwriter I don't put my own spin on. You can't fuck with perfection. When I get one of his songs down just right, I can feel him in my hands and heart. I wept when the radio said he died. Wept.

[@ダン莉沙]

Every song he wrote was a unique and precious gem. There is so much intense beauty in them it just takes your breath away.

[@bryanodonovan3324]

Anyone else love the fact that he wrote this at 15 and with the story and meaning of the moth being very deep?

[@maturtlelaza]

*17

[@yuval8694]

RIP Elliott, thank you for giving me hope.

[@shanebagel]

Absolutely life changing

[@gabridelux453]

this song is haunting, I can't get it out of my head.

[@doodybupkis288]

I’ve been listening to this song like 10 times a day lately

[@spacealienjesus709]

So, now I'm leaving you alone You can do whatever the hell you want to. Na----------- Na Na Na Na Na

[@jamesbeare376]

Pure genius

[@Chea]

his best song and i've surely heard them all

[@maeleahaze656]

I agree

[@seanhinshaw3736]

Most definitely a great song, but the best? Too much of a genius to pin it down to one song...

[@shannonmcfarland8826]

Masterful writing.

[@Scottus5]

not bad for a drummer. One of my favorite albums and artists

[@williamcole60]

You'll never be a whisper brother I'll always keep you close to my heart

[@todnollom3841]

Je viens de la redécouvrir. J'en ai des larmes aux yeux. Que c'est beau !

[@sthodson]

Damn. So good.

[@SpaceAlienJesus]

This song is a heart breaker..

[@rrrweee112233]

I love this song!!!! I have TANK to thank for playing this. Now I've lost them ...

[@justinmejia3783]

one of the most haunting songs ever created

[@MatthewMcRowan]

i really enjoy it with my morning coffee and cigarette

[@jamesheath7601]

Roman Candle is a fantastic album

[@ididntrealize]

I'm lying down, blowing smoke from a cigarette, Little wispy smoke signs that you'll never get!

[@neotu]

that part especially sounds so sweet and soft, it gives me goosebumps. incredible song

[@silverhaze9687]

Thank u Elliott❤

[@notinternettype]

I throw this on when I get sick of putting the everyday happy mask on, sometimes you want to feel all the pain, drink, whatever, have a good no bullshit crying jag!!💀💀😀😀

[@bluesyz9608]

Elliot never sang, he spoke to you. so beautiful

[@umutbaydarumut5478]

amazing...

[@dekencurtis-crockett8525]

In my top 25 immersive guttural favorite tunes. Stabbed through heart literally is the way he passed into oblivion. Peace.

[@blolz]

She took the Oldsmobile out past condor avenue And she locked the car and slipped past Into rhythmic quietude Lights burning Voice dry and hoarse I threw the screen door like a bastard back and forth The chimes fell over each other I fell onto my knees The sound of the car driving off made me feel diseased A sick shouting like you hear at the fairground Now I'm picking up to put away anything of yours that's still around I don't know what to do with your clothes or your letters It'll make a whisper out of you She took the Oldsmobile out past condor avenue The fairground's lit A drunk man sits by the gate she's driving through Got his hat tipped bottle back in between his teeth Looks like he's buried in the sand at the beach I can't think about you driving off to leave barely awake To take a little nap while the road is straight I wish that car had never been discovered They took away the bottle and the hat he was under That's the one thing that he could never do And it'll make a whisper out of you She took the Oldsmobile out past condor avenue Cops were running around the scene Looking for some kind of clue They never get uptight when a moth gets crushed Unless a light bulb really loved him very much I'm lying down Blowing smoke from my cigarette Little whisper smoke signs that you'll never get You're in your Oldsmobile driving by the moon Headlights burning bright ahead of you And someone's burning out, out on condor avenue Trying to make a whisper out of you What a shitty thing to say Did you really mean it? You never said a word to me about what passed between us So now I'm leaving you alone You can do whatever the hell you want to Na, na, na, na, na, na.

[@RustinChole]

“What a shitty thing to say, did you really mean it? You never said a word to me about what passed between us...” gawd.

[@paulhowe9802]

I love this

[@titacosta8088]

Muito boa essa música 🌹🌹🌹

[@diegobezerra8804]

Haha pensei que eu fosse o único br do mundo aqui!

[@FlyGuy2000]

Can we please have the 90's back? I promise I'll be good this time.

[@htownallday281]

WHO THE FUCK DISLIKED THIS?

[@UIVOUF]

the vid doesn't move enough, for sure :p

[@alexcampion2461]

well, you know-where's the drop, bro??!?

[@sabathbloodysabath1]

+htownallday281 there's a first for everything

[@MustObeyTheRules]

I miss the dislikes

[@haroldgiraffe3635]

some dummy who has no soul

[@VladimirMotchoulski]

I believe the music of Elliott Smith represents the pinnacle of late 20th and 21st century recorded media. Compare any "chart topping" artist to this. They will sound like a bland and shameful embarrassment.

[@seanhinshaw3736]

bland and shameful embarrassment might just be giving current artists too much credit...

[@kookythymes2838]

sick shouting like you hear at the fairground...that haunting lyric always stuck with me

[@ismaelgarrido1719]

This album often makes refferences to his childhood and his stepfather abusing him and his mother. Maybe this lyrics tells a history of his mother slipping away

[@enzoluiz3669]

Sabiam que ele gravou a msc com 12 anos!!!! Gênio infalível

[@clintonkotcha7452]

I love it always

[@Hartofnewyorkvr]

you can hear angeles in here

[@31alking]

And angels.

[@maturtlelaza]

The guitar is very different if your comparing the songs

[@caramason56]

Awesomeness

[@williamnelson3631]

hell yea

[@toddkuznitz3629]

Wish I knew how to write a song. This guy did more than me at 13 than I did my whole life

[@lemonwater2372]

Never too late

[@iamchannellingjoy]

Yes, never too late! Just write what's on your heart/mind. Get it out - whatever you want to express. Whatever it is, however it comes out, and you can mold it later.

[@TheMonolake]

You have to show lyrics as song plays

[@stormblaster6781]

man i don't how to carry on anymore but i am pushing through but is it worth it anymore?

[@jamesheath7601]

Today would’ve been his 54th birthday 🥳

[@martinsmartini44]

Rest easy, Elliott.

[@nejckastelic1755]

I can't get my head around the lyrics. What are they telling. Did the narrator lose somebody in a car crash? Too cryptic for me.

[@jmpsthrufyre]

@Owl 463 Cool

[@doodybupkis288]

While driving drunk, a woman hits a homeless man by the fairgrounds, killing them both. Her relationship to the narrator isn’t clear.

[@47ejecting2]

@@doodybupkis288 Though I think we can reasonably assume that the woman and the narrator were romantic partners, suffering some form of domestic dispute - which is what caused her to leave in such a tizzy. The final verse might even be from her perspective, given the line "So now I'm leaving you alone" and that the narrator was busy slamming "the screen door like a bastard back and forth."

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"Stop compensating and you'll find your sins were not that bad." ,dan'

[@MattDiMarinoMusic]

It's like a sadder, solo version of early Simon & Garfunkel

[@GodInTheMachine]

What a shitty thing to say. Did you really mean it?

[@vinniecentz]

@@GodInTheMachine Simon & Garfunked did some great records. What do you have to say about them? Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme is a masterpiece

[@shanebagel]

I am a whisper

[@bryannahogan1099]

[@lemonwater2372]

[@connorhough1393]

Connor Avenue not a whisper from the letters

[@The-me9qp]

It will rain harder than you have e we seen when I move.

[@savagenoble7]

I wonder if the title is a reference to Simon and Garfunkel's "El Condor Pasa" which means the "Condor Road" or "Condor Ave."

[@basedsouljah]

DIGmusic7 Condor Ave. is a street in Portland.

[@savagenoble7]

:(

[@djtigerstripes]

Condor Ave is in Portland. He lived here in Portland then.

[@ijemand5672]

no, "el Condor pasa" is a peruvian folkloric classic that Simon and Garfunkel covered and added unrelated lyrics to, and it means "the Condor passes by"

[@TimOdne-bb9vd]

sttopca🌸

[@The-me9qp]

All in Welch.

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"I was so lit that I tried to light my cigarette and caught my breath on fire." ,dan'

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"Whiskey paired off with icecream and wine took the cheesecake." ,dan' (beer took whoever would have him)

[@williamcole60]

At 17 I was a wasteoid

[@toastycabbagewaffles2115]

Fun fact: Elliott never wrote the lyrics. They were written by a friend.

[@missandeisass4671]

How do you know?

[@mattstefon4878]

I dunno-I read that the lyrics of the early version were mainly by a friend and Elliott wrote the melody, but then later he reworked the song including new lyrics for Roman Candle. It’s not really clear how much of the song is Elliott’s and how much is that of his friend and former writing partner.

[@stella-vu8vh]

Heaven adores you is the first source of this info that comes to mind, however I read it in a 20 year markup about the album.

[@stella-vu8vh]

it was also recorded with a toy guitar for some stuff

[@stop5907]

His friend Pickering wrote it I think?

[@Daniel-nv9mc]

He was 16

[@YungSoad]

2:28

[@1waste237]

yeah my mom pmo

[@matthewbennett2735]

Donda. Donda. Donda. Donda.

[@shayboual1892]

0:14

[@za2206]

He never got a loyal Sound Engineering contract for the Public... what evidence We have... Recording Arts industry is totally defunct, wrong... while Denmark announces capacity

[@MatthewMcRowan]

what are you rumbling about lol

[@Robotman]

This is for you Joe F. gone too soon...

[@the-bottom-of-a-black-hole-.]

"The harder you're on yourself the harder you become to beat in the next one." ,dan' (on the afterlife)

[@matthewsolina4920]

It’ll make a whisper out of you…

[@The-me9qp]

It will be 48 degrees and worse and raining just to commentateLayne Staley.

[@aaki31]

Unplugged Jimi hendrix

[@za2206]

Yet couldn't afford a Sound Engineer for live music... totally lied to by Diplomacy.

[@klinkerkk]

This guy's 97% Eric Gaffney

[@zach1389]

Except he's way better than Gaffney

[@beasticle]

Lol did Eric Gaffney post this.

[@seanmatthewking]

Who the fuck is Eric Gaffney?

[@wallflower3723]

They never get uptight when a moth gets crushed unless the lightbulb really love him very much

[@MrSnipezz686]

Can someone explain that line for me, never got it xD

[@rachelburton5712]

The cops generally don't care and won't heavily investigate the death of a nameless teenage girl, at the level of a mere insect ("a moth"). They only would if the girl's lover or carer, who had influence perhaps, pressured the police to investigate. Also, lightbulbs attract moths.

[@MrSnipezz686]

Thanks!

[@evaldsmarksstrautins131]

Hahah elliott referenced the moth meme

[@devontejonvireclark]

Damn...especially harrowing considering that LAPD shut his case down despite the autopsy essentially saying he was definitely murdered by someone. Who, we may never truly know...

[@eloiseripley]

She took the Oldsmobile out past Condor Avenue And she locked the car and slipped past into rhythmic quietude Lights burning, voice dry and hoarse I threw the screen door like a bastard back and forth The chimes fell over each other, I fell onto my knees The sound of the car driving off made me feel diseased A sick shouting like you hear at the fairground Now I'm picking up to put away anything of yours that's still around I don't know what to do with your clothes or your letters It'll make a whisper out of you She took the Oldsmobile out past Condor Avenue The fairground's lit, a drunk man sits by the gate she's driving through Got his hat tipped bottle back in between his teeth Looks like he's buried in the sand at the beach I can't think about you driving off to leave barely awake To take a little nap while the road is straight I wish that car had never been discovered They took away the bottle and the hat he was under That's the one thing that he could never do And it'll make a whisper out of you She took the Oldsmobile out past Condor Avenue Cops were running around the scene looking for some kind of clue They never get uptight when a moth gets crushed Unless a light bulb really loved him very much I'm lying down, blowing smoke from my cigarette Little whisper smoke signs that you'll never get You're in your Oldsmobile driving by the moon Headlights burning bright ahead of you And someone's burning out, out on Condor Avenue Trying to make a whisper out of you What a shitty thing to say, did you really mean it? You never said a word to me about what passed between us So now I'm leaving you alone You can do whatever the hell you want to Na, na-na-na-na-na

[@CarlosMeza-sp1kj]

3:02

[@shayboual1892]

0:16

[@Jack-mh2uz]

0:19