Status

Elliott Smith Song

Written By

Elliott Smith

Recording Sessions

March 25-26, 1996 (Waterfront Studios, Hoboken, NJ - Chocodog Sessions) - unofficially circulating (source of keyboard effect in final version)
March - July 1996 (The Shop, Humboldt County, CA - Primary Either/Or Sessions) 
April 1996 (Smith Residence, Portland, OR - Rob Jones)
October 17-20, 1996 (Smith Residence, Portland, OR - Lucky 3)
May 6, 1997 (KCRW Studios, Santa Monica, CA - Morning Becomes Eclectic) - unofficially circulating
January 12, 1999 (FM802 Studios, Osaka, Japan - FM802 Session) - unofficially circulating

Availability of Official Release

Either/Or
Speed Trials 7"
Kill Rock Stars’ Video Fanzine #1
Alternate versions from Either/Or
Live at Largo (not a studio recording, soundboard recording of a live performance on 4/11/98 at Largo in Los Angeles, CA)
Either/Or: Expanded Edition (not a studio recording, soundboard recording of live performance from July 17, 1997, in Olympia, WA)

Lyrics

someone’s always coming around here trailing some new kill
says i seen your picture on a hundred dollar bill
and what’s a game of chance to you, to him is one of real skill
so glad to meet you
angeles
picking up the ticket shows there’s money to be made
go on and lose the gamble that’s the history of the trade
you add up all the cards left to play to zero
and sign up with evil
angeles
don’t start me trying now
cos i’m all over it
angeles
i could make you satisfied in everything you do
all your ‘secret wishes’ could right now be coming true
and be forever with my poison arms around you
no one’s gonna fool around with us
no one’s gonna fool around with us
so glad to meet you
angeles

Notes

In live performances and in several recordings, Elliott would occasionally substitute the line “poison arms” with “broken arms”.

Audio