Status
Elliott Smith Song
Written By
Elliott Smith
Recording Sessions
March-May 1996 (Smith Residence, Portland, OR - Either/Or Sessions at Elliott’s House) - instrumental part of, that segues into an early version of “Punch and Judy” [uncirculating]
October 17-20, 1996 (Smith Residence, Portland, OR - Lucky 3)
Winter 1996 - February 1997 (??, Portland, OR - Post Either/Or Solo Sessions) - additional tracking to Lucky 3 version, uncirculating
Mid 1997 (Jackpot! Studios, Portland, OR - Jackpot! session produced by Joanna Bolme) - initial instrumental tracking for XO version (uncirculating on its own)
1997 (Location Unknown - Grand Mal Demos) - uncirculating
March - April 1998 (Sunset Sound Studios and Sound Factory Studios, Los Angeles, CA - Primary XO Sessions) - vocals for XO version (uncirculating on their own)
March 29, 1999 (WBCN Studios, Boston, MA - WBCN) - unofficially circulating
April 8, 1999 (WXRT Studios, Chicago, IL - WXRT) - unofficially circulating
Availability of Official Release
Kill Rock Stars’ Video Fanzine #1
XO
Baby Britain Promo CD (remix version)
Lyrics
Baby Britain feels the best
Floating over a sea of vodka
Separated from the rest
Fights problems with bigger problems
Sees the ocean fall and rise
Counts the waves that somehow didn’t hit her
Water pouring from her eyes
Alcoholic and very bitter
For someone half as smart
You’d be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can’t help until you start
We knocked another couple back
The dead soldiers lined up on the table
Still prepared for an attack
They didn’t know they’d been disabled
Felt a wave a rush of blood
You won’t be happy ‘til the bottle’s broken
And you’re out swimming in the flood
You kept back you kept unspoken
For someone half as smart
You’d be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can’t help until you start
You got a look in your eye
When you’re saying goodbye
Like you want to say hi
The light was on but it was dim
Revolver’s been turned over
And now it’s ready once again
The radio was playing “crimson and clover”
London bridge is safe and sound
No matter what you keep repeating
Nothing’s gonna drag me down
To a death that’s not worth cheating
For someone half as smart
You’d be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can’t help until you start
For someone half as smart
You’d be a work of art
You put yourself apart
And I can’t help until you start
Audio
Official Music Video (Directed by Steve Hanft)
Instrumental from “Lucky 3” documentary (first 1:14 of video below) (directed by Jem Cohen) - Note - Elliott played the song in this style whenever he played it acoustically, which is quite different in strumming and chord structure from the official release.