Status
Elliott Smith song
Written By
Elliott Smith
Recording Sessions
September 1994 (Lash Residence, Portland, OR - Self-Titled session) -
May 6, 1997 (KCRW Studios, Santa Monica, CA - Morning Becomes Eclectic)
Availability of Official Release
Self Titled
Kill Rock Stars Digital Bonus Download, August 2012
Lyrics
Your hand on his arm
The hay stack charm around your neck
Strung out and thin
Calling some friend trying to cash some check
He’s acting dumb
That’s what you’ve come to expect
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
He’s wearing your clothes
Head down to toes, a reaction to you
You say you know what he did
But you idiot kid
You don’t have a clue
Sometimes they just get caught in the eye
You’re pulling him through
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Now on the bus
Nearly touching this dirty retreat
Falling out 6th and powell a dead sweat in my teeth
Gonna walk walk walk
Four more blocks plus one in my brain
Down downstairs to the man
He’s gonna make it all ok
I can’t beat myself
I can’t beat myself
I don’t want to talk
I’m taking the cure so I can be quiet whenever I want
So leave me alone
You ought to be proud that I’m getting good marks
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
First known live performance
1994-09-17 (Umbra Penumbra, Portland, OR, USA) - Short instrumental tease
1995-03-08 (Club Congo, Tempe, AZ, USA) - Complete song
Notes
The line “Head down to toes, a reaction to you” was occasionally replaced with “Everyone knows he’s a reaction to you” when sung live.
During later shows with a full band, the song was given more of a “rock” arrangement and would feature drums and bass, with Smith also singing the vocals an octave higher.
The song was used in the movie The Royal Tenenbaums.
Pitchfork Media included the song at number 27 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s (source).
An alternate mix of this song features Eric Matthews on trumpet and Elliott on harmonica.
Audio
Live electric version, performed on November 10, 2000 in Portland, OR