Status

Elliott Smith Song

Alternative Title

Saintlike

Written By

Words by Elliott Smith
Music by JJ Gonson / Elliott Smith

Recording Sessions

Fall 1993 (Gonson Residence, Portland, OR - Roman Candle Sessions)

Availability of Official Release

Roman Candle

Lyrics

At a party he was waiting
Looking kind of spooky and withdrawn
Like he could be underwater
The mighty mother with her hundred arms
Swept all aside
I hate to walk behind other people’s ambition
I saw you waiting
Saint like
With your warning
Leave alone
You don’t belong here

He got nervous
Started whistling
Every thought a ricochet
Did you notice?
Well i wondered
What’s the worst thing i could say?
And i froze up and sighed
You remind me of someones daughter
I forgot her
I forgot her name ashamed
Go home and live with your pain
Leave alone
Leave alone ‘cos you know you don’t belong
You don’t belong here

And when i go
Don’t you follow
Leave alone
Leave alone ‘cos you know you don’t belong
You don’t belong here
Slip out quiet
Nobody’s looking
Leave alone
You don’t belong here

Note

Pete Krebs plays snare and cymbal on this track, credited as “Kid Tulsa.”

First known live performance

1994-09-17 (Umbra Penumbra, Portland, OR, USA)

Audio