Status

Smith/Pickering/Denbow/Merritt-band song

Written By

Elliott Smith

Recording Sessions

July 1984 (Welch Residence, Duncanville, TX - July 1984 Solo Keyboard Demos) - uncirculating
July-August 1984 (??, Duncanville, TX - Summer 1984 Rehearsals) - uncirculating
July-August 1984 (Pla-Back Recording, TX - Summer 1984 Studio Session) - uncirculating

Availability of Official Release

A 58-second clip of this song is included in the 2014 documentary film Heaven Adores You, specifically from 14:14 - 15:12 in the film.

Lyrics

Long ago I was invited
To be among the ones
Live around the busy towns
And run under the gun
But I gave up the business life
To lay beneath the sun
Write down my favorite sounds
Life has just begun
I’m outward bound
I am leaving the cities and the towns
Where there’s beauty in the trees
A cool and (autumn)/wispy breeze

Live my life in the Northwest
Under the cloudy skies
This is the life that I know best
Please don’t ask me why
I’m outward bound
I am leaving the cities and the towns
There’s silence in the trees
A cool and wintry breeze
I’m outward bound
I am leaving the cities and the towns
Well there’s beauty in the trees
A cool and springtime breeze…

Note

This is song is described in the 2013 psychobiography about Elliott entitled Torment Saint: The Life of Elliott Smith as being inspired by an “Outward Bound” program poster that Elliott came across and hung in his room (Outward Bound is a nation-wide program targeting improvement for “at risk” teenagers). The book also notes that this song was recorded at the rehearsals performed by Elliott and his band at the time consisting of Steve Pickering, Kevin Denbow, Mark Merritt, and his on-and-off girlfriend Kim. Based on additional commentary provided by Steve Pickering in Heaven Adores You, we have deduced the following:

* Elliott recorded a solo version of the song on keyboard, singing lead vocal, and according to an interview of Pickering by Crave Magazine, this was done as a reference point to the rest of the band. This is the version that is featured in Heaven Adores You.
* The full Smith/Pickering/Denbow/Merritt band recorded two versions during their rehearsals, both with Kim on vocals. These replace the keyboard with guitar.
* The version recorded at Pla-Back Recording features Kim on vocals and is again featuring guitar instead of keyboard.

Other than the “Elliott solo version,” Elliott contributes guitar on all recordings.

Audio

1) Pla-Black version w/Kim on vocals, Elliott on guitar (full version, open mic):

2) Demo version with Elliott on keyboards and vocals (clip, open mic - this is the same demo of which a different 58 second clip appears in Heaven Adores You as noted above):