Status

Elliott Smith Song

Alternative Title

Things Are Hard
Sleigh Bells

Written By

Elliott Smith

Recording Sessions

1996 (Smith Residence, Portland, OR - Either/Or Sessions)

Availability of Official Release

New Moon

Lyrics

Between kinks you betray, stupid shit you display,
I took pictures in my head.
You and your blank stare are all we have, a little trace of you there.
You just didn’t care-you were off getting drunk instead.

Seen how things are hard. Seen how things are hard. I love you, though.
Seen how things are hard. Seen how things are hard-we don’t, you know.

You were scared of what you thought was a dizzy height-you freaked out and forgot-
You stayed well away from trouble that you cause,
Using all your strength to keep the world at an arm’s length
And not get upset at this self-imposed loss.

Seen how things are hard. Seen how things are hard. I love you, though.
Seen how things are hard. Seen how things are hard-we don’t, you know.

I’m a crack reflection of you. I can’t make corrections for you.
You have to help me patch things up.

Seen how things are hard. Seen how things are hard. I love you, though.
Seen how things are hard. Seen how things are hard-we don’t, you know.
Seen how things are hard. Seen how things are hard. I love you, though.
Seen how things are hard. Seen how things are hard-well don’t you know? No.

First known live performance

1996-07-14 (La Luna, Portland, OR, USA)

Notes

The song is also called “Things Are Hard”. It was also known under the working title, “Sleigh Bells”.

Audio