Status

Elliott Smith Song

Alternate Title

Better Off Than Dead

Written By

Elliott Smith

Recording Sessions

Mid 1997 (Jackpot! Studios, Portland, OR - Jackpot! session produced by Joanna Bolme) - instrumental, uncirculating
1997 (Location Unknown - Grand Mal Demos) - uncirculating
March - April 1998 (Sunset Sound Studios and Sound Factory Studios, Los Angeles, CA - Primary XO Sessions)

Availability of Official Release

XO

Lyrics

Cut this picture into you and me
Burn it backwards, kill this history
Make it over, make it stay away
Or hate’ll sing the ending that
Love started to say

There’s a kid a floor below me singing
Brother can you spare sunshine for a brother
Old man winter’s in the air
Walked me up a story, asking how ya’ are
Told me not to worry, you’re
Just a shooting star

Sweet Adeline
Sweet Adeline
My Clementine
Sweet Adeline

It’s a picture perfect evening and I’m staring down the sun
Fully loaded, deaf and dumb and done
Waiting for sedation to disconnect my head
Or any situation where I’m
Better off than dead

Audio: