Elliott Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician known for his highly personal, often confessional songwriting style. Smith’s music was marked by his distinctively fragile vocals, often accompanied by acoustic guitar, piano, and string instruments. He released six solo albums during his lifetime and a posthumous album from his record label. His songs are often characterized by introspective lyrics that explore themes of depression, loneliness, and substance abuse. Smith was widely acclaimed for his songwriting and performances, particularly after his 1997 album, Either/Or. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for his song “Miss Misery” from the soundtrack of Good Will Hunting. Smith died of an apparent suicide in 2003 at the age of 34.
| Name | Elliott Smith |
| Genres | Indie rock, folk rock, lo-fi, alternative rock |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion |
| Years active | 1992–2003 |
| Labels | Kill Rock Stars, DreamWorks, Domino |
| Date of Birth | August 6, 1969 |
10 Best Elliott Smith Quotes
“I think it’s a good thing for people to be able to find something that comforts them in my music, because I’m really comforted by other people’s music.”
– Elliott Smith, from The Guardian
“I was probably a little too analytical in trying to process my feelings. It’s like I was too scared to really feel them, so I’d think about them a lot and try to figure out what they meant.”
– Elliott Smith, from The Guardian
“I like to write songs that I hope people can relate to. The way I feel about songs and how I think about songs is that they should be like a little movie or something, a picture of some kind of feeling.”
– Elliott Smith, from YouTube
“I don’t think I’m trying to reveal any deep dark secrets. I like to think of my songs as being kind of like little movies or stories that have some kind of emotional truth in them.”
– Elliott Smith, from YouTube
“I think songwriting is a way to figure out how you feel about things. When I write, I’m trying to figure out what I’m feeling and what I think about something.”
– Elliott Smith, from Stereogum
“I think songwriting can be a way to figure out how you feel about things. I’m always trying to figure out what I’m feeling and what I think about something when I write.”
– Elliott Smith, from Stereogum
“I think songs are really all I have to give people. So, I try to make them as good as I can and as honest as I can.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“I think it’s important for people to find something that comforts them in music, because music is what comforts me.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“I like to think of my songs as being like little movies or stories that have some kind of emotional truth in them.”
– Elliott Smith, from The Line of Best Fit
“I’m drawn to songs that are really honest and it seems like a lot of really good songs are really honest and really kind of sad.”
– Elliott Smith, from The Line of Best Fit
8 Inspirational Elliott Smith Quotes
“I think you should be able to listen to a record and find something that’s really meaningful to you.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“I’m trying to make the best record I can, the one that I would want to hear.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“I want to make something that somebody is going to listen to ten years from now and feel the same way about it that I felt when I wrote it.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“It’s kind of like a conversation between me and the audience. It’s kind of like a letter that keeps updating itself.”
– Elliott Smith, from NPR
“I’m really proud of the songs and the way they were recorded. It’s kind of a personal thing, and I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“I don’t want to make something that’s going to go away in a year or two. I want to make something that’s going to stand up.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“I’m trying to make a record that has a lot of depth, where every element is really clear, and you can really hear everything.”
– Elliott Smith, from NPR
“I think it’s really important to make something that’s really honest and really real and really true.”
– Elliott Smith, from Salon
7 Famous Elliott Smith Quotes
“I’m not a totally self-confident person and I don’t feel like I have a whole lot to offer the world, so I guess I’m trying to make something out of what little I have.”
– Elliott Smith, from Stereogum
“I think a lot of people have a romantic idea of what being in a band is like, and it’s not like that. It’s like a relationship — it’s hard work.”
– Elliott Smith, from Spin
“I don’t really have any kind of master plan of what I want my career to be like. I just kind of take it as it goes.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“I’ve been around music all my life, and I’ve been around people who make it. So it doesn’t seem that strange. I know there’s a lot of pressure, but I think of it as just a bigger version of what I was doing before.”
– Elliott Smith, from The Guardian
“I don’t really know if I’m doing anything that’s completely original, but I’m just trying to make something that sounds good to me.”
– Elliott Smith, from Spin
“I don’t think I’ve ever had an ambition as far as music is concerned. I just do it because it’s something I like to do and it’s a way to communicate with people.”
– Elliott Smith, from Pitchfork
“I don’t think of myself as a musician. I think of myself as a songwriter.”
– Elliott Smith, from Cool Noise
7 Elliott Smith Quotes About Love
“I think a lot of people feel like there’s a certain kind of love that’s worth something and then a kind of love that’s not worth much.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“I think it’s important to be able to have some kind of love in your life.”
– Elliott Smith, from NPR
“Love isn’t really a conscious process; it’s something that happens to you.”
– Elliott Smith, from YouTube
“Love is a great thing, but it can also be a real drag.”
– Elliott Smith, from YouTube
“Maybe if love is a kind of thing you can’t get away from, it’s better to be with somebody else than to be alone.”
– Elliott Smith, from YouTube
“Love is something that’s hard to come by, but once it’s gone it’s too late to try and get it back.”
– Elliott Smith, from YouTube
“Love is the one thing that keeps us all together and it’s probably the one thing that breaks us up.”
– Elliott Smith, from YouTube
7 Elliott Smith Quotes About Life
“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
– Elliott Smith, from Rolling Stone
“I don’t think anyone can be truly happy until they understand what it means to be unhappy.”
– Elliott Smith, from AV Club
“I want to do things that are hard to do, and I want to do them really well.”
– Elliott Smith, from Hot Press
“I think it’s important to stay as honest and open as possible.”
– Elliott Smith, from The Telegraph
“It’s important to look at life as objectively as you can, to get rid of the baggage you can get rid of.”
– Elliott Smith, from NME
“You just want to write songs that are honest and are about things that you really know.”
– Elliott Smith, from AV Club
“You don’t want to write about things that you don’t know about or that you can’t explain.”
– Elliott Smith, from Last.fm
8 Quotes About Elliott Smith
“Elliott Smith had a unique ability to connect with people who felt like they didn’t fit in.”
– Ryan Adams, from Consequence of Sound
“He had a fierce talent that was as deep and wide and inimitable as any artist who ever lived.”
– Beck, from Rolling Stone
“He was a singer-songwriter of the highest order — a poetic wordsmith who had a rare gift for combining deep emotional resonance with strong melodies.”
– Andrew Leahey, from All Music
“Smith was the kind of singer-songwriter whose words and music could make your heart ache.”
– Matthew Perpetua, from Pitchfork
“Elliott Smith is one of the most important singer-songwriters of the past 30 years.”
– Emily Zemler, from Billboard
“His songs are filled with a tenderness and empathy that is hard to find in modern music.”
– Pete Naughton, from The Guardian
“Elliott Smith was a musical genius with a rare talent to make people feel.”
– Hayden Childs, from Elliott Smith Fans
Interview with Elliott Smith
Frequently Asked Questions About Elliott Smith
1. What are some of the most famous Elliott Smith quotes?
Elliott Smith’s raw and honest lyrics have left an indelible mark on modern music, inspiring generations of musicians. His timeless quotes have a unique way of speaking to the heart and soul of his listeners. Here are some of his most famous quotes:
- “I’m never gonna know you now, but I’m gonna love you anyhow.”
- “The world is full of guys, but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.”
- “I’m so tired I can’t sleep, I’m so tired my mind won’t keep.”
- “Everything’s gonna be alright, maybe not today, but eventually.”
- “I can’t make the hills any less steep, so I guess I’ll just have to keep climbing.”
- “The way I feel is so far away, nothing anyone can say will make it okay.”
- “I’m in love with the world through the eyes of a girl, who’s still around the morning after.”
- “To be in love, you have to give up a part of yourself, and that’s worth it.”
These quotes from Elliott Smith capture the depth of his emotion, the struggles of life, and the power of love. His words will always continue to resonate with listeners for years to come.
2. How have Elliott Smith’s quotes been used in popular culture?
Elliott Smith’s quotes have been used in popular culture in a number of ways. From being featured in movies and television shows to inspiring songs and other creative works, his words have made an impact on many.
- Movies and Television: Elliott Smith’s lyrics and quotes have been featured in a number of films and television shows. In 2014, the movie Begin Again featured Smith’s song “Say Yes,” and his quote “I’m in love with the world through the eyes of a girl” was used in the popular show Dead Like Me.
- Songs: Many artists, including Bright Eyes, Ben Lee, and The Decemberists, have been inspired by Smith’s words to write their own songs. Bright Eyes’ song “Lover I Don’t Have to Love” is based on Smith’s quote “I’m so in love with the world through the eyes of a girl.”
- Other Creative Works: Smith’s quotes have been used in a variety of other creative works, including poetry, artwork, and other forms of media. His quote “I’m so in love with the world through the eyes of a girl” was featured in the poem “Last Night the Wind Changed,” and his lyrics have been featured in many pieces of artwork.
The impact of Elliott Smith’s quotes can be felt throughout popular culture, from movies and television to songs and other creative works. His words have resonated with many, and have been used as an inspiration for many artists.
3. What topics do Elliott Smith’s quotes usually address?
Elliott Smith’s lyrics and quotes often address topics such as love, loss, redemption, and hope. He often explored topics such as depression, addiction, and suicide. His quotes often have a deep and introspective nature, reflecting on his own personal struggles, as well as his views on life and relationships.
- Love
- Loss
- Redemption
- Hope
- Depression
- Addiction
- Suicide
- Personal Struggles
- Life and Relationships
4. What was the inspiration for Elliott Smith’s quotes?
Elliott Smith was an American singer-songwriter who was best known for his sorrowful, acoustic-based folk and indie rock songs. His music was often inspired by his personal struggles with depression, drugs, addiction, and loneliness. As such, his lyrics often reflected a deep introspection and rumination on these topics.
Smith’s quotes were often poetic, insightful and reflective of his own experiences. Here are some of the main inspirations for his quotes:
- Personal struggles: Smith often wrote about his own struggles with depression, addiction, and loneliness, and his lyrics often reflected his introspective thoughts on these topics.
- Love and relationships: Smith wrote about love and relationships in his music, often expressing his own longing for companionship and understanding.
- Society and culture: Smith often wrote about the injustices of society and culture, and how these issues could be addressed.
- Nature: Smith wrote about the beauty of nature, and often used it as a metaphor for his own feelings and experiences.
- Life and death: Smith often wrote about life and death, exploring the themes of mortality, mortality, and the afterlife.
5. How has Elliott Smith’s Life and Music been Reflected in his Quotes?
Elliott Smith’s life and music have been reflected in his quotes in many ways. He was known for his deeply personal and often melancholic lyrics, and his quotes often reflect this sentiment. Here are some of the ways Elliott Smith’s life and music have been reflected in his quotes:
- The importance of relationships: Smith’s quotes often reflect the importance of meaningful relationships, such as in his quote “I want to be close to someone I respect and admire and have somebody who feels the same way about me.”
- Self-reflection: Smith’s quotes often reflect his own self-reflection, such as in his quote “I don’t think that I’m different from anybody else, but I have a hard time believing that everybody else is the same as me.”
- The power of music: Smith’s quotes often reflect the power of music in his life and in the lives of others, such as in his quote “Music is a kind of nourishment that doesn’t matter whether you’re a good musician or not – it can make you feel better.”
- The importance of self-care: Smith’s quotes often reflect the importance of self-care and taking time to be alone and reflect, such as in his quote “I think it’s important to take time out of your day to sort of be by yourself and think about what’s going on.”
- The power of storytelling: Smith’s quotes often reflect the power of storytelling, such as in his quote “I think it’s important to tell stories, to tell people how you feel and how you’re doing.”
By reflecting his life and music in his quotes, Elliott Smith’s words continue to resonate with fans and new listeners alike.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Elliott Smith was a brilliant and talented artist who left a lasting impression on the music world. His words and music touched many people and remain an inspiration to many to this day. His talent and genius will be remembered for a long time to come, and his quotes will always serve as an example of his unwavering commitment to his craft.
