My Five Year Old Sings Elliott Smith

I got a USB input for my mic and pre-amp today and had my five-year-old Twin B test it for me by singing along with Smith's Christian Brothers. The eponymous first album is one of those CDs I listen to constantly, and it's been that way for a long time. So she knows it. She even knows what parts she's not supposed to say. "I'm not going to sing that 'fucking' part, OK?"

No bad dream fucker's gonna boss me around
Christian brothers gonna take him down
But it can't help me get over
Don't be cross
It's sick what I want
I've seen the boss blink on and off
Fake concerns is what's the matter, man
And you think I ought to shake your motherfucking hand
Well I know how much you care
Don't be cross
It's sick what I want
I've seen the boss blink on and off
Come here by me, I want you here
Nightmares become me, it's so fucking clear
Nightmares become me, it's so fucking clear

You should see her do Needle in the Hay. Below is Smith doing Waltz #2 on Swedish TV. It's appallingly gorgeous.

Needle in the Hay

In honor of United Way's recent discovery that there's a heroin trade in Downtown Seattle that is linked to visible poverty, here's Elliot Smith, live in Seattle in 2000, kicking out a rocked up Needle in the Hay.

Your hand on his arm
Haystack charm around your neck
Strung out and thin
Calling some friend, trying to cash some check
He's acting dumb
That's what you've come to expect
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
He's wearing your clothes
Head down to toes, a reaction to you
You say you know what he did
But you idiot kid, you don't have a clue
Sometimes they just get caught in the eye, you're pulling him through
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Now on the bus
Nearly touching this dirty retreat
Falling out 6th and powell, a dead sweat in my teeth
Gonna walk walk walk
Four more blocks, plus the one in my brain
Down downstairs to the man, he's gonna make it all okay
I can't beat myself
I can't beat myself
And I don't want to talk
I'm taking the cure
So I can be quiet wherever I want
So leave me alone
You ought to be proud that I'm getting good marks
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay

Thirteen

Feeling sad about Elliott Smith tonight. 34. fuck.