And I'm not trying to write heavy songs.
Elliott Smith

Because God only knows why people like what they like and don't like something else.
Elliott Smith

But I was also doing odd jobs around Portland, like spreading gravel and transplanting bamboo trees.
Elliott Smith

I actually don't think that I'm gonna sell a lot of records.
Elliott Smith

I can't think of anything off the top of my head that seems more important than something designed to raise money to keep something going that keeps IV drug users from dying.
Elliott Smith

I didn't have a hard time making it, I had a hard time letting it go.
Elliott Smith

I didn't know how many people knew who Ferdinand was.
Elliott Smith

I didn't think I was gonna be playing on the Oscars or anything.
Elliott Smith

I don't really like New York better than Portland. It's just a different place.
Elliott Smith

I don't think that Dreamworks would have signed me expecting to really mess around with whatever it is I do.
Elliott Smith


I just wanted to move out of Portland to do something.
Elliott Smith

I like home recordings and studio recordings just as much as each other - I don't think one is better - but for this record I wanted to see what I could do in a real studio with real producers.
Elliott Smith

I mean people just have a way of - y'know they'll review your record in two sentences and put you in this little stupid box that you don't want to be in.
Elliott Smith

I rode on a float in one of the parades in Mississippi. It's an experience.
Elliott Smith

I was coming off of a lot of psyche meds and other things.
Elliott Smith

I was trying to do the same thing that I always do which is make an interesting record.
Elliott Smith

I watched myself put my paw in the bear trap on that one because there was this clause about leaving members.
Elliott Smith

I wondered if I would talk about drug use. But I guess, why hide it?
Elliott Smith

I'm just writing songs about how I feel or about how people I know feel.
Elliott Smith

If you play acoustic guitar you're the depressed, sensitive guy.
Elliott Smith