Miss Misery
Back in the day, back when I worked at Barnes&Noble, we always knew David was the one working in the music department when the Elliott Smith music came on. Whereas other things garnered suspicions from people (I was always suspect when the Beatles came on, even though I didn't even work in that department normally), Elliott Smith was exclusively David's. I didn't mind. I remember one of the first times I heard him play on of Elliott Smith's albums, and I wandered over to comment to him that whatever he was playing sounded a lot like the songs from "Good Will Hunting". David kind of smiled, and let me know the reason for that was because it was the same artist. :) And, of course, that was Elliott Smith.
Time went on, and David got fired, but I really did miss hearing those Elliott Smith albums at work. I never did get around to buying any of them, though. Just one of those things. But I did eventually find the soundtrack to "Good Will Hunting" (it took me ages) and sometimes I just want to listen to the song "Miss Misery" over and over again because it just hits me in a place where few songs do.
Anyway, last night before I went to sleep, I turned on the radio, and I caught the last 20 minutes or so of NPR before they switch programming at midnight. The last segment on "All Things Considered" was a little thing about Elliott Smith... Apparently, he committed suicide the other day, plunging a knife into his chest.
Like I said, I don't even own any of his albums, but even with the little bit that I do know of his music, I feel like this is a tragedy. Not a tragedy on the scale of earthquakes or wars or whatnot, but terribly sad nonetheless. He wasn't that old, but that's not the point. I think what makes me really really sad about this is that when I hear about people who do succumb to depression and despair and resort to suicide, it brings back shadows of so many dark days I've lived through. It reminds me of what it's like to live in that sort of darkness. That's why I can't hate him. I can't be angry with him for this "selfish act" (as it's often called). All I feel is an overwhelming sadness that somebody who could create such beautiful music also struggled with these kinds of demons and lost.
Reuters story
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
I don't have you with me but I keep a good attitude
Do you miss me, Miss Misery, like you say you do?
Time went on, and David got fired, but I really did miss hearing those Elliott Smith albums at work. I never did get around to buying any of them, though. Just one of those things. But I did eventually find the soundtrack to "Good Will Hunting" (it took me ages) and sometimes I just want to listen to the song "Miss Misery" over and over again because it just hits me in a place where few songs do.
Anyway, last night before I went to sleep, I turned on the radio, and I caught the last 20 minutes or so of NPR before they switch programming at midnight. The last segment on "All Things Considered" was a little thing about Elliott Smith... Apparently, he committed suicide the other day, plunging a knife into his chest.
Like I said, I don't even own any of his albums, but even with the little bit that I do know of his music, I feel like this is a tragedy. Not a tragedy on the scale of earthquakes or wars or whatnot, but terribly sad nonetheless. He wasn't that old, but that's not the point. I think what makes me really really sad about this is that when I hear about people who do succumb to depression and despair and resort to suicide, it brings back shadows of so many dark days I've lived through. It reminds me of what it's like to live in that sort of darkness. That's why I can't hate him. I can't be angry with him for this "selfish act" (as it's often called). All I feel is an overwhelming sadness that somebody who could create such beautiful music also struggled with these kinds of demons and lost.
Reuters story
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
I don't have you with me but I keep a good attitude
Do you miss me, Miss Misery, like you say you do?