Elliot Smith - Needle in the Hay Lyrics Meaning

It is a universal message of being at war with yourself. The body and soul. Where the soul is pure and child like, open and willing to change with optimism, the body is tainted with punishments and rewards from the past. He is talking to himself. "He's acting dumb, but that's what you've come to expect." The he is what he sees in the mirror, and the you who has come to expect is that person inside who wants control for the better. The soul, the voice inside that experiences. "He's wearing your clothes, head down to toes, a reaction to you." Like looking in the mirror and seeing a stranger. But the cycle perpetuates, da da da, knife in chest.

The body giving an irresistable urge to feel good and the brain showing the body, through memory, how to do this.

It's about addiction. Really, this song interpretation of mine can be applied to the whole album.

His best album. Top three of the 90's!

-Danny

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