Smith, Elliott - St. Ides Heaven Lyrics






Everything is exactly right
When I walk around here drunk every night
With an open container from 7-11
In St. Ides Heaven
I've been out haunting the neighborhood
And everybody can see I'm no good
When I'm walking out between parked cars
With my head full of stars
High on amphetamines
The moon is a light bulb breaking
It'll go around with anyone
But it won't come down for anyone
You think you know what brings me down
That I want those things you could never allow
You see me smile and you think it's a frown turned upside-down
Cos everyone is a fucking pro
And they all got answers from trouble they've known
And they all gotta say what you should and shouldn't do
Though they don't have a clue
High on amphetamines
The moon is a light bulb breaking
It'll go around with anyone
But it won't come down for anyone
And I won't come down for anyone





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Smith, Elliott St. Ides Heaven Comments
  1. R.... G....

    I don't like the added vocal that I've never heard before.
    Anybody else hear that??
    Different from the original

  2. J.... J....

    His first song I ever heard. I was .. 16? 24 now so it's not like he's my whole life but... this will always stick with me

    J.... J....

    I wish I found him at 16...

  3. N.... N....

    His voice is mixed so fucking amazing. A whisper/singing thing. Very cool.

  4. J.... D....

    So true with my paat and all other
    with luck

  5. D.... W....

    Great harmonies with the female vocalist, not sure who it is, though. Listened to this song a hundred times and just noticed it.

    D.... W....

    I think it's just him overdubbing with himself ^ my comment above. One soft singing track and another almost whisper track EXPERTLY mixed/processed etc.

    D.... W....

    That what I thought for years. The last couple listens, however, I hear a girl singing that whisper track. I could definitely be wrong, but it is really cool that this aspect of the song stood out to both of us. ✊

  6. A.... C....

    Brilliant

  7. S.... P....

    Fuckin shit, the moon is a lightbulb breaking?

  8. A.... H....

    fuckkkkkk dude. ive been there........

  9. j.... o....

    2pac and dre did a commercial for st ides back in 1996 look it up on YouTube

    j.... o....

    lol yeah, it was that kind of cheap flavored malt beverage from the cheap stores downtown, I drank it as a teenager. It was good tbh... No, I do not drink NOR condone drinking whatsoever.

  10. O.... 4....

    “I’m tired of playing saint Ide’s Heaven!”

    O.... 4....

    He did say that live lol

    O.... 4....

    jahseh onfroy yeah, oh well okay live haha

  11. K.... R....

    Check out this rare live footage of Elliott's 1999 New Year's Eve performance at The Knitting Factory: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6KwzgIePF4Dy7347Om6Ijcsr4vh6JJjP

  12. j.... o....

    I think kurt. Cobain would have liked this

    j.... o....

    because of the amphetamines thing?

    j.... o....

    he had good taste

    j.... o....

    I think Kurt would have toured with Elliott Smith had he not have died.

  13. K.... T....

    I relate to this song more than I should... but I'm not a kid anymore and luckily don't take amphetamines anymore.

  14. K.... B....

    I used to drink St ides with my old crack dealer. he got shot and killed in a drive by. this song is rough.

    K.... B....

    Kai Chita what's st ides? Are you still using drugs?

    K.... B....

    St ides is Malt liquor

    K.... B....

    2pac and dre did a commercial for st ides back in 1996 look it up on YouTube

    K.... B....

    Kacee Blake fuck

  15. M.... S....

    I love pullin this :)

  16. E.... ....

    Allow the love

  17. R.... B....

    Everything is exactly right
    When I walk around here drunk every night
    With an open container from 7-11
    In St. Ides heaven
    I've been out haunting the neighbourhood
    And everybody can see I'm no good
    When I'm walking out between parked cars
    With my head full of stars
    High on amphetamines
    The moon is a light bulb breaking
    It'll go around with anyone
    But it won't come down for anyone
    You think you know what brings me down
    That I want those things you could never allow
    You see me smiling you think it's a frown
    Turned upside down
    ‘Cause everyone is a fucking pro
    And they all got answers from trouble they've known
    And they all got to say what you should and shouldn't do
    Though they don't have a clue
    High on amphetamines
    The moon is a light bulb breaking
    It'll go around with anyone
    But it won't come down for anyone
    And I won't come down for anyone

  18. M.... S....

    For breaking. IT WON'T COME DOWN.... for … anyone....

  19. M.... S....

    Do you?

    M.... S....

    Sing it like he wants ya to.

    M.... S....

    Meth? the like will alight anything? Light?

    M.... S....

    what kinda dumb fuck would suspect their buck

  20. i.... ....

    "i want the loudest part of the mix to be me sliding my fingers across the strings.." - elliott smith

    i.... ....

    Where did he say that

    i.... ....

    @Levi Jesse its a joke haha

    i.... ....

    I tried turning on this girl to Elliott and used this record as a template. She was like “this guy can’t play guitar for shit”. “I can hear his strings sliding”. I was like “cunt”.

  21. C.... K....

    Because we LOVE YOU, Elliott!!

  22. J.... C....

    itll go around with anyone
    but wont come down for anyone

  23. T.... B....

    2:09- fun harmonies.

  24. S.... k....

    To this day... the chorus still gives me chills

    S.... k....

    Hell yeah I like stick man to good song

  25. A.... F....

    i shouldn’t be crying at 5am listening to this...gonna havva beer i guess

    A.... F....

    Dude I do the same thing my friend I grew up with died in June 2017 his birthday was that month he was 29 going on 30 heroin man we were in a band to

    A.... F....

    @jahseh onfroy I'm sorry. That just plain sucks. 2 years later - does this get easier?

    A.... F....

    Me too man. Cheers. Hope it's better now

    A.... F....

    @Danielle Marin I'm not that dude, but my best friend died in July 2016. It was the third anniversary where I really started to get over it. It never goes away, and even though I'm not over it, - and probably never will be - I guess it does get easier. I miss him so much. But nowadays I understand that he would rather I move on and live the best life I can live without being held back by losing him; to live the life he could've/should've lived.

  26. f.... m....

    Everything is exactly right
    When I walk around here drunk every night
    With an open container from 7-11
    In St. Ides Heaven
    I've been out haunting the neighborhood
    And everybody can see I'm no good
    When I'm walking out between parked cars
    With my head full of stars
    High on amphetamines
    The moon is a light bulb breaking
    It'll go around with anyone
    But it won't come down for anyone
    You think you know what brings me down
    That I want those things you could never allow
    You see me smile and you think it's a frown turned upside-down
    Cos everyone is a fucking pro
    And they all got answers from trouble they've known
    And they all gotta say what you should and shouldn't do
    Though they don't have a clue
    High on amphetamines
    The moon is a light bulb breaking
    It'll go around with anyone
    But it won't come down for anyone
    And I won't come down for anyone

  27. C.... D....

    *[Dm- C- Bb- G7]

    [Bb]Every[G/B]thing is e[Bb]xactly [F]right
    when I [Bb]walk a[G/B]round here [Bb]drunk every [F]night
    with an [Dm]open con[E]tainer from [C]7-[Bb]11
    in [G/B]st. ides [Bb]heaven

    I've [Bb]been out [G/B]haunting the [Bb]neighbor[F]hood
    and [Bb]every[G/B]body can [Bb]see I'm no [F]good
    when I'm [Dm]walking [E]out be[C]tween parked [Bb]cars
    with my [G/B]head full of[G7]stars

    [Bb]High [C]on am[Dm]pheta[F]mines
    the moon is a [Bb]light[C]bulb [Dm]brea[F]king
    it'll go a[Bb]round [C]with [Dm]any[F]one
    but it won't come [Bb]down [C]for [Dm]any[F]one[F]

    [Bb- G/B- Bb- F- Bb- G/B- Bb- F- Dm- E- C- Bb- G/B- Bb]

    [Bb]You think you [G/B]know what [Bb]brings me [F]down
    that I [Bb]want those [G/B]things you could [Bb]never a[F]llow
    you [Dm]see me [E]smiling you [C]think it's a [Bb]frown
    turned [G/B]upside [Bb]down

    'Cause [Bb]every[G/B]one is a [Bb]fucking [F]pro
    and they [Bb]all got [G/B]answers from [Bb]trouble they've [F]known
    and they [Dm]all got to [E]say what you [C]should and shouldn't [Bb]do
    though they [G/B]don't have a[G7]clue

    [Bb]High [C]on am[Dm]pheta[F]mines
    the moon is a [Bb]light[C]bulb [Dm]brea[F]king
    it'll go a[Bb]round [C]with [Dm]any[F]one
    but it won't come [Bb]down [C]for [Dm]any[F]one
    and I won't come [Bb]down [C]for [Dm]any[F]one

    [Bb- G/B- Bb]


    * Dm: X5322X
    C: X322XX
    G/B: X200XX

    C.... D....

    standard tuning?

    C.... D....

    Tom MacMahon yes sir... I know Elliott typically played in drop D standard, I've always just played his songs relative to standard tuning... St. Ides is one on the recording that is tuned in a way that makes it hard to play along with in pitch; to my ear this is about as close as it gets, though I would definitely welcome suggestions!

  28. E.... K....

    Here because of Every Anxious Wave

  29. H.... A....

    reminds me of the drunk dayz of my youth... respect elliott

  30. J.... A....

    I've known those people he sings of.

  31. j.... ....

    I really miss Elliott more than anybody.

  32. T.... ....

    It's so hard to find a bad ES song. This one isn't my favorite but it's far from terrible.

    T.... ....

    Years ago I asked my friend what her favorite Elliott Smith song was, and she immediately said "St. Ides Heaven."

    T.... ....

    sarahisaghost yeah dude this is probably my favorite track of his. either that of Talking to Mary

    T.... ....

    many times I've revisited Elliott Smith's songs after few years, with re-listening to entire albums- and this song is a good example of one that I used to skip over that fully grew on me to point of where it's one of my favorites off the self-titled

  33. A.... G....

    yes this is BE(a)ST

  34. D.... ....

    This used to be a Reckful emo song FeelsBadMan

  35. D.... H....

    My favorite Elliott Smith song right now.

    D.... H....

    key words, "right now"

    D.... H....

    Mines placeholder

    D.... H....

    Heatmiser's Christian Brothers has been my favourite for a long time now. Could never rank his songs though.

    D.... H....

    i don't think there's a fav. i LOVE THEM ALL

    D.... H....

    My fav for the last 15 years, but that could change at some point i guess lol. Its just so perfect. My neighbors know im no good. Loud girls and whatnot. And the walking out between cars. Madness.

  36. f.... c....

    A drunk knows

  37. C.... ....

    Steel Reserve is better.

  38. D.... C....

    "High on amphetamines"

    This song is absolutely poetic and huanting. Elliott's lyrics and guitar playing are amazing.

    D.... C....

    It is poetic, but idk why you highlighted that line lol

  39. L.... S....

    I won't come down for anyone.......

  40. V.... D....

    I think he's talking about smoking meth out of a lightbulb , in a really beautiful way .

    V.... D....

    not sure but i know he liked meth

    V.... D....

    Totally a lifestyle. Everyone can see I'm no good is saying I'm a drug user/alcoholic.

    V.... D....

    ummmmm not even close

    V.... D....

    Yeah, I can see it. Nothing but good ol peanut brittle

    V.... D....

    paul smith nah he was more of a heroin downer guy.

  41. R.... ....

    This song is more addicting than amphetamines.

    R.... ....

    Yeah, cause when Elliott's playing we're all thinkin bout UPPERS...

    R.... ....

    No. it isn't.

    R.... ....

    absolutely

    R.... ....

    Nah, not really. Not really at all actually. Enjoy your likes though.

    R.... ....

    It is. I mean, is better and stronger.

  42. D.... T....

    ....and everybody can see I am no good(paranoid).
    When I'm walking out between parked cars(losing normal safe behavior)
    With my head full of stars(days awake)
    ......He is paranoid; you start thinking people care about you when they don't.


    With my head full of stars.....
    The stars and visuals start after you have not sleep for more then 3 or 4 days.
    Close your eyes. Stars. Open them; stars. Diiiiilated eyyyyessss.
    My eyes are dilated 
    because
    I'm Highhhhhh on Ampetanminessss..............

    It wont come down and go to sleep even with bottle after bottle of St Ides malt liqure......

    because I'm highhhhh on Ampetaminessss.
    and I simply want to goooooo to sleeppppppp

    D.... T....

    @Daniel Teer This is NOT A SONG ABOUT GETTING HIGH ON AMPHETAMINES!!!!!!!!!!!! 


    This is after you cannot get high because you have been up and the effect stops. Your miserable and want to get some sleep so you can get up and get HIGH AGAIN, but you stop using and cannot sleep for another day or two.


    You drink liqueur hoping it will knock you out but it does not. Everyone is irritating because you want to sleep. And your waiting to final get some sleep.

    D.... T....

    @Daniel Teer People listen to this song and say;
    He is talking about getting high and being happy.
    NOPE.
    He is talking about being miserable and wishing for happiness that only comes with sleep.
    It is a sad song.

    D.... T....

    This song goes both ways. Elliott knew how to do that with his lyrics.

    D.... T....

    +Hunter Teagarden Yep. Everyone's right!!!

  43. A.... W....

    If I cover this song, I'll have to replace "St. Ides" with "Coors"... and "amphetamines" with "oxycontin".

    A.... W....

    +Anna Wayland better yet, steel reserve and smack

    A.... W....

    killyoself

    A.... W....

    I hope you're okay now. Love you.

  44. c.... ....

    One of my favorites of his.

  45. g.... ....

    If only Elliott Smith lived longer.....who knows the kind of stuff that he could have done if he lived longer. :( What a shame.

    g.... ....

    @georgeharrison70 So true. Still, he put out quite a bit of music. It's awesome that a new listener can discover lots and lots of his stuff.

    g.... ....

    I think it is fucvkin amazing he lived as long as he did and that we are blessed with real recordings, not just bootlegs

    g.... ....

    I feel ya, but all things considered he managed to put out a ton of music, majority of which are bangers. Had he lived longer, maybe he would’ve gotten sober and started making pop music lol who knows

    g.... ....

    @Ted Diepenbrock that would be me. it's only been a month and i've stalled because i'm listening to certain ones over quite a bit & have so many more to get to. I wait til I am in the mood again to appreciate it and take it all in. I am dumb struck.

  46. T.... M....

    wow this is terrible song. no one should listen. move along. such bad recording. no good

    T.... M....

    "such a bad recording" it's lo-fi music; it's about capturing the actual song in a raw way instead of over-polishing it until it's only fit to be consumed by morons who can't cope with anything that isn't overproduced to fuck.

    T.... M....

    Oh the balls you’ve licked. Where are they now?

    T.... M....

    I am super curious how anyone not interested in Elliott Smith would just randomly stumble upon this song... Or even know who ES is

    T.... M....

    And your name is "Travis".

  47. B.... L....

    Everyone is a fucking pro, and they all got answers from trouble they know...

  48. R.... J....

    Awesome interface.