Ballad Of Big Nothing
Ballad Of Big Nothing a song by Elliott Smith on Foxsoundi — Free Music, Smart Streaming for Everyone
About Ballad Of Big Nothing
A tongue-in-cheek song about a disenchanted, drug-addicted loser. In 2012, Elliott’s former record label Kill Rock Stars released the project "Alternate Versions From Either/Or", which included alternate lyrics to various songs off of Elliott’s 1997 "Either/Or" album—including an alternate version of “Ballad of Big Nothing”. Centers around the oft-heard innocent phrase "you can do whatever you want to." But the innocent phrase of optimism is skewed by the reality that shapes Elliott's life. .
Ballad Of Big Nothing Lyrics
[00:14.69] Throwing candy out to the crowd
[00:18.25] Dragging down the main
[00:22.74] The helpless little thing with the dirty mouth
[00:26.51] Who's always got something to say
[00:32.33] You're sitting around at home now
[00:35.86] Waiting for your brother to call
[00:38.95] I saw him down in the alley
[00:45.45] Having had enough of it all
[00:48.40] Said you can do what you want to
[00:51.36] Whenever you want to
[00:55.25]
[00:57.60] You can do what you want to
[01:00.09] There's no one to stop you
[01:04.07]
[01:07.56] All spit and spite
[01:09.48] You're up all night and down every day
[01:15.98] A tired man with only hours to go
[01:19.22] Just waiting to be taken away
[01:25.02] Getting in to the back of a car
[01:28.07] For candy from some stranger
[01:33.86] Watching the parade with pinpoint eyes
[01:37.44] Full of smoldering anger
[01:41.46] You can do what you want to
[01:44.01] Whenever you want to
[01:47.96]
[01:50.36] You can do what you want to
[01:52.78] There's no one to stop you
[01:56.70]
[01:58.86] Now you can do what you want to
[02:01.55] Whenever you want to (oh yeah)
[02:04.03] Do what you want to
[02:05.94] Whenever you want to (oh yeah)
[02:08.40] Do what you want to
[02:10.38] Whenever you want to
[02:12.54] Though it doesn't mean a thing
[02:17.79] Big nothing
[02:18.93]
[00:18.25] Dragging down the main
[00:22.74] The helpless little thing with the dirty mouth
[00:26.51] Who's always got something to say
[00:32.33] You're sitting around at home now
[00:35.86] Waiting for your brother to call
[00:38.95] I saw him down in the alley
[00:45.45] Having had enough of it all
[00:48.40] Said you can do what you want to
[00:51.36] Whenever you want to
[00:55.25]
[00:57.60] You can do what you want to
[01:00.09] There's no one to stop you
[01:04.07]
[01:07.56] All spit and spite
[01:09.48] You're up all night and down every day
[01:15.98] A tired man with only hours to go
[01:19.22] Just waiting to be taken away
[01:25.02] Getting in to the back of a car
[01:28.07] For candy from some stranger
[01:33.86] Watching the parade with pinpoint eyes
[01:37.44] Full of smoldering anger
[01:41.46] You can do what you want to
[01:44.01] Whenever you want to
[01:47.96]
[01:50.36] You can do what you want to
[01:52.78] There's no one to stop you
[01:56.70]
[01:58.86] Now you can do what you want to
[02:01.55] Whenever you want to (oh yeah)
[02:04.03] Do what you want to
[02:05.94] Whenever you want to (oh yeah)
[02:08.40] Do what you want to
[02:10.38] Whenever you want to
[02:12.54] Though it doesn't mean a thing
[02:17.79] Big nothing
[02:18.93]
From the album: Either/Or
-
Speed Trials by Elliott Smith , -
Alameda by Elliott Smith , -
Ballad Of Big Nothing by Elliott Smith , -
Between The Bars by Elliott Smith , -
Pictures Of Me by Elliott Smith , -
No Name No. 5 by Elliott Smith , -
Rose Parade by Elliott Smith , -
Punch And Judy by Elliott Smith , -
Angeles by Elliott Smith , -
Cupid's Trick by Elliott Smith , -
2:45 AM by Elliott Smith , -
Say Yes by Elliott Smith ,