# R.I.P. Elliot Smith **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 22, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878 "2003-10-22T11:24:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/1 "2003-10-22T11:24:37Z")
Elliot Smith has killed himself. He was an amazing singer/sonwriter most widely known for his Oscar nominated song “Miss Misery.” Elliot, I hope you’re finally at peace now. [http://www.sweetadeline.net/](http://www.sweetadeline.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Husker\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Husker\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Husker_Dude)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/2 "2003-10-22T12:10:01Z")
Oh damn it. I was just listening to Figure 8 this very morning, for the first time in a long while. I opened this thread, looking forward to gush about his brilliance. This is horrible news, what a waste. He was one of the most gifted songwriters of our generation and truly a wonderful human being. I’ll raise my glass to you Elliott. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/3 "2003-10-22T12:50:57Z")
Oh my God. This is terrible. He was so talented and he seemed like such a nice person, too. His concert with Grandaddy in DC a few years ago was one of the best times I’ve ever had. This makes me very sad. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/4 "2003-10-22T14:45:57Z")
wow. I mean, wow. I saw him twice, had all his stuff. wow. ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/5 "2003-10-22T16:39:56Z")
Goddamnit. That makes me so sad. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/6 "2003-10-22T17:10:52Z")
I can’t say I knew him outside of _GWH_ and his touching Oscar performance. Sad news. But what a strange way to kill oneself. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/7 "2003-10-22T17:21:23Z")
Terrible, I love his work, I’m listening to _Tomorrow Tomorrow_ as I type this. Sad news indeed. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/8 "2003-10-22T17:39:17Z")
☹ I was hit and miss with his solo work ( XO being my fav of those) but I really liked a couple of his albums with Heatmiser. Very sad. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/9 "2003-10-22T19:42:49Z")
Just heard about this a few minutes ago. Elliott was one of my favorite artists… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![desapar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@desapar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desapar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/10 "2003-10-22T20:06:59Z")
I consider Elliott Smith to be one of the most talented musicians out there, a symbol of hope for solidarity, kindness, and understanding. I wish I could thank him for all his beautiful awe-inspiring music. He was like a friend who would just listen and tell you exactly what you needed to hear. He was someone whose musicmade seemed to be written for you; you were not alone. It broke my heart discovering the news. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/11 "2003-10-22T20:12:58Z")
Man. So much talent gone away. So young. That’s awful. I can only imagine the pain he must have felt to drive a knife through his own chest. Just awful. Just recently, I got into him. Insightful sad lyrics. A strong weak voice that just made you ache. Gone. Man. That sucks. Thanks for posting LunaSea, I hadn’t heard. pat ---
**Author:** ![elephant\_shoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c77e96/32.png) [@elephant\_shoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elephant_shoes)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/12 "2003-10-22T22:27:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*They say that God makes problems > Just to see what you can stand > Before you do as the devil pleases > And give up the thing you love > But no one deserves it. > > (from _pitseleh_, by Elliott Smith) \*\* At long last, I hope you can rest in peace, Elliott. You were there with **either/or** when my heart soared. You were there with **xo** when my heart was broken. You provided a goodly chunk of the soundtrack to my life over the past six years. Thanks for a couple of great concerts. Thanks for the songs that I’ll keep in my heart and head forever. I’m going to miss you, man. But I’ll bet you’re jamming with Lennon right now. Enjoy it. xo ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/13 "2003-10-22T23:01:37Z")
I got the news when I passed a dry erase board on someone’s door this afternoon that read “I love you Elliott Smith–1969-2003.” I couldn’t believe it, so I checked here to make sure it was true. I’m listening to **Figure 8** right now, and I listened to “Happiness” last night. I’m so sad, but I guess he isn’t sad anymore. All that will be will pass away and then you’ll see That all I want now is happiness for you and me. ---
**Author:** ![Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kneepants_Erasmus_the_Humanist)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/14 "2003-10-23T01:43:25Z")
I had some of his cds and enjoyed them enough the first time I listened to each of them. Last night I pulled out either/or…and it hit me. Such a fucking great album…after listening to it over and over I decided it was one of my favorites. I listened to the others and felt about the same way. I was looking forward to following him really closely…and I heard he had a new album coming out soon. and now…I just read about this, like, 10 minutes ago. I am absolutely crushed. To think…I work in a record store and did not hear about this until I got home. bullshit. Maybe that has something to do with it. He would probably be considered a cult artist…so this is what happens…I suppose…I have heard him compared to Nick Drake…so…way too similar…it seems like crappy musicians live forever…it’s almost inevitable…of course such beautiful heartbreaking writing has to have roots in real life sadness this post probably makes no sense…it wouldn’t be the only thing this sucks so fucking bad ---
**Author:** ![Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ersatz\_Shmoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ersatz_Shmoe)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/15 "2003-10-23T03:04:52Z")
I saw the thread title, and I was hoping it was about a new album, but I kind of had a feeling it wasn’t. I once took a week-long trip and _XO_ was one of the 2 CDs I had with me. I’ve been an Elliott Smith fan ever since. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/16 "2003-10-23T13:49:45Z")
I hadn’t really ever got into him, save for a few songs, but I’d always felt that he was one of those artists that I’d one day get into. Co-incidentally, I’d borrowed XO from the library a couple of days ago. When I was listening to Waltz#2 today, it put the whole song into a new light: _I’m never gonna know you now, but I’m going to love you anyhow_. It’s tragic that a human being could do this. To think that it’s a musician whom I was only now getting into makes it worse. ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/17 "2003-10-23T17:31:17Z")
Here you are. Found ya’ll a [real news story](http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/musicnews/default.htm#1) on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/18 "2003-10-23T18:13:06Z")
I hope it turns out to be his “live-in girlfriend” who stabbed him: I’d rather hate than grieve. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/r-i-p-elliot-smith/208878/19 "2004-01-06T16:27:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lissener \* > \*\*I hope it turns out to be his “live-in girlfriend” who stabbed him: I’d rather hate than grieve. \*\* [now that you mention it](http://www.nbc4.tv/entertainment/2742954/detail.html). Didn’t see that this had been brought up in another thread. To be fair, it doesn’t really even speculate that the girlfriend did it, just that they aren’t sure it was a suicide now.