Author: Tory Fodder

A thousand apologies for those who have written to complain about the absence of songs of the week. Blame it on finals. As an act of obeisance, let me say that this week’s song of the week will not disappoint.

I rarely buy songs on iTunes. Although with “one-click” shopping and Apple so willing to store my credit card information, one might wonder why not. Even so, when I heard the song which follows I was utterly haunted and compelled to make the purchase.

By all accounts, today’s featured artist Elliott Smith was a troubled person. Born and raised across the U.S. but primarily hailing from Portland, Smith’s life was shrouded in addiction and depression. In turn, his melancholic lyrics aptly reflect the tortured mind of a troubled soul. What makes his style of music so captivating is the clear high-tenor of Smith’s voice coupled with an almost wispy style of delivery. If one listens late enough, Smith’s singing can be mistaken for errant thoughts passing through the shadows of mind.

By way of introduction, some of you may recall Smith’s music as featured in the Robin Williams’ film Good Will Hunting. The Pax Plena song of the week is taken from Smith’s self-titled, 1995 album- dubbed by critic Rob O’Connor as “one of the most understated and incredible albums to emerge from the indie-rock scene in the 1990s.”

Please enjoy, Elliott Smith’s The Biggest Lie.

The Biggest Lie

I’m waiting for the train
The subway that only goes one way
The stupid thing that will come to pull us apart
And make everybody late
You spent everything you had
Wanted everything to stop that bad
And now i’m a crushed credit card registered to smith
Not the name that you call me with
You turned white like a saint
I’m tired of dancing on a pot of gold flake paint
Oh we’re so very precious, you and i
And everything that you do makes me want to die
Oh i just told the biggest lie
I just told the biggest lie
The biggest lie

We had once a consistent song of the week here Pax Plena. The lapse is utterly my own. consider this the latest attempt to revive the practice. Today’s song of the week is a fun one for both the wistful and self deprecating alike. Courtesy of the Dixie Chicks- back when they were musicians rather than political activists; to wit, they have always been much better at the former than the latter- the song will surely be a blast from the past for country music fans out there. Without further ado, the Pax Plena song of the week is none other than the Dixie Chick’s There’s Your Trouble. Lyrics follow after the jump. http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-2822071750978649608&hl=en There’s Your Trouble Should have been different, but It wasn’t different, was it Same old story Dear John and so long Should have fit like a glove Should have fit like a ring, Like a Diamond ring Token of true Love Should have all worked out but it didn’t She should be here now but she isn’t CHORUS There’s your trouble, there’s your trouble You keep seeing double with the wrong one You can’t see I love you You can’t see she doesn’t But you just keep holding on There’s your trouble So now you’re thinking ’bout All you’re missing how Deep you’re sinking Round and round dragging down Why don’t you cash in your chips Why don’t you call in a loss Not such a big loss Chalk it up better luck Could have been true love but it wasn’t It should all add up but it doesn’t REPEAT CHORUS Should of all worked out but it didn’t She should be here now but she isn’t REPEAT CHORUS [Link]