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Artist: Elliott Smith
Track: Between the Bars

Lyrics
Drink up, baby, stay up all night
With the things you could do, you won't but you might
The potential you'll be that you'll never see
The promises you'll only make
Drink up with me now and forget all about
The pressure of days, do what I say
And I'll make you okay and drive them away
The images stuck in your head

People you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
They push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still

Drink up, baby, look at the stars
I'll kiss you again, between the bars
Where I'm seeing you there, with your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught
Drink up one more time and I'll make you mine
Keep you apart, deep in my heart
Separate from the rest, where I like you the best
And keep the things you forgot

The people you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
They push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
Full Lyrics and Meaning
Genius Meanings
Elliott Smith – Between the Bars
“Between the Bars” explains the power of addiction; the call of a drink. It can be interpreted in many ways, but the most popular analysis is that the alcohol is ‘speaking’ to
Elliott Smith – Angeles
Taking a chance is always a fearsome thing. Relocation, especially to somewhere as gold-gilt and Gomorrah-esque as Los Angeles is a huge risk which can hold fame and riches in
Elliott Smith – Between the Bars (Remastered)
[Verse 1] / Drink up, baby, stay up all night / With the things you could do, you won't but you might / The potential you'll be, that you'll never see / The promises you'll only
Elliott Smith – Say Yes
Elliott Smith wrote “Say Yes” (presumably) at the end of his relationship with musician Joanna Bolme. “’Say Yes’ was written about someone particular,” Smith said in one interview
Elliott Smith – Between the Bars (Orchestral)
Drink up baby, stay up all night / With the things you could do, you won't but you might / The potential you'll be / That you'll never see / The promises you'll only make / Drink
Elliott Smith – Between the Bars (alt version)
[Verse 1] / Drink up, baby, stay up all night / With the things you could do, you won't but you might / The potential you'll be, that you'll never see / The promises you'll only
Madeleine Peyroux – Between The Bars
[Verse 1] / Drink up, baby, stay up all night / Things you could do, you won't, but you might / The potential you'll be, you'll never see / Promises you'll only make / Drink up
Elliott Smith – Angeles (Alternative Version)
The alternate version of one of Elliott’s most known songs, “Angeles”, sees no change in lyrics. This version of the song includes more fragile vocals by Smith and further
Chris Garneau – Between the Bars
[Verse 1] / Drink up, baby / Stay up all night / Oh, the things you could do / You won't, but you might / The potential you'll be / But you'll never see / The promises you'll only
​beabadoobee – Between the Bars - ASIA RISING FOREVER
[Intro] / This is beabadoobee, and this is my cover of "Between the Bars" by Elliott Smith / [Verse 1] / Drink up, baby, stay up all night / With the things you could do, you won't
Elliott Smith – Between the Bars Covers
See all of “Between the Bars” by Elliott Smith’s covers
The Civil Wars – Between the Bars
[Verse 1: John Paul White with Joy Williams] / Drink up, baby, stay up all night / The things you could do, you won't but you might / The potential you'll be that you'll never see
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SongMeanings Interpretations
Elliott Smith - Between the Bars Lyrics
It's about the power of addiction, the call of drink. He used to be someone else, someone with potential, but he knows he'll never live up to it because he can' ...
Elliott Smith - Angeles Lyrics
this song is about how elliot smith decided not to sell out and not to make music in los angeles where he would be sold. And he talks about the people scoutting ...
The Civil Wars - Between the Bars (Elliott Smith cover) Lyrics
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means. Don't have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It's ...
Elliott Smith - Some Song (Help Me Kill My Time) Lyrics
this song talks about abuse.. Elliott had a messed up relationship with his step dad and a lot of kids had abusive parents in the neighborhood where he grew up ...
Chris Garneau - Between The Bars Lyrics
I think Elliott Smith would like this. Its still shy, still self destructive, still beautiful. And his own music is pretty damn good, listen to it. I ...
Elliott Smith - No Name #6 Lyrics
Wild speculation here, but I recently heard Elliott discuss writing Between the Bars while watching Xena warrior princess on mute. Pushing 9 can mean he's ...
Elliott Smith - Christian Brothers Lyrics
"Blink on and off" meaning his stepfather's behavior switching between a nice state and an abusive state. This line indicates a panic. He never knows which side ...
Madeleine Peyroux - Between the Bars Lyrics
this song is beautiful. I love it just as much as the original recording by Elliot Smith. Its a sad and lonely piece about the heartache of alcholism ...
Elliott Smith - Waltz #2 Lyrics
The "dead china doll" could be a memory of his distant mother with her new husband years ago, or it could be a woman the singer sees in the bar in the present, ...
Elliott Smith - I Better Be Quiet Now Lyrics
This is not uncommon for him to do, considering how he sung as if to his depression in the song 'miss misery' and drink in 'between the bars.' This also fits to ...
Elliott Smith - Clementine Lyrics
They're waking you up to close the bar. The street's wet you can tell by the sound of the cars. The bartender's singing clementine
Elliott Smith - Color Bars Lyrics
The phrase "color bars" might alsp refer to the standby signal you see on TV when a station signs off the air for the night. It makes sense when you want to ...
Elliott Smith - Say Yes Lyrics
it's about making a huge mistake. about letting someone go, because you've become so used to being let down. "a happy day and then you pay.".
Between the Bars Meanings & Lyrics Discussion
11sunnybella discusses the meanings of Between the Bars lyrics: I agree with the meaning that everyone has put one here. This song is super deep. Have any of you heard the cover of this song by Madeleine Peyroux? Super good! The music and her vocals hit the feels.
Elliott Smith - Crazy Fucker Lyrics
He's saying that he is in a bar, drunk and itching for a fight and egging the crazy fucker on by talking shit at him [Bleeding fortified wine out of the injury ...
Elliott Smith - Alphabet Town Lyrics
Sounds like Elliot was out with a friend (Constantina?), and she drank him way under the table- "you threw up whatever she shot down." there are so many bars in ...
Elliott Smith - Cecilia/Amanda Lyrics
They would only release songs between 1994 and 1997 on New Moon, this was probably recorded in 1998, I hope they release his 1997-2003 b-sides and rarities, ...
Elliott Smith - A Big Decision Lyrics
Needle in the Hay, Speed Trials, Miss Misery, Can't Make a Sound, Angeles, A Passing Feeling, etc.
Elliott Smith Lyrics, Songs, Albums And More
Between the Bars · 284 · Blackbird (The Beatles cover) · 3 · Blackjack Davey (Bob Dylan cover) · 0 · Bled White · 45 · Bled White (Early version) · 4 · Blue ...
Elliott Smith - New Monkey Lyrics
They're shaking hands with his 'monkey' as in a drug problem is usually called 'a monkey on your back'. "I go in my car Straight to the bar Where my sweetie ...
Elliott Smith - No Name #1 Lyrics
When the ride cymbal starts playing after the first bar with the snare, it sounds alot like the chatter and movement of a crowd of people talking amongst ...
Elliott Smith - Twilight (Somebody's Baby) Lyrics
I realize that most die-hard elliott smith fans are looking for meaning past his ... More Elliott Smith Lyrics · Between the Bars Lyrics · Needle in the Hay ...
Elliott Smith - Because (The Beatles cover) Lyrics
We do not have any tags for Because (The Beatles cover) lyrics. Why not add your own? Log in to add a tag. More Elliott Smith Lyrics · Between the Bars ...
Elliott Smith - Speed Trials Lyrics
We do not have any tags for Speed Trials lyrics. Why not add your own? Log in to add a tag. More Elliott Smith Lyrics · Between the Bars ...
Elliott Smith - A Fond Farewell Lyrics
The cold comfort of the in between to me again is about being in active heroin addiction. For somebody who has used for years there is comfort, normalcy in that ...
Elliott Smith - Dancing on the Highway Lyrics
This song really kills me, it's simply to easy to identify with. It would seem to be about there being an incredible distance between him and his lost love, and ...
Elliott Smith - Condor Ave. Lyrics
"Bottle in between his teeth...Buried in the sand at the beach." The cops scrambling for clues but the real reason for the crash is much deeper than just some ...
Elliott Smith - Alameda Lyrics
Ithink the song is about someone who never lets anyone get too close. A fear of rejection, or perhaps a fear that someone might actually see him for who he ...
Elliott Smith - Needle in the Hay Lyrics
That said, there's some symbolism/foreshadowing at work here. "Your hand on his arm" could reference basic familiarity/intimacy between friends or lovers, but ...
Elliott Smith - Pictures of Me (Either/Or demos) Lyrics
I think the song has - like in many ES songs - a general meaning. In this case, he uses the TV as an allegory to describe how there can be a gap between how ...
Elliott Smith - Coming Up Roses Lyrics
What exists in the void created by the differentiation between your distorted self and your ideal self? But these ideas are expressed at the end of the song.
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SongTell Meaning
Meaning of "Between the Bars" by Elliott Smith
The song "Between the Bars" by Elliott Smith is a metaphor for a person struggling with addiction and trying to maintain control of their life. The lyrics ...
Meaning of "Between the Bars (Remastered)" by Elliott Smith
"Between the Bars (Remastered)" by Elliott Smith explores themes of escape, alcoholism, and the struggle to find genuine human connection. The song portray...
Meaning of "Angeles" by Elliott Smith
The song “Angeles” by Elliott Smith is a commentary on the idea of temptation and the risk of becoming consumed by it. The song begins with an outsider arr...
Meaning of "Between the Bars (alt version)" by Elliott Smith
"Between the Bars (alt version)" by Elliott Smith explores themes of escape, self-destructiveness, and the struggle to let go of past versions of oneself. ...
Meaning of "Between the Bars (Orchestral)" by Elliott Smith
The song "Between the Bars (Orchestral)" by Elliott Smith explores themes of escapism, self-destructive tendencies, and the struggle to break free from pas...
Meaning of "Between the Bars - ASIA RISING FOREVER" by ​beabadoobee
"Between the Bars" by ​beabadoobee is a cover of Elliott Smith's original song. The lyrics depict a narrative that explores themes of escape, self-deceptio...
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Genius Artists
Elliott Smith
Elliott (born Steven Paul) Smith (August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter known for beautiful melodies and harmonies paired with harsh emotional