A Fond Farewell

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“A Fond Farewell” is the sixth track on Elliott Smith’s posthumous album From a Basement on the Hill. The track’s instrumental palette is sparse, consisting of bass, vocals… Read More

Oct. 19, 20041 viewer76.8K views

A Fond Farewell Lyrics

[Verse 1]
The Lite-Brite's now black and white
'Cause you took apart a picture that wasn't right
Pitch burning on a shining sheet
The only maker that you want to meet
A dying man in a living room
Whose shadow paces the floor
Who'll take you out any open door

[Chorus]
This is not my life
It's just a fond farewell to a friend
It's not what I'm like
It's just a fond farewell to a friend
Who couldn't get things right
A fond farewell to a friend

[Verse 2]
He said, "Really, I just want to dance"
Good and evil match perfect, it's a great romance
And I can deal with some psychic pain
If it'll slow down my higher brain
Veins full of disappearing ink
Vomiting in the kitchen sink
Disconnecting from the missing link

[Chorus]
This is not my life
It's just a fond farewell to a friend
It's not what I'm like
It's just a fond farewell to a friend
Who couldn't get things right
A fond farewell to a friend

[Verse 3]
I see you're leaving me
And taking up with the enemy
The cold comfort of the in-between
A little less than a human being
A little less than a happy high
A little less than a suicide
The only things that you really tried

[Chorus]
This is not my life
It's just a fond farewell to a friend
It's not what I'm like
It's just a fond farewell to a friend
Who couldn't get things right
A fond farewell to a friend
This is not my life
It's just a fond farewell to a friend

About

“A Fond Farewell” is the sixth track on Elliott Smith’s posthumous album From a Basement on the Hill. The track’s instrumental palette is sparse, consisting of bass, vocals, and a few guitars.

The lyrics deal with themes of death and addiction; two common subjects in Elliott’s music. The chorus is a bleak farewell, which reads like the last words of a person disappointed in who they have become.

“A Fond Farewell” was notably interpolated on the track “Seigfried” by Frank Ocean.