Album: XO (1998)

Charted: 52

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• First a mic, then a half cigarette
  Singing Cathy's clown
  That's the man she's married to now
  That's the girl that he takes around town
  She appears composed
  So she is
  I suppose
  Who can really tell?
  She shows no emotion at all
  Stares into space like a dead China doll
  
  I'm never gonna know you now
  But I'm gonna love you anyhow
  
  Now she's done and they're callin someone
  Such a familiar name
  I'm so glad that my mem'ry's remote
  Cause I'm doin' just fine hour to hour
  Note to note
  Here it is
  The revenge to the tune:
  You're no good
  You're no good
  You're no good
  You're no good
  Can't you tell
  That it's well understood
  
  I'm never gonna know you now
  But I'm gonna love you anyhow
  
  Here today and expected to stay
  On and on and on
  I'm tired, i'm tired
  
  Lookin' out on the substitute scene
  Still going strong
  XO, mom
  It's okay it's alright nothing's wrong
  Tell Mr. Man with impossible plans
  To just leave me alone
  In the place where I make no mistakes
  In the place where I have what it takes
  
  I'm never gonna know you now
  But I'm gonna love you anyhow
  I'm never gonna know you now
  But I'm gonna love you anyhow
  I'm never gonna know you now
  But I'm gonna love you anyhow Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

• Bryan from Washington, DcThose who are familiar with Smith's biography can work out that most of the song is about his estrangement from his mother, who has devoted her life to new husband, a man who Smith says abused him when he was young. The song opens with mother singing with her new husband (Cathy's Clown, which is about a man who mistreats his woman); her attempts to convince herself she's happy (stares into space like a dead china doll); "calling someone such a familiar name" refers either to the stepdad being called dad or Smith, son; in saying "he is glad his memory's remote,..." he's acknowledging the abuse he has suppressed so he can function today; as a popular musician he can now sing his revenge to his stepfather, "you're no good," (and he borrows here from Ronstadt, same number of times) and flips the abuse (stepdad probably told him he was no good as a child); he's "expected to stay" but he's "tired" of living with pain; "substitute scene" again refers to substitute dad with mom; he wishes his mom well but wants her "Mr. Man" to leave him alone (now mentally as he's still scarred); he's a star now ("makes no mistakes") and has "what it takes;" he says goodbye to his mother since there's no way he can embrace her as long as she's with stepdad, but he's going to love her anyhow...
• Colm from Northport, NyIf you like Elliott Smith then I'd think you'll like Bright Eyes... Conor Oberst, the lead singer, expresses similar emotion and deep meaning and is known for his brilliant song writing ability. Check 'em out if your up for it, i think you'll enjoy.
• Goldaline from Santa Barbara, Castop spelling his name wrong he spelled it with two t's. It wasn't his real name but still, elliotT.
• Josh from Farmington, Utthis song is awsome some one should put up some stuff about elliot's life
  
• Craig from Madison, WiNot just one of poor Elliot Smith's best songs, but also the best song ever about karaoke.
• Craig from Madison, WiThe old rock standard "You're No Good" is mentioned in the second verse. The best known version of it would be Linda Ronstadt's.
• Will from Happy Valley, UtThe song "Cathy's Clown", mentioned in the first verse, was written by the Everly Brothers.

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