On this day in 1969: Legendary singer-songwriter Elliott Smith was born

“I found out Elliott Smith had died when I woke up on Wednesday morning to the sound of text messages. Text one coldly confirmed ‘Elliott Smith is dead’. Text two revealed the horrendous nature in which he took his own life.

“I’m a long standing Elliott Smith fan and was aware that he was sick and suffering from problems with alcohol and heroin abuse. I didn’t know Elliott Smith personally, but just the day before he died I was telling a friend how stupid I had felt because I had written a letter to Elliott asking him if he wanted to come to Dublin for a break. I knew it was a ridiculous thing to do and he would never come, but I just wanted to ask.

“Elliott Smith was my favourite songwriter. He was a genius lyricist and a stupidly brilliant guitar player. The first time I ever heard his music it stopped my heart. I had never heard anything so honest and so beautiful. That was his record Either/Or. He had three records out at that time and over the next two weeks I bought the other two. He became the bar for me, the songwriter I most envied and admired. He made me rethink how I wrote and why I wrote. I have seen him play live a few times and I couldn’t help but notice the way everyone mouthed every word and felt every note. People who listen to Elliott Smith listen, because if you don’t you will miss the beauty of it. You can understand his music without knowing what it’s about, he puts a bit of his soul into each song. It’s Sunday morning music, it’s for you, it’s not for sharing, it’s to sing along to when you’re alone. It’s for listening to with a hangover, the booklet of the CD in your hand, reading every lyric.

“I have heard people say they found him depressing. I never found him depressing. I found his songs intelligent, loving and enlightening. He wrote about what he knew and he knew hard times. He didn’t write for you or me or for MTV, but for himself like some sort of healing process – and I understand that.

“I met him once and I really hoped I could meet him again someday. I wanted to play him my version of one of his songs or just sit and talk and play music with him. It probably wouldn’t have worked, he was a weird dude. Maybe he said it best himself when he compared himself to a spinning top hitting the ground as it spins in ‘Say Yes’, “I’m a crooked spin that can’t come to rest, now I’m damaged bad at best.” He is a huge loss. He was a great musician and songwriter. He felt too much, that’s what made his songs so beautiful and his life so hard.”

Revisit our classic interview with Elliott Smith here.