I think Charlie justified his actions at the time (you know like saying "I'm doing this for your own good" or "I know you love me and that you want this" or "you brought this on yourself" or some such blame the victim nonsense.) And as a kid, of course it's hard not to believe it. I think this goes along with the con man thing. He accuses Charlie of telling him "some bullshit scheme" when he comes to him in bed with the 'rubber loop' and then later he says "He gave me nothing but grief And some bullshit story only I would believe". Twice Elliott mentions Charlie's words as being important.
Also, reminds me of the line in Southern Belle "I wouldn't have you how you want".
Also, a con man is always playing a role, always "on".Įlliott remembers Charlie coming to him when he's just trying to sleep and sexually abusing him (rubber loop = condom, "I'm the man you really want So just act natural"). No Confidence Man - reminds me of a confidence man, a con man, a man who can talk you into anything, who can trick you into things, make you believe that black is white. Here's what I have to add to what's already been said: I agree that this song is mostly about abuse. The lyrics are impressionistic typical of Elliott's writing, and sometimes the words are just there because of their feeling or connotation. Maybe someone's around who isn't supposed to be and asleep? Maybe the line is just super cool and feels right for the song. The "won't wake up no more" always felt druggy to me but I don't know what it means. The lyrics are impressionistic typical of Elliott's writing, and sometimes the words are just there because of their feeling or connotation.īecause I got to split, I'm late to leave: Elliott taking off to get away from the abuse. Someone who is just always fucking there, always on you an oppressive presence, maybe with drugs involved, but i think it more likely has to do with alcohol in Charlie's case.īecause I got to split, I'm late to leave: Elliott taking off to get away from the abuse. Then an imposing figure in the household who is "on it all the time". But it's probably Elliott talking to Charlie right? The way he sings "just trying to sleep" feels more vulnerable and the speaker is probably the one being abused.Įlliott listening to parental conflict and any of Charlie's shit: "I've heard quite enough, just to listen is really tough". The point is that it feels abusive, alienating, disconnected, mean, etc.
Remember that it's a song so it's more written for how it makes the listener feel and relate than communicating documentation of exact events (of which the listener probably has no idea). This sort of "fuck off" language "Don't try to tell me your bullshit scheme/ I have no idea what you mean/ I'm just trying to sleep" could be said from anyone to any other person in the narrative: him listening to his Charlie's bullshit, or Charlie talking to him or his mother. I don't really see why he'd use a condom during abuse of Elliott? A loop is a cycle, something happening over and over, probably related to abuse. I kind of thought the rubber loop was represented his mother in his stepfather's hands, Charlie in control of her. He's talking about his stepfather's abuse of his mother and him, and his eventual exit to from Texas to Portland.
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