I was really worried I’d dredge up another Christina Aguilera track from Bionic today, so this is an even more welcome treat.
‘Rose Parade’ is one of the standout tracks from Elliott Smith’s wonderful album Either/Or. It details, in a more straightforward way than he normally used, his participation in a street parade.
Only somebody as depressed as Smith could see a supposedly fun event through a lens this depressing. I have to hand it to him.
To march down the street like the Duracell bunny
But we get away from the cavalcade
Throwing out candy that looks like money
To people passing by
They all seem to be going the other way
So won’t you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Tripped over a dog in a choke-chain collar
People were shouting and pushing and saying
They’d traded a smoke for a food stamp dollar
Ridiculous marching band started playing
Got me singing along
With some half-hearted victory song
So won’t you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
The trumpet has obviously been drinking
Cause he’s fucking up even the simplest lines
You say it’s a sight that’s quite worth seeing
It’s just that everyone’s interest is stronger than mine
When they clean the street, I’ll be the only shit that’s left behind
So won’t you follow me down to the Rose Parade?
Love his sound,
He’s right about parades. Ever since Hitler, they are just creepy. Like the sound too.