From A Basement To The Top Of The World, Elliott Smith Unites The Lost Souls Of The World

Not wanting to debate on what happened when and how Elliott Smith  left this world, I would like to concentrate on the effect he has had on it since he passed away. I find it amazing and reassuring that the boy from Portland Oregon is held in such a high regard by his fans, or maybe I should say his Brothers and Sisters from around the world, as a sense of community has been built up around his memory ! I dont know of any other artist who has had such a profound effect on those who have taken his life and music to their hearts. I am one of these people and firmly believe that without knowing Elliott Smith I could never have known myself. I am a pre-op transexual female who never even heard of Elliott Smith when he was alive,  but his essence is firmly ensconsed within my heart and always will be, so much so that when I chose my new name I felt compelled to recognise Elliotts effect on my life by using his chosen name as my middle name. I am aware of other transexuals that have done exactly the same for the same reason. Being able to heal myself has had a positive effect on many people as I founded “Middlesbrough Survivors” whose aim is to empower adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, of which I am also one. Without finding myself, I could never had the inner strength to do this. So indirectly Elliott Smith has given me and many others the happy ending that he could not find for himself. One of the remarkable things about Elliott’s music is that there are many people who have a myriad of different issues and problems in life that have found his songs to completely nail exactly how they feel and as such his words become a sort of therapy for the lost souls in this life. I feel, from my perspective, that Elliott could have been transgendered and simply didn’t know how to deal with it as the lyrics of his song “Happiness” and “Son of Sam” to name just two can easily be interpreted in that way,  though the remarkable thing is that different people have different issues yet Elliott seems to be able to identify with all of us. The first song I heard was “Between the Bars” and I was hooked from that moment, I remember actually crying real tears when I finally found his story and that he had passed away before I even heard one line from him, so as the lyric goes “Im never gonna know you now but Im gonna love you anyhow” turns out to be very true in my case. I know of fans who suffer from emotional hurt and a sense of disconnection in many differing forms who also feel that Elliotts music speaks directly to them and because of this they also keep his memory in their heart . As we make sense of the world we are in we begin to take control over the things that previously bound us, and although Elliott did not have a happy ending, his existence has ensured that many others have found a way to negotiate this life and make sense of things in general. It doesn’t matter one iota when people bring up shaky performances or a depressive nature because to his fans he was perfectly imperfect and maybe that fact is what aligns those of us who are the “raggy dolls” in the lost and found of life to the beautiful soul that is Elliott Smith . I have Elliott to thank for me finding the strength to accept myself and although  I am in England I also know of some dear friends who I have met through our shared love of Elliott Smith: his influence is felt all over the world ,from Australia to Argentina , England , the US and no doubt everywhere that there are lost souls who have an ear to listen . So from a basement on the hill to the room at the top of the world I thank you Elliott for being known to me as without knowing you I could never know me . God Bless and Rest in Peace , Why do I feel the need to write this is a easy question to answer and its one Elliotts fans will understand “because we love you ” XO