Fingerstyle Cover: Between the Bars by Elliott Smith
We had a hurricane this weekend so our power was going on and off all day and we had our electronics unplugged. Best thing to do in a blackout is play guitar :) I practised this song a bunch, the original has a kind of pick then strum pattern but I adapted it to a full fingerstyle version.
I find this song to be very poetic, Elliot Smith was an amazing writer. On first listen it could sound like a love song about heartbreak or something but I believe the song is about alcohol addiction. If you read the lyrics with that point of view it makes a lot of sense. Almost as if it's the addiction whispering promises in his ear and offering a false sense of security. I have added the lyrics below the video.
Behind the Bars
With the things you could do
You won't but you might
The potential you'll be that you'll never see
The promises you'll only make
Drink up with me now
And forget all about the pressure of days
Do what I say and I'll make you okay
And drive them away
The images stuck in your head
People you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
Drink up baby, look at the stars
I'll kiss you again, between the bars
Where I'm seeing you there with your hands in the air
Waiting to finally be caught
Drink up one more time, and I'll make you mine
Keep you apart, deep in my heart
Separate from the rest, where I like you the best
And keep the things you forgot
People you've been before
That you don't want around anymore
That push and shove and won't bend to your will
I'll keep them still
There's a more polished studio version but I really like this one, it's very raw and pure:
RIP Elliott <3
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I love your freestyle. The lyrics to the song is lovely, i just started learning the guitar. I'm still learning chords tho, it's really nice to see what you could do with the guitar hoping to see more of your freestyle.
Awesome keep practicing just a little every day and you'll see improvement 👍 I'm about 2 years in now and it's been such a great decision to learn :)
It's just been 3 months since i started playing, i really appreciate the advice. I'm happy to learn
It's true, it seems like a love story but with alcohol addiction.
It sounds sad, melancholic but sweet.
I loved the performance. Beautiful!✨
Ty!
🤗❤️
Hey yeah, that song seems to have a backstory. Good thing they made it through the hurricane and nothing happened to them. Cheers.
Hurricane was not too bad thankfully ✌️
It is a totally moving song about the human condition and the struggles we all face. Many people find themselves in that personal struggle and in the search for meaning and purpose in life. I congratulate you on the incredible guitar performance. Your voice provides tension and drama. Congratulations again.
Thanks yisusth, I appreciate it ☺️
This is so beautiful, sounds amazing...the way you pick gave it more soul, the rhythm so smooth. You play strings 🎸 so well...Sorry about the hurricane, I hope power is restored now
Thank you, we only lost power for one day thankfully!
Alright thank God...keep being awesome 😎
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That's amazing
This makes me remember when I used to learn how to play guitar even though I eventually stopped it
You're so good!
Why did you stop, never stop!
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I agree with this. It's definitely an even inspiring moment, I who have lived through so many blackouts, the best we can do is sing and play guitar.
This was a wonderful performance from you, sweet and subdued. Excellent. Thanks for the good music. 👏👏🙏🙌🎵🎶💥🔥💯
Thank you, it's really the best way to pass the time, power or no 😆
It's a very pretty melody. What I like about the guitar is playing in arpeggio. Its requires dexterity in each finger of the right hand for right-handed people. Bravo for this music, it makes me want to get back to playing. but you seem to be left-handed so let's reverse what I wrote above for right-handers. but you seem to be left-handed so let's reverse what I wrote above for right-handers. I learned to play by watching a friend play. He didn't want to show me anything other than upside down, it was very complicated at first. Today it helps me a lot when I watch a guitarist play to pick up his chords.
No actually I'm right handed my camera is just flipped lol! You can get left handed guitars but since both hands require dexterity I've heard a lot of lefties play a regular right handed guitar and play just as well 😀
haha Bravo, you motivate me to pick up the guitar again
Yeah go for it, when you start playing both hands feel very awkward and clumsy anyways 😂
🤣
linda voz e interpretación de la guitarra, nunca había escuchado este tema, verdad que Hive me ha ayudado a tener una ventana a géneros musicales los cuales no suelo escuchar mucho
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bendiciones estimada compañera
Happy I was able to expose you to some new music ✌️
Amazing job on the sync with the fingerstyle and voice. The song is one of those sad tunes that gets stuck in your head.
Tell me about it I've been singing it in a loop for days 😂
Just the kind of thing I thought might happen with such a song! 😂
I listened to it once - just listening - and it already had that haunting juliakponsford style and sound that grabs me right at the core. Then I read your interpretation of the meaning, listened again, and cried. I guess I was crying for Elliott’s pain? Or maybe for the many many who do suffer from alcoholism? I don’t know but your soul wrenching style carried this message with the precision of a scalpel.
Aww yeah is definitely a song that can hit you in the feels if you're in the right mood 😭 the way he died is kind of crazy too. He had a fight with his girlfriend and she locked herself in the bathroom and when she came out he had a knife in his chest. They never closed the case and weren't sure if it was murder or suicide but there were zero hesitation marks which is unusual for a suicide by knife. He did leave a note that said I'm sorry may God forgive me 🙁
Damn! I didn’t know all that!!! I heard he went by his own hand, but never realized there was a Kurt Cobain twist in the myth.
Even the greatest song can only hit you in the feels when played by someone who is skilled enough to connect with the audience…song gets some credit, but this one came through you, and very nicely so :)
De lo mejor que he visto por aquí sobre cantar y acompañarse con la guitarra, tal vez seas la mejor aquí.
Thanks I doubt it but I appreciate your comment 😂