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Smith died last year from a self inflicted knife wound. The two musicians were good friends after they toured together back in 1998 when Ben Folds was fronting Ben Folds Five.The track is named ‘Late’ and will appear on Folds’ second solo album scheduled for release in February 2005.
Speaking to Rolling Stone, Folds said this:
"I was playing all the same shitholes he was,"
"The lyrics of the song are about people who are sharing your experience too -- 'Oh, Elliott Smith did this club last night, and he sat in that same room and read all the shit about dicks and asses on the wall.' Poets like to talk about how they look up and see the same stars, and I think rock musicians all look up and see the same dicks on the walls."
The song speaks about the talents of Smith including his basketball skill:
"I played with him and Beck one time," Folds said "and Elliott was just fucking throwing elbows like there was no tomorrow."
Smith is obviously remembered best for his musical ability and Folds recalls this:
“I was always poking my head in going, 'Can you play 'Alameda' tonight?'"
"He'd go, 'Well, um, we really don't know that as a band yet so I don't think so.' And then he'd be sitting outside my room. He'd play the whole thing by himself so I could hear it."
Folds’ new album has been recorded recently in Nashville with bassist Jared Reynolds and drummer Lindsay Jamieson and Weird Al Yankovic makes an appearance on the tune ‘Time.’
"It's sort of a hypnotic piano thingy, and Weird Al sings in the background," Said Folds, "We've got this massive Mamas and Papas-like vocal arrangement."
Can’t wait!
