Status

Elliott Smith Song

Alternate Title/Version

Don’t Call Me Billy
See My City Dead

Written By

Elliott Smith

Recording Sessions

Fall 1993 (Gonson Residence, Portland, OR - Roman Candle-era Electric Recordings) - released on the Heaven Adores You Soundtrack as “Don’t Call Me Billy”
March-July 1996 (The Shop, Humboldt County, CA - Primary Either/Or Sessions)

Availability of Official Release

New Moon
Heaven Adores You Soundtrack

Lyrics

Dragged down into lowercase, tryin’ get your cops to talk right.
‘Cause they can’t put the paper to your face-and you’re just trying to walk by.
So now I’ve got a new game, baby-no one’s gonna recognize it.
You’re broken English over the flat tired rhymes, still trying to bring some dead beauty back to life.

Isn’t it pretty? Yeah, I’m gonna see my city dead.

I can do everything that your man does except for batter you.
Got no interest now in addressing you kids with cheap angst love letters.
You write your name in all of the places no one goes-some can’t be satisfied until everybody knows.

Isn’t it pretty? Yeah, I’m gonna see my city dead.
Isn’t it pretty? Yeah, I’m gonna see my city dead.
Isn’t it pretty? Yeah, I’m gonna see my city dead.

Roman Candle Outtake/“Don’t Call Me Billy”

Billy ain’t my name
Look me in the eye and remember
Please remember
Please remember

He’s the old flame
Your first soul of happening thing

Now you got a new game, baby
He wants
Your full and undivided attention
Don’t wanna deal with Bill
And maybe even when we’re lying
You’re thinking about him still

But don’t call me Billy

Don’t call me Billy, yeah

I can do everything
That Billy did, except for better
Yes I can, baby
Yes I can

But I don’t want to write old love letters
You can call me Max or Dave
Or Tommy, Ron or Fred
But just don’t call me Billy then
Cause I’ll go out of my head

Don’t call me Billy

Don’t call me Billy, yeah

Don’t call me Billy, yeah

Don’t call me Billy

Left Channel:
(Damn, you know I can’t stand when you get me mixed up with that other guy.
Yeah, “Billy’s so cool, Billy’s so great.”
Where the fuck is Billy?
Why don’t you go hang out with Billy?
Why do you always call me Billy?
I-, I-, I don’t understand, man)

Right Channel:
(For the last time, my name isn’t Billy, all right, my name is Elliott.
And, you know, I-, I-, I just - I’m just really sick of hearing about this guy Billy.
You know, I mean, if- if he’s the man you want, why don’t you just go and find him?)

Don’t call me Billy, Don’t call me
Billy

Don’t call me Billy, yeah (4x)
Just don’t call me Billy, yeah
Don’t call me Billy

First known live performance

No known live performances.

Audio