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Say Yes

The Either/Or closer, a love song that dares to hope.
Elliott Smith, from Either/Or (1997)

Written by
Elliott Smith
Released
1997
Length
2:19
Album
Either/Or

The closing track of Either/Or was also used in Good Will Hunting. It is happy and optimistic in both its instrumentation and its lyrics compared with most of Smith's songs. Pitchfork called it a straight-ahead love song that dares to hope, and noted how fragile that hope sounds: Smith whispers most of it and his fingers pluck out a simple question on the acoustic guitar. LeMay wrote that by the time it arrives, the solo acoustic approach is clearly a purposeful choice.

Smith played it often, even during full band shows, when he would perform it alone on acoustic guitar. It has been used in Hurricane Streets and American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, covered by Death Cab for Cutie, and played live by Ben Folds.

Covers and versions

More songs by Elliott Smith

Between the Bars, Waltz #2 (XO), Miss Misery, Needle in the Hay, Happiness

Sources

  1. Say Yes (Elliott Smith song), Wikipedia
  2. Elliott Smith: Either/Or: Expanded Edition, Pitchfork (2017-03-07)