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"Between the Bars" is the fourth track of Elliott Smith's 1997 album, Either/Or. It is written as a short ballad in the key of G Minor. Possibly Smith's most popular song, it is one of three tracks from "Either/Or" that was used in the soundtrack of "Good Will Hunting". It is also featured in the 2012 indie film "Stuck in Love" and in the seventh episode of season two of Rick and Morty. A cover version of the song performed by Chris Garneau was used in Pedro Almodovar's film "La piel que habito" (The skin I live in) in 2012.
"Between the Bars" has been covered by artists such as Metric, Chris Garneau, Madeleine Peyroux, Glen Phillips, Madonna, Marika Hackman, Kevin Devine, Poppy, The Civil Wars, Agnes Obel, Beabadoobee, Charlotte Cardin, Tanya Donelly, and Seth Avett/Jessica Lea Mayfield.
“Between the Bars” explains the power of addiction; the call of a drink. It can be interpreted in many ways, but the most popular analysis is that the alcohol is ‘speaking’ to Elliott. As described in the song, Elliott explains how he used to be someone else—someone with potential. The alcohol lets him ‘forget all about the pressure of days’ and together with his poisonous companion, Elliott is able to disappear into another night that goes on too long.
Smith obviously had issues with alcohol and drugs, which can be seen in many songs, but especially in “Between the Bars.” Many of Smith’s songs were inspired by the experiences he had with alcohol and drugs.
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