IFLTS: 'I Figured You Out,' Mary Lou Lord

'I Figured You Out,' Mary Lou Lord
From 1997's 'Martian Saints!' EP

I love this song because despite its musical simplicity, there is a bevy of emotional complexity. The tune was written by Elliott Smith and he plays the guitar here, though he said only she could do it justice. Smith's masterful picking went hand-in-hand with Lord's sweet and bird-like voice. The two were close friends in the Pacific Northwest in the early '90s, and Lord is actually the one who landed Smith a deal with Kill Rock Stars.

"You don't care what poison to choose or what person to use/It should've been me, yeah/Shouldn't it be?"

Typical Elliott Smith lyrics, but Lord owns this song. Her breathy vocals and endearing delivery make the tune instantly melancholic. But therein lies the greatness: it may sound sad, but somehow Lord still evokes hope.

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