What a phenomenal instrumental line shared by the guitar and piano to open this song.
There's not really a chorus, more like A and B sections of what seems like a single stream-of-consciousness verse, another sequence full of the accomplished chord changes and melody lines of Elliott Smith at his very best. The backing vocals are excellent icing.
There is a completely unique melody line to close the song, and this again is extravagant in its lengthy, ambitious composition. What pure excellence.
Music video by Elliott Smith performing Son Of Sam. (C) 2000 Geffen Records