Lyrics - Elvis Costello Lyrics
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DECLAN MCMANUS'S father was a jazz bandleader, and he was
often given copies of the popular records of the day, which
he passed on to his son. It was these recordings by the
Beatles, the Kinks, the Who, and the stars of Motown that
instilled in McManus a love of rock and roll and laid the
foundation for his own musical style. When he graduated
from high school in Liverpool, he found a day job as a
computer operator (a profession that placed such a strain
on his eyes that he began wearing his now signature
glasses) and played clubs at night. In 1974, he moved to
London and became front man for a country-rock group called
Flip City. As the group's songwriter, he was soon recording
demos, which he began sending to British record companies
in hopes of landing a deal f More...
Elvis Costello Lyrics List:
(Submit New Elvis Costello Lyrics)13 Steps Lead Down Lyrics15 Petals Lyrics20% Amnesia Lyrics45 Lyrics5ive Gears In Reverse LyricsA Town Called Big Nothing LyricsAccidents Will Happen LyricsAfter the Fall LyricsAlibi LyricsAlibi Factory LyricsAlison LyricsAlison (LIVE) LyricsAll Grown Up LyricsAll the Rage LyricsAll This Useless Beauty LyricsAlmost Blue LyricsAlmost Ideal Eyes LyricsAmerican Without Tears LyricsAmerican Without Tears #2 LyricsAny King's Shilling LyricsB Movie LyricsBaby's Got A Brand New Hairdo LyricsBaby It's You LyricsBaby Plays Around LyricsBack On My Feet LyricsBama Lama Bama Loo LyricsBasement Kiss LyricsBattered Old Bird LyricsBeaten To The Punch LyricsBedlam LyricsBeyond Belief LyricsBig Boys LyricsBig Sister LyricsBig Sister's Clothes LyricsBig Tears LyricsBlack And White World LyricsBlack Sails In The Sunset LyricsBlame it on Cain LyricsBlue Chair LyricsBoy With a Problem LyricsBoy With a Problem (Demo) LyricsBright Blue Times LyricsBrilliant Disguise LyricsBrilliant Mistake LyricsBroken LyricsBrown To Blue LyricsBurnt Sugar Is So Bitter LyricsBusy Bodies LyricsButton My Lip LyricsCan You Be True? LyricsCharm School LyricsCheap Reward LyricsChemistry Class LyricsChewing Gum LyricsClean Money LyricsClown Strike LyricsClowntime Is Over LyricsClowntime Is Over No. 2 LyricsClubland LyricsCoal Train Robberies LyricsColour Of The Blues Lyrics
Come Away, Death LyricsComplicated Shadows LyricsCouldn't Call It Unexpected No.4 LyricsCountry Darkness LyricsCrawling To The U.S.A. LyricsCrimes Of Paris LyricsCry, Cry, Cry LyricsDaddy Can I Turn This? LyricsDamnation's Cellar LyricsDarling,You Know I Wouldn't Lie LyricsDays LyricsDead Letter LyricsDear Sweet Filthy World LyricsDeep Dark Truthful Mirror LyricsDeep Dead Blue LyricsDeliver Us LyricsDelivery Man LyricsDifferent Finger LyricsDirty Rotten Shame LyricsDissolve LyricsDistorted Angel LyricsDon't Be Careless Love LyricsDon't Let Me Be Misunderstood LyricsDr. Luther's Assistant LyricsDust 2... LyricsEisenhower blues LyricsEither Side Of The Same Town LyricsEpisode Of Blonde LyricsEverybody's Crying Mercy LyricsEveryday I Write The Book LyricsEveryday I Write The Book (Live) LyricsExpert Rites LyricsFallen LyricsFavourite Hour LyricsFish 'n' Chip Paper LyricsFor Other Eyes LyricsFor The Stars LyricsForgive Her Anything LyricsForty-Five LyricsFrom A Whisper to A Scream LyricsFrom Head To Toe LyricsGeorgie and Her Rival LyricsGet Yourself Another Fool LyricsGetting Mighty Crowded LyricsGhost Train LyricsGigi LyricsGirls Talk LyricsGlitter Gulch LyricsGloomy Sunday LyricsGod's Comic LyricsGod Give Me Strength LyricsGood Year For The Roses LyricsGoon Squad LyricsGreen Shirt LyricsHand In Hand LyricsHarpies Bizarre LyricsHe's Got You LyricsHeart-Shaped Bruise LyricsHeart Shaped Bruise Lyrics
Heathen Town LyricsHidden Charms LyricsHidden Shame LyricsHigh Fidelity LyricsHome is Anywhere LyricsHome Truth LyricsHoney Hush LyricsHoney, Are You Straight LyricsHoover Factory LyricsHow Much I Lied LyricsHow to Be Dumb LyricsHuman Hands LyricsHuman Touch LyricsHurry Down Doomsday LyricsI'll Never Fall In Love Again LyricsI'll Wear It Proudly LyricsI'm In The Mood Again LyricsI'm Not Angry LyricsI'm Your Toy LyricsI've Been Wrong Before LyricsI Almost Had A Weakness LyricsI Can't Stand Up For LyricsI Hope You're Happy Now LyricsI Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself LyricsI Stand Accused LyricsI Still Have That Other Girl LyricsI Thought I'd Write to Juliet LyricsI Threw it All Away LyricsI Throw My Toys Around LyricsI Turn Around LyricsI Wanna Be Loved LyricsI Want to Vanish LyricsI Want You LyricsImagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver) LyricsImpatience LyricsImperial Bedroom LyricsIn Another Room LyricsIn The Darkest Place LyricsInch By Inch LyricsIndoor Fireworks LyricsInterlude:Couldn't Call It Unexpected LyricsInvasion Hit Parade LyricsIt's Time LyricsIt Tears Me Up LyricsJack Of All Parades LyricsJacksons, Monk and Rowe LyricsJoe Porterhouse LyricsJump Up LyricsJust A Memory LyricsJust About Glad LyricsKid About it LyricsKinder Murder LyricsKing Horse LyricsKing Of Confidence LyricsKing Of Thieves LyricsLast Boat Leaving LyricsLast Post LyricsLeave my Kitten Alone LyricsLess Than Zero Lyrics
Less Than Zero (Dallas Version) LyricsLesson In Cruelty LyricsLet Him Dangle LyricsLet Me Tell You About Her LyricsLet Them All Talk LyricsLife Shrinks LyricsLip Service LyricsLipstick Vogue LyricsLittle Atoms LyricsLittle Goody Two Shoes LyricsLittle Palaces LyricsLittle Savage LyricsLittle Triggers LyricsLiving In Paradise LyricsLondon's Brilliant Parade LyricsLong Journey Home LyricsLost In The Stars LyricsLovable LyricsLove Field LyricsLove For Sale LyricsLove For Tender LyricsLove Went Mad LyricsLover's Walk LyricsLovers That Never Were LyricsLuxembourg LyricsMan Out of Time LyricsMen Called Uncle LyricsMiracle Man LyricsMischievous Ghost LyricsMiss Macbeth LyricsMiss Mary LyricsMonkey To Man LyricsMoods For Moderns LyricsMotel Matches LyricsMouth Almighty LyricsMust You Throw Dirt In My Face LyricsMy Brave Face LyricsMy Dark Life LyricsMy Funny Valentine LyricsMy Little Blue Window LyricsMy Mood Swings LyricsMy Science Fiction Twin LyricsMy Shoes Keep Walking Back To You LyricsMy Thief LyricsMystery Dance LyricsMystery Dance(Acoustic w/ Extra Verse) LyricsNeedle Time LyricsNew Amsterdam LyricsNew Lace Sleeves LyricsNext Time 'Round LyricsNight Rally LyricsNight Time LyricsNo Action LyricsNo Dancing LyricsNo Wonder LyricsNorth LyricsNothing Clings Like Ivy LyricsOliver's Army LyricsOpportunity LyricsOur Little Angel LyricsO, Mistress Mine Lyrics
Pads, Paws And Claws LyricsPainted From Memory LyricsParty Girl LyricsParty Party LyricsPay it Back LyricsPayday LyricsPeace In Our Time LyricsPidgin English LyricsPills And Soap LyricsPlayboy to a Man LyricsPlease Stay LyricsPoison Moon LyricsPoisoned Rose LyricsPony Street LyricsPoor Fractured Atlas LyricsPoor Napoleon LyricsPossession LyricsPouring Water On A Drowning Man LyricsPretty Words LyricsPsycho LyricsPump It Up LyricsPunishing Kiss LyricsPut Your Big Toe In The Milk Of Human Kindness LyricsRadio Radio LyricsRadio Silence LyricsRadio Sweetheart LyricsReally Mystified LyricsRemove This Doubt LyricsRiot Act LyricsRocking Horse Road LyricsRomeo's Seance LyricsRoom With No Number LyricsRope LyricsRunning Out of Angels LyricsRunning Out of Fools LyricsSad About Girls LyricsSatellite LyricsSecondary Modern LyricsSeconds Of Pleasure LyricsSenior Service LyricsSeven Day Weekend LyricsShabby Doll LyricsShadow and Jimmy LyricsShallow Graves LyricsShamed Into Love LyricsShatterproof LyricsShe LyricsShe’s Pulling Out The Pin LyricsShe (Tous Les Visages de L'Amour) LyricsShipbuilding LyricsShoes Without Heels LyricsShot With His Own Gun LyricsSittin' And Thinkin' LyricsSleep Of The Just LyricsSleepless Nights LyricsSneaky Feelings LyricsSo Like Candy LyricsSo Young LyricsSome Took The Words Away LyricsSoul for Hire LyricsSour Milk-Cow Blues Lyrics
Spooky Girlfriend LyricsSt Stephen's Day Murders LyricsStalin Malone(Instrumental) LyricsStarting To Come To Me LyricsStill LyricsStill Too Soon to Know LyricsStrange LyricsStranger In The House LyricsStrict Time LyricsSuccess LyricsSuch Unlikely Lovers LyricsSuffering Face LyricsSuit of Lights LyricsSulky Girl LyricsSunday's Best LyricsSuspect My Tears LyricsSweet Dreams LyricsSweet Pear LyricsSwine LyricsTaking My Life In Your Hands LyricsTalking In The Dark LyricsTart LyricsTear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution) LyricsTears At The Birthday Party LyricsTears Before Bedtime LyricsTemptation LyricsThat Day is Done LyricsThe Beat LyricsThe Big Light LyricsThe Birds Will Still Be Singing LyricsThe Bridge I Burned LyricsThe Comedians LyricsThe Days Take Care of Everything LyricsThe Delivery Man LyricsThe Deportees Club LyricsThe Element Within Her LyricsThe First to Leave LyricsThe Flirting Kind LyricsThe Great Unknown LyricsThe Greatest Thing LyricsThe Imposter LyricsThe Invisible Man LyricsThe Judgement LyricsThe King of the Unknown Sea LyricsThe Letter Home LyricsThe Long Division LyricsThe Long Honeymoon LyricsThe Loved Ones LyricsThe Name Of This Thing Is Not Love LyricsThe Night Before Larry Was Stretched LyricsThe Only Daddy That'll LyricsThe Only Flame In Town LyricsThe Other End (of the Telescope) LyricsThe Other Side of Summer LyricsThe People's Limousine LyricsThe Scarlet Tide LyricsThe Stamping Ground LyricsThe Sweetest Punch Lyrics
The Unfailing Welcome To The Voice LyricsThe Very Thought of You LyricsThe World And His Wife LyricsThe World and His Wife (Live) LyricsThe World Of Broken Hearts LyricsThere's A Story In Your Voice LyricsThere Won't Be Anymore LyricsThey'll Never Take Her LyricsThis House Is Empty Now LyricsThis Is Hell LyricsThis Offer Is Unrepeatable LyricsThis Sad Burlesque LyricsThis Year's Girl LyricsTiny Steps LyricsTKO (Boxing Day) LyricsTokyo Storm Warning LyricsToledo LyricsTommy's Coming Home LyricsTonight The Bottle Let Me Down LyricsToo Blue LyricsToo Far Gone LyricsTown Cryer LyricsTown Where Time Stood Still LyricsTramp The Dirt Down LyricsTurning The Town Red LyricsTwenty-Five Fingers LyricsTwenty-Five To Twelve LyricsTwo Little Hitlers LyricsUncomplicated LyricsUnwanted Number LyricsUpon A Veil Of Midnight Blue LyricsVamp Dolce LyricsVeronica LyricsWaiting for the End of the World LyricsWalking On Thin Ice LyricsWatch Your Step LyricsWatching the Detectives LyricsWatching the Detectives (LIVE) LyricsWave A White Flag LyricsWe Despise You LyricsWednesday Week LyricsWeeper's Dream LyricsWeird Nightmare LyricsWelcome to the Working Week LyricsWhat's Her Name Today? LyricsWhat Do I Do Now? LyricsWhen Did I Stop Dreaming? LyricsWhen Green Eyes Turn Blue LyricsWhen I Was Cruel no. 2 LyricsWhen I was Cruel#1 LyricsWhen It Sings LyricsWhen That I Was And A Little Tiny Boy LyricsWhite Knuckles LyricsWho Do You Think You Are? LyricsWhy Can't A Man Stand Alone? LyricsWhy Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do) Lyrics
Why? LyricsWithered and Died LyricsWorthless Thing LyricsYou'll Never Be A Man LyricsYou Belong To Me LyricsYou Bowed Down LyricsYou Left Me In The Dark LyricsYou Little Fool LyricsYou Stole My Bell LyricsYou Tripped at Every Step LyricsYou Turned To Me LyricsYou Want Her Too LyricsYour Angel Steps Out Of Heaven LyricsYour Mind Is On Vacation Lyrics(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea Lyrics(the angels wanna wear my) Red Shoes Lyrics(The) Fall Of The World's Own Optimist Lyrics(What's So Funny 'Bout)Peace, Love And Understanding Lyrics... This Town ... Lyrics...And in Every Home Lyrics...Dust Lyrics
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Review about Elvis Costello
Where was Minorkle in the 80s? | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song Tramp The Dirt Down performed by Elvis Costello
Not in a run down city. Not in a mining community. not listening to the "There's no such thing as society" rhetoric. Not watching the credit deregulation that led us to a Crunch. Not in manufacturing. not watching council houses sold and not replaced, to people who couldn't afford the mortgage, leading to repossesion. not learning about how the foreign office led Argentina to believe she would let the islands go. not using policy to rebuild manufacturing. Thatcher did some good stuff, and some bad stuff. The Poll Tax led to devolution, which has increased the cost of administration and is feeding nationalism. It will break up the UK eventually. From 79 to 97 they let education and health slowly corrode. No party is all right. No leeader should stay so long. Washington was right
obsession | Reviewer: lilysilver
------ About the song I Want You performed by Elvis Costello
this is definitely about being cheated on and not letting go of the partner. and after being cheated on s/he's a bit of an obsession. to me, i want you seems like i want you to love me but i you don't and it's driving me totally crazy--i'm obsessed.
Passion is his name | Reviewer: Rodrigo
------ About the song (What's So Funny 'Bout)Peace, Love And Understanding performed by Elvis Costello
Like many other Costello's songs this one is also capable of thrilling us for all different reasons, for instance I too almost cried watching Bill Murray singing it on Lost in Translation, really awesome scene. However, what draws my attention the most is not the lyric itself but rather his passionate way of singing. Beautiful.
Modern Classic | Reviewer: F
------ About the song This House Is Empty Now performed by Elvis Costello
The Bacharach/Costello collaboration 'Painted from Memory' has always seemed to me very underrated. This particular song would have been a classic if Dionne Warwick had sang it 30 years ago but as it is not that many have actually heard it which is a shame.
So Cruel | Reviewer: Minorkle
------ About the song Tramp The Dirt Down performed by Elvis Costello
This is not Elvis at his best. His hatred of Margaret Thatcher inspired this vicious wish for her demise and then cruel gloating. We all have bad days but this is absurd. Why God would give Elvis have so much talent and then allow him to defame a great woman is a mystery.
So Brilliant and so wrong | Reviewer: Minorkle
------ About the song Tramp The Dirt Down performed by Elvis Costello
"Tramp The Dirt Down" is not a rational protest song, nor is it a well thought-out political manifesto. Its message is simple and direct-- the Margaret Thatcher is evil, and Elvis would take pleasure in her ultimate demise. Isn't it odd that so brilliant a musician such as Elvis could misunderstand the brilliance of Thatcher. It was as bitter and savage as anything Costello had ever written, because Costello took the unusual step of actually naming names. When Costello released his anti-Tory diatribe "Pills And Soap" in 1983, he told a concerned BBC censor that the song was about cruelty to animals. There could be no clever parsing of words with this song, which included the memorable line, "When England was the whore of the world, Margaret was her Madam." This song was not Elvis at his finest. Unfortunately he let his misguided political leanings defame a great Woman. She was kind enough to not respond to him in kind.
Clearly a cathardic lambasting of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her policies. Costello has long been a vocal critic of hers and once even remarked that "She doesn't have a soul. She will burn in hell." Unfortunately Elvis hate can lead him to hell but no other.
Example of masterful lyrics by the lyrical master | Reviewer: Christopher D. White
------ About the song The Other End (of the Telescope) performed by Elvis Costello
The words speak for themselves. But Costello's best is among the best in songwriting of the second half of the Twentieth Century, ranking with Dylan, Lennon, and McCartney. This song is gigantically underrated and underheard.
--Christopher D. White, Editor-in-Chief, Rager Media
Elvis Costello song | Reviewer: tracey
------ About the song God Give Me Strength performed by Elvis Costello
i am tryin to search for a song that was done by elvis costello.
i am not sure of the title but hopefully someone will know it....
its about a girl in a sun dress,please someone must remember it?
where piano collides with rock AND politics | Reviewer: Sir Bunny
------ About the song Oliver's Army performed by Elvis Costello
I've always wondered about the lyrics of this song. I fell in love with the sound of the heavy piano, much in the genre of Elton John and Billy Joel to name a couple. I had no idea of what the lyrics of "Oliver's Army" meant so thank you to the reviewers who enlightened me.
Alison! | Reviewer: nisaba
------ About the song Alison performed by Elvis Costello
This is one of costello's finest tracks, with the understated, reined-in intensity he is so good at. There is only one King, and Elvis is his name - Elvis Costello. Years ago there was a terrific cover of this song brought out by, I think, Linda Ronstadt: very different to his, much more melodramatic and with a nice lesbian twist to it.
Puns and Plays on words | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song Clubland performed by Elvis Costello
At the time this Elvis song came out the artiste was very heavily into puns and play's on words...while not giving much thought to the meaning...though London Club life would have given some inspriation
The Long Journey Home | Reviewer: Vicki Shaw
------ About the song Long Journey Home performed by Elvis Costello
I had never heard this song until two days ago when I received my new double cd by Tommy Fleming. It is a gorgeous song and Tommy sings it beautifully. And yes, I too have been playing it over and over in my car!!! I am USA born but my daughter was born in Ireland. So I am Irish by injection!!!!
Vicki
ET | Reviewer: HAMMY
------ About the song Accidents Will Happen performed by Elvis Costello
THis song is in ET. Well not the whole song. Elliots brothers friend with the walkman is singing this song as he is listening to his headphones.
New Favorite Christmas Song | Reviewer: Mona Wheeler
------ About the song St Stephen's Day Murders performed by Elvis Costello
My feet cannot stay still when I hear this song. The Chieftains, Bells of Dublin is one of my favorite Christmas CDs and St. Stephen's Day Murders is defintely one of my favorites.
It's not Christmas ..... | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song St Stephen's Day Murders performed by Elvis Costello
...until you play the St. Stephen's Day Murders while wrapping 216 presents for the 300 long-lost relatives coming from the four corners to share the joy of the season. Egg Nog optional, but strongly recommended!
Long Journey Home | Reviewer: BrightBlueRose
------ About the song Long Journey Home performed by Elvis Costello
I agree with what the last person said above! Beautiful song indeed and may I add that Tommy Fleming's version of this song is gorgeous! Go and buy his album and you will know what I'm talking about!
Up the North of Ireland and UP ARMAGH.....right Chuck Mc Neely, LoL! ;-)
The Future is Now | Reviewer: DankHour
------ About the song Night Rally performed by Elvis Costello
Great rock writers (e.g. Dylan, Springsteen, Lennon, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen)always seem to write songs then because they know we'll need them now. I was fortunate enough to work for a record store when his first three albums were released. Night Rally comes from 1978. He perfectly captures our times with his prescient imagery: there is someone on the signal wire; they are putting our names in the forbidden book and doing things that we don't want to see. That second verse sounds like a description of Nazi rallys and actions a world and several generations away. But in fact it's about you and me, pal, in the here and now. If we're not going to be part of the night rally, then we'd better get ready to sing in the showers.
Reference is to mercenaries | Reviewer: Athos
------ About the song Oliver's Army performed by Elvis Costello
Oliver Cromwell's army, being the first standing force to be paid wages for their service were accused of being mercenaries.
Ergo Oliver's army = mercenaries. At the time of the song's release there were numerous campaigns around the globe employing mercenary troops - many of them from England where such service was and still is legal.
Dark Comedy | Reviewer: Julie Cantrell
------ About the song Couldn't Call It Unexpected No.4 performed by Elvis Costello
As usual, Elvis Costello brings his wit into the most rueful of situations -- here, mostly, death. Set against a background tune of Carnival Music, this song not only laments mortality, but also the sentimentality that goes along with it. The Carnival theme just underscores the ludicrousness of the whole human condition -- as another great song mentions, "What's born is busy dyin'." In certain moments, most of us realize that at some point, we'll die, and that's a bit scary. Brilliantly, Costello has this fear and the whole emotional kit that rides along with it summed up in a rolling, rocking melody. I love it. Not for upbeat occasions, no, but for the sheer genius, absolutely!
Just Beautiful | Reviewer: Wynn
------ About the song She (Tous Les Visages de L'Amour) performed by Elvis Costello
I've always remembered this song, from the day I watched my father sang it to my mother...he has a beautiful singing voice....I was very young then, I'm 37 now, but I remember what every word of this song made me feel.... lifted, light, enchanted, loved...and the words still make me feel the same until now.
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