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 LyricsCome 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 LyricsHeathen 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 LyricsLess 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 LyricsPads, 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 LyricsSpooky 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 LyricsThe 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) LyricsWhy? 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 (Submit New Elvis Costello Lyrics)
Review about Elvis Costello
Love this song! | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song My Mood Swings performed by Elvis Costello
This song is just soooo good - I am playing it over and over. the line where the lyrics are unclear - it is something about Stevie - maybe Stevie Wonder song (song from the year she was born). anyway . . . .
Every Thing That Elvis Costello Has Ever Done | Reviewer: teknohag
------ About the song Sneaky Feelings performed by Elvis Costello
The 1st time I somehow came across Mr. Costello's 1st album all of my (gay( friends & I were disco'ing in the Minneapolis gay bars. When I bought the album my friends went NUTS. Thought I was crazy. He played on Valentines Day in Minneapolis at a straight club. I bought an "Elvis was my Valentine" T-shirt and went as right to the front of the stage. I heard like 1 song and FAINTED. Was carried to the car, missed the concert but still have the shirt.
This man is a genius, a poet with an inimitable voice.
I named a chair, that my artist husband made from a found Eames chair of cast bronze, "My Eames Is True" See it @ http://homepage.mac.com/teknohag/images/03_eames.jpg.
Now friends that laughed at me realize how I was so ahead of them.
I find it interesting that when fading to commercial "Morning Joe" uses a lot of Costello's songs and that is why I started watching the early AM show.
Who the "boys'" are. | Reviewer: SGT Roberts
------ About the song Oliver's Army performed by Elvis Costello
The lyrics refer to "the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne." Who are these mystery men? More thatn likely The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (RRF). The four units that make up the Regiment are the Lancashire Fusiliers (Mersey), The Royal Fusiliers (City of London - Thames), and the Royal Northumberland and Warwickshire Fusiliers (the Tyne). The RRF was formed in 1968, from the four units, which, I suppose might have been of interest to a young Mr. Costello, and I suspect that EC met some Royal Fusiliers when he visited Belfast before he wrote the song "Oliver's Army," and probably knew where they were from. In any case, the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland nothwithstanding, the boys from the British Army DID in fact nickname a section of Northern Belfast as "the murder mile." The original "murder mile" was in Nicosia, Cyprus, where Royal Fusiliers also served, including the Tyne-Tee's in 1958.
I've had this song going through my head for the last day as I serve in Afghanistan.. Wierd.
great songs | Reviewer: Peter Johnson
------ About the song Sneaky Feelings performed by Elvis Costello
I like Elvis Costello a lot, I listened to him around 1975 and still like his first album best especiallythe songs:
Sneaky Feelings
Blame it on Cain
Alison
and
My Aim Is True
Great job Elvis and the guys, I like more like that - good luck with all buddy, Pete
great again | Reviewer: Peter Johnson
------ About the song Pay it Back performed by Elvis Costello
I write music myself and have been listen to Elvis since 1975, well, it's just to realize it here's another great one of Elvis Costello - well done, if he only could make his next record like this, too, it's just very well done.
The New Elvis Costello | Reviewer: Ari
------ About the song Alison performed by Elvis Costello
Um, I am a HUGE fan of Elvis Costello. For my fellow fans, check out Rob Schneider of The Apples in Stereo for contemporary indie pop-rock tunes that rival Costello's genius. Seriously. Check out the tracks Atom Bomb, Play Tough, 7 Stars, and Radiation, for starters. Some are a bit different -- expect more than just guitar, drums, piano, and bass. Scheider is one creative dude. Also, he tends to do a tasteful amount of low-fi distortion, and feedback -- don't worry the music is still totlaly listenable, just a teeny tad of Sonic Youth and Stereolab in there -- and it works!
Best lost song ever | Reviewer: natureman
------ About the song Baby Plays Around performed by Elvis Costello
This tune has been haunting me now for years. I like singing it acapella to test my pitch control. This composition could easily be the basis of a broadway show. The story it evokes can be developed into a dramatic production. Elvis, you do the world proud!
natureman out
All These Useless Ballads | Reviewer: Kevin McCready
------ About the album All This Useless Beauty performed by Elvis Costello
While this record contains some of Elvis's best lyrics, the music here feels a bit too dainty and precious. Complicated Shadows and Shallow Grave rock as hard as anything he's done, but why hold back one of the most propulsive backing bands of all time (The Attractions) in lieu of a restrained set of mostly dour meditations.
aaaalisonnn. | Reviewer: Amy93
------ About the song Alison performed by Elvis Costello
i haven't heard the original of this, but i've been addicted to the live version elvis does with billie joe armstrong of green day. argh, i always get it in my head. "aaaalison" ^___^ i will listen and download the original now. awesome song! sounds great as a duet with the lovely billie joe's voice.
New model army | Reviewer: G.W
------ About the song Oliver's Army performed by Elvis Costello
Oliver Cromwell set up the basis the British Armed Forces in about 1648 when he fought King Charles I of England and his royalist army in the English civil war. Cromwell belived that the country should be run by Parliament not a monarch, so he raised the New Model Army from others those who supported his cause. Oliver's army defeated the royalists and he had the king executed then took control of England as the 1st Lord Protector of the England. He made soldiering a proffessional career (noted in the song).
The song itself expresses and criticises how in the 1970's, when this song was written, the British Army targeted for recruitment young disadvantaged men leaving secondary school. Unemployment at the time was extremely high and the army seemed like the only way to go, the kings shilling for your life.
reference's some of the British Armed Forces campaigns after World War 2
Beyond Belief | Reviewer: Anonymous
------ About the song Beyond Belief performed by Elvis Costello
Truly, I'm not sure of the content of the lyrics. It almost reminds me of The Talking Heads.... 'Burnin' Down the House'. When ask of David Byrd what does the song mean (by Rolling Stones)....his answer was....nothing...just that the words went well together. I do enjoy this song though. It's one of my favorite EC songs. It has drive and a wonderful bass line. I'm just not sure where to go with the lyric content. ....Cheers to All. -DN
Radio!! | Reviewer: Billy McDonald
------ About the song Radio Radio performed by Elvis Costello
I just finished watching Morgan Spurlock's "Where in the world is Osama Bin Laden?". It eneded with E. Costello's Peace, Love and Understanding, I thought this would be a better choice. Peace to our brethen in the mideast and all their families.
olivers army | Reviewer: kc
------ About the song Oliver's Army performed by Elvis Costello
I always thought this song was about OLIVER TAMBO , with the rise of the A.N.C and the struggle with apartheid .The way the party snowballed in the 70`s Hence Olivers army are on there way... is`nt the murder mile in S Africa and the Johannesburg connection . i`m more then likley wrong on this but a great tune nontheless.
the lyrics | Reviewer: Pete Gonsalves
------ About the song Let Him Dangle performed by Elvis Costello
Though the lyrics clearly are in opposition to the death penalty, due to the title... many view it as a song in favor of it. Though it is generally believed that Craig shot and killed Constable Miles, it is possible that Miles was in fact killed by a bullet fired from another Constable's revolver. The bullet itself was never recovered, but the estimated caliber taken from the entry wound to Miles' head never matched the caliber of Craig's revolver. It did match the caliber of the revolvers issued to the Constable's who responded to the incident. This is just another instance of blurred evidence utilized to convict in a capital punishment case. The posthumous pardon only validates this song's opposition to the death penalty.
fresh understanding | Reviewer: David
------ About the song I Want You performed by Elvis Costello
As a teenager, I loved this song, but despite hearing it dozens or times, I didn't understand it's deeper level. I thought it was an atmospheric song that might accompany an intense seduction. After a bad break-up a few years ago, I put Costello on my iPod, and suddenly all the lyrics made sense to me. I Want You puts its finger on all the horrible, nerve-shredding pain of betrayal like no other song. The line "It's knowing that he knows you now after only guessing" expresses the core of that feeling more clearly than most of us can ever express it ourselves.
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.
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