@3:20 "for the recordings, Costello hand-picked a diverse range of musicians, [at the background:"...This Town..." iP] to provide precise musical settings for his most adventurous lyrics to date. In some quarters, "Spike" has been held as Costello's Masterpiece. Behind the comic grease-paint the attitude is as pointed and as passionate as ever
EC: Well, "The Beloved Entertainer" was the original title for the record. I have this image of "The Beloved Entertainer" which I... I don't know if there's a... a picture of "The Beloved Entertainer" in captivity, as we see him now strung up on the wall, that's kind of what the record companies doing now - they go out and shoot their artists, and hang them like a trophy in the boardroom, you know, and Spike is portrayed as a trophy in the boardroom wall. It really doesn't have any other significance The Beloved Entertainer, on the other hand, is a character I think we are all familiar with, and he makes various sort of, appearances in a couple of the songs on the record. He's the kind of guy that comes out - you feel like you've known him a thousand years when he's been on stage about five minuets, you know, and I think...I think people will recognize him in some of the songs.
Last Edit: Jun 10, 2011 17:44:53 GMT -5 by ipuffin
I've been on tenderhooks ending in dirty looks, list'ning to the Muzak, thinking 'bout this 'n' that.
She said that's that. I don't wanna chitter-chat. Turn it down a little bit or turn it down flat.
Pump it up when you don't really need it. Pump it up until you can feel it.
Down in the pleasure centre, hell bent or heaven sent, listen to the propaganda, listen to the latest slander. There's nothing underhand that she wouldn't understand.
@7:53 Interviewer: You were primarily brought in to work on HIS album, and are these two songs that appear on your album a by-product of that?
EC: not really a by-product - I took them as insurance
Shallow Grave - McCartney/McManus When I fall in endless sleep I hope that I'll be buried deep Let me be the one that fortune favors Even good children got shallow graves
Throw another clown to the lions Throw another Joan on the blaze Cast me away on the cruel calm ocean and leave me for days and days and days and days and days I won't lie in this poor shallow grave I won't lie, I won't lie in this poor shallow grave Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Bless the poor 'cos like the rich They all end up in a ditch In this world of fools and knaves Even good children got shallow graves The tinker, the tailor, the fabulous five Nobody gets out of this alive
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Last Edit: Jun 11, 2011 12:52:46 GMT -5 by ipuffin
Cast me away on the cruel calm ocean and leave me for days and days and days and days and days I won't lie in this poor shallow grave I won't lie, I won't lie in this poor shallow grave Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Born in the middle of a second big baby boom Those noisy boys just might have spoken up too soon Now I'm looking for a little girl, I wonder where she's gone Big money for families having more than one
Chorus: Opportunity, opportunity This is your big opportunity They shop around follow you without a sound Whatever you do now Don't turn around Whatever happened to the pride of the nation? They say, "just wait until you break formation" She was sitting pretty on a velvet cushion But her bedroom eyes were like a button she was pushing She said, "When they get to Dover they'll be be taking over" I said I'd come to her defense and then she pulled me over
[Chorus]
I'm in the foxhole, I'm down in the trench I'd be a hero but I can't stand the stench The Fitness Institute was full of General Motormen And the "Hello House of Beauty" wouldn't stand a chance with them The chairman of this boredom is a compliment collector I'd like to be his funeral director
Trying to be too bad Trying to talk too tough Trying to jack the lad You'd think he'd had enough But he's not the man you'd think that he can be I just don't know why you can't see That he is only the imposter That he is only the imposter
You've never been this far You've always been too smart And you know all our boys Are really girls at heart And he's not the man you'd think that he can be I just don't know why you can't see That he is only the imposter That he is only the imposter
When I said that I was lying, I might have been lying Never let me hear you say you're not trying
This is your big decision Hope you're not disappointed He's got double vision When you want him double jointed And he's not the man you'd think that he can be I just don't know why you can't see The imposter
He'll only bring you souvenirs It's only gonna end in tears And he is only the imposter And he is only the imposter