26 Quotes & Sayings By Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello, OBE, is an English musician, singer-songwriter, and author. His career spans more than 30 years during which time he has sold more than 40 million records worldwide. He is known for his distinctive voice and his eclectic mix of musical styles. Costello's work has encompassed rock music, pop music, cabaret, bluegrass, blues, jazz, and the avant-garde Read more

He has collaborated with a number of artists and has made contributions to the field of popular musicology through his writing.Costello was born in London in 1957. He spent much of his childhood in working class areas of South London where he attended John Radley Technical School in Croydon before being expelled for truancy in 1971. He formed his first band in 1977 called Attitude, which later became famous as The Attractions.

In 1979 he formed what became known as The Attractions with his brother Pete Thomas. After the release of the single "This Year's Model" in 1982 they became famous as The Costellos after changing their name to avoid confusion with an American band by that name. In 1981 they released their first album as a four-piece band, Armed Forces which featured a 16-minute song titled "Veronica".In 1982 Costello moved from England to New York City to be closer to publishing companies and record labels who were more receptive to new material from musicians who were based there.

In 1985 he released his first solo album Veronica having left The Attractions on poor terms due to alleged artistic differences with Pete Thomas. This was followed by My Aim Is True on which he played all the instruments himself on some tracks including a 1980s disco feel song called "Shoeshine Boy"; this was followed by Brutal Youth (1987) on which Costello played all the instruments himself again except for drums where he used Iain Matthews from Squeeze as well as guitar on two songs; this was followed by Spike (1989) on which Costello played all the instruments himself again except for drums where he used Iain Matthews from Squeeze as well as guitar on one song; this was followed by Armed Forces Volume 2 (1991) on which he played all the instruments himself again except for drums where he used Iain Matthews from Squeeze as well as guitar on two songs; this was followed by Get Happy!! (1992) on which he played all the instruments himself again except for drums where he used Iain Matthews from Squee

Writing about music is like dancing about architecture - it's...
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Writing about music is like dancing about architecture - it's really a stupid thing to want to do. Elvis Costello
Can a mere song change a people's minds? I doubt...
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Can a mere song change a people's minds? I doubt that it is so. But a song can infiltrate your heart and the heart may change your mind. Elvis Costello
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The battle with the bottle is nothing so novel. Elvis Costello
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I believe that music is connected by human passions and curiosities rather than by marketing strategies. Elvis Costello
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The radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools tryin' to anesthetize the way that you feel. Elvis Costello
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It was a real party of swells. Elvis Costello
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Bad lovers face to face in the morning Shy apologies and polite regrets Slow dances that left no warning of Outraged glances and indiscreet yawning Good manners and bad breath get you nowhere Even presidents have newspaper lovers Ministers go crawling under covers She's no angel He's no saint They're all covered up with white washed grease paint And you say.. Chorus: The teacher never told you anything but white lies But you never see the lies And you believe Oh you know you have been captured You feel so civilized And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves The salty lips of the socialite sisters With their continental fingers that have never seen working blisters Oh I know they've got their problems I wish I was one of them They say daddy's coming home soon With his sergeant stripes and his Empire mug and spoon No more fast buck And when are they gonna learn their lesson When are they gonna stop all of these victory processions And you say.. Elvis Costello
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Strict TimeThere's a hand on a wire that leads to my mouth I can hear you knocking but I'm not coming out Don't want to be a puppet or a ventriloquist 'Cause there's no ventilation on a critical list Fingers creeping up my spine are not mine to resist Strict time Chorus: Toughen up, toughen up Keep your lip buttoned up Strict time Oh the muscles flex and the fingers curl And a cold sweat breaks out on the sweater girl Strict time Oh he's all hands, don't touch that dial The courting cold wars weekend witch trial Strict time All the boys are straight laced and the girls are frigid The talk is two-faced and the rules are rigid 'cause it's strict time Strict time You talk in hushed tones, I talk in lush tones Try to look Italian through the musical Valium Strict time Thinking of grand larceny Smoking the everlasting cigarette of chastity Cute assistants staying alive More like a hand job than the hand jive Strict time . Elvis Costello
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Life is so strange I don't know why But somebody, somebody has to cry. Elvis Costello
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She's no angel. He's no saint. Elvis Costello
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He's such a drag He's not insane It's just that everybody Has to feel his pain. Elvis Costello
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You think you're alone until you realize you're in it. Now fear is here to stay, love is here for a visit. Elvis Costello
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I could say it was the nights when I was lonelyand you were the only one who'd talk. I could tell you that I like your sensitivity, when you know it's the way that you walk. Elvis Costello
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Death wears a big hat. Elvis Costello
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It's a breath you took too late. It's a death that's worse than fate. Elvis Costello
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No use wishing now for any other sin. Elvis Costello
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Oh, I know that she's disgusted, cause she's feeling so abused. She gets tired of the lust, but it's so hard to refuse. Elvis Costello
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So you take her to the pictures, trying to become a fixture. Inch by inch trying to reach her, all the way through the second feature. Worrying about your physical fitness, tell me how you got this sickness? Elvis Costello
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I don't wanna be a lover, I just wanna be your victim. Elvis Costello
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But it's easier to say 'I love you', than 'Yours, sincerely' I suppose. Elvis Costello
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There's a girl in this dress, there's always a girl in distress. Elvis Costello
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Smokey Robinson writes the heartfelt songs, whereas it was my job to write the songs about weakness and failure in love. Elvis Costello
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We're all just animals. That's all we are, and everything else is just an elaborate justification of our instincts. That's where music comes from. And romantic poetry. And bad novels. Elvis Costello
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Happiness isn't a fortune in a cookie. It's deeper, wider, funnier, and more transporting than that. Elvis Costello
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Women hear rhythm differently than men. Elvis Costello