Elvis Costello
elvis Costello, “You bowed down”
From: all this useless beauty, 1996
You can tell by the introductory notes in this song that something big is going to happen. Soon inside it, the instrumental hook appears offering its gifts and is deftly reintroduced throughout the piece. Then there is Elvis recording himself as a choir for the chorus. A choir filled with a certain sad, nostalgic, confused edge. How about the sudden, guitar fills that become unhidden and glow as points of emphasis? Then ending with an emphatic, psychedelic, apocalyptic guitar solo. The song’s mood strikes me with longing and disappointment. I haven’t been able to distinguish the lyrics, so let’s take a look at them together and listen again about 40 times. Elvis has a broken down cool.
“I expect you`re entitled to know why I`m making contact
With acquaintances scattered all over the land
I`d promise you now and again that I`d honor the contract
If it hadn’t crumbled away in my hand
So we broke that vow independently now
But I don`t know why you absolutely deny
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
When you first looked away I might say it was really a kindness
It must have hurt you to see how dreams sour
Now they say that justice and love are the next things to blindness
Well you`re getting plenty of both of them now
And so you parade where appointments are made
And never meant to be kept
Unless you accept
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
You value the burnt amber of falling leaves
And you long to delay
As you feel their breath as they whisper
”It won`t hurt you now to betray
If you just bow down”
And now every time that we meet on the edge of hysteria
You`re helping them sell off some new party line
I remember a time when you would have seemed so superior
Now you say “Will you please meet this good friend of mine?”
So you`re in demand as long as you kiss their hand
But all the applause is for their name not yours
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down)
You bowed down
You bowed down
You bowed down
You bowed down”
“I find humming is very useful”