Elvis C.
Words: 08-15-1999
Music: 08-15-1999
What’s It All About?
An important song for me… one I used to introduce as being about “irresistible risk.” It’s an imagined moment between two people: one is in love with the other; the other knows this but would much rather continue on without it being said. And then it is. And nothing will ever be the same — maybe even worse. But it had to be done.
An imagined moment… unlike the protagonist in the song, I never had the guts.
Musically, this song is huge tip of the hat to the stylings of Mister Declan MacManus — Elvis Costello — and so bears his name. It first saw the light of day during my time with the band Running Erin, and much of its popularity with fans of that band is due to the vocals of Erin Foster — I consider the live recording with that band (the first presented here) to be the definitive version.
The second version, solo acoustic, was recorded direct to hard drive in my office in Hesperia, California, in 2002.
Lyrics:
You can be eloquent
You can blow up balloons
With ready platitudes
You pick and choose what to say
Oh how you orate
No pithy speeches
From your podium
A vow of silence
You’ve just begun as defense
From my lack of pretense
And I
Could have kept quiet
Just once I should try it
But then you’d never know
And I couldn’t just go
Without saying my peace
Now I cannot hear you
Say anything
No words of wisdom
No songs that swing are sung
Cat got your tongue?
Please let that breath out
Pick up your chin
No one likes pantomine
So let’s not begin; no charades
I didn’t say it to play games
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Listen and Download
Elvis C. by Running Erin w Matthew Wayne Selznick (live) [4:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (246) Elvis C. by Matthew Wayne Selznick (acoustic) [4:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (232)One Response to “Elvis C.”
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