Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com
A few weeks ago, I interviewed Elvis Costello for my "Anatomy of a Song" column in the Wall Street Journal (go here) on one of his most fascinating songs—(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes. Elvis wrote it during the last 10 minutes of a three-hour train ride from London to Liverpool in 1976 on his way to visit his mother. The song then appeared on his first album, My Aim Is True. Elvis is a fascinating artist. He's polite, low key and a wonderful storyteller. He's also honest about himself, humble and insightful. I hope you enjoy my exploration into the mind of a leading songwriter.
Oh, I used to be disgusted
And now I try to be amused
But since their wings have got rusted
You know, the angels want to wear my red shoes
But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain
That's when I knew that I could not refuse
And I won't get any older, now that angels want to wear my red shoes
Oh, oh, I was watching while you're dancing away
Our love got fractured in the echo and sway
How come everybody wants to be your friend?
You know that it still hurts me just to say it
Oh, I know that she's disgusted (oh, why's that?)
Because she's feeling so abused (oh, that's too bad)
She gets tired of the lust (oh, I'm so sad)
But it's so hard to refuse
Can you say that I'm too old
When the angels have stolen my red shoes?
Oh, oh I said, "I'm so happy I could die"
She said, "Drop dead, " then left with another guy
That's what you get if you go chasing after vengeance
Ever since you got me punctured, this has been my sentence
Oh, I used to be disgusted
But now I try to be amused
But since their wings have got rusted
You know, the angels want to wear my red shoes
But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain
That's when I knew that I could not refuse
And I won't get any older, now that the angels want to wear my red shoes
Oh, I won't get any older, now the angels want to wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels want to wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels want to wear my red shoes
And now I try to be amused
But since their wings have got rusted
You know, the angels want to wear my red shoes
But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain
That's when I knew that I could not refuse
And I won't get any older, now that angels want to wear my red shoes
Oh, oh, I was watching while you're dancing away
Our love got fractured in the echo and sway
How come everybody wants to be your friend?
You know that it still hurts me just to say it
Oh, I know that she's disgusted (oh, why's that?)
Because she's feeling so abused (oh, that's too bad)
She gets tired of the lust (oh, I'm so sad)
But it's so hard to refuse
Can you say that I'm too old
When the angels have stolen my red shoes?
Oh, oh I said, "I'm so happy I could die"
She said, "Drop dead, " then left with another guy
That's what you get if you go chasing after vengeance
Ever since you got me punctured, this has been my sentence
Oh, I used to be disgusted
But now I try to be amused
But since their wings have got rusted
You know, the angels want to wear my red shoes
But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain
That's when I knew that I could not refuse
And I won't get any older, now that the angels want to wear my red shoes
Oh, I won't get any older, now the angels want to wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels want to wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels want to wear my red shoes
Here's a video of Elvis performing (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes...
And here's Elvis and Burt Bacharach on their song, Toledo. This is from Painted From Memory (1998), a must-own album that shows off the American Songbook genius of these two artists working together...
Want another? Here's the Costello-Baracharch song The House Is Empty Now...
Used with permission by Marc Myers
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