Great Expectations
Elbow Lyrics
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Call on you I'll call on you
Like I used to
Slide down beside and wrap you in stories
Tailored entirely for you
I'll remind you
We exchanged a vow
I love you I always will
A call girl with yesterday eyes
Was our witness and priest
Stockport supporters club kindly provided a choir
Your vow was your smile
As we move down the aisle
Of the last bus home
And this is where I go
Just when it rains
Blinking and stoned
Rain in your hair
You only smoke 'cause it's something to share
Singing bring on the night
To have and to hold
The sodium light turning silver to gold
Spitfire thin and strung like a violin
I was
Yours was the face with a grace
From a different age
You were the sun in my Sunday morning
You were the sun in my Sunday morning
Telling me never to go
So I'll live on the smile
And move down the aisle
Of the last bus home
And if you're running late
This is where I'll go
Know I'll always wait
In Elbow's song Great Expectations, we hear the singer reminiscing on a past love as he faces the rain. The song speaks of an undying love that existed between the singer and their partner, a love so strong that they exchanged vows with only a call girl serving as the witness and the Stockport supporters club providing the choir. The lyrics suggest that the memories of that day remain with the singer, and that he longs to go back to that moment whenever it rains. The singer remembers how he used to slide down beside his lover and tell stories tailored for their pleasure. The vow "I love you, I always will" lingers as a constant reminder of their love.
The second verse of the song clarifies that the lover was a call girl with yesterday's eyes, and yet she was the priest and witness of their love. The verse describes their trip down the aisle of the last bus home, where her smile was the vow she exchanged with the singer. The description of rain in your hair, smoking a cigarette because it’s something to share, and an unusual choice of songs for a wedding processional - bring on the night - all signify that their love was unconventional. The final verse describes the singer's memory of his lover as Spitfire thin and strung like a violin. She had a grace that set her apart, and she was the sun in his Sunday morning. The song ends with the singer saying that he would always wait for her, that he would always live on her smile even though they couldn't be together.
Line by Line Meaning
And if it rains all day
No matter how terrible it gets
Call on you I'll call on you
I'll always be there for you
Like I used to
Just like I have always been
Slide down beside and wrap you in stories
Comfort you with tales
Tailored entirely for you
Created exclusively for you
I'll remind you
I'll refresh your memory
We exchanged a vow
We made a promise
I love you I always will
I'll love you forever
A call girl with yesterday eyes
Someone who has seen too much
Was our witness and priest
Performed our ceremony
Stockport supporters club kindly provided a choir
A group who sang for us
Your vow was your smile
You didn't need words, your smile said it all
As we move down the aisle
Making our way together
Of the last bus home
On our way back
And this is where I go
This is where I find peace
Blinking and stoned
Dazed and confused
Rain in your hair
As if the rain loved you more than anything else
You only smoke 'cause it's something to share
Smoking was just an excuse to bond
Singing bring on the night
Ready to face anything
To have and to hold
To be yours, always
The sodium light turning silver to gold
The streetlights illuminating the way home
Spitfire thin and strung like a violin
Thin and nervous, like a musical instrument
I was
I existed in that moment
Yours was the face with a grace
You had a calm and collected demeanor
From a different age
As if you belonged in a different era
You were the sun in my Sunday morning
You brought light to my life
Telling me never to go
Asking me to stay forever
So I'll live on the smile
I'll never forget that smile
And move down the aisle
Moving forward together
Of the last bus home
Starting our new journey
And if you're running late
I'll wait patiently for you
This is where I'll go
My sanctuary
Know I'll always wait
I'm always here for you
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter James Turner, Richard Barry Jupp, Craig Lee Potter, Mark Potter, Guy Edward John Garvey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@frumpydear7036
"Spitfire thin and strung like a violin
I was
Yours was the face with a grace
From a different age
Love,
You were the sun in my Sunday morning
You were the sun in my Sunday morning
Telling me never to go
So I’ll live on the smile
And move down the aisle
Of the last bus home"
Wow.
@arnamthedarkthoughts7224
The way Guy delivers those lines towards the end "strung like a violin...." pumps emotion from hidden places inside my body, through my heart, and cleans any dirt.
Thank you Elbow, and Guy - your voice is so beautiful, sir
@Karibbean
Who rode on the bus listening to this as a kid. Always was my oxygen.
@scallywag6683
No words can express how beautiful this song is and all of Elbows other songs.
Elbow, you are incredible!
@QueenErrr
AHH I cannot get over this song. Or this band. I officially love them! "Blinking and stoned Rain in your hair You only smoke Cause it's something to share" kick ASS
@PWMoze
Young, skint and in love. Absolute magic. I wish I had been on that last bus home, watching Guy amd his girl move down the aisle....oh yeah, I just was.
@chrismawson8935
Point of interest: Alison Moyet chose this as one of her Desert Island Discs on Radio 4 in 2014. Blew me away when I heard it, what a fantastic (and beautifully produced) track.
@frumpydear7036
"Spitfire thin and strung like a violin
I was
Yours was the face with a grace
From a different age
Love,
You were the sun in my Sunday morning
You were the sun in my Sunday morning
Telling me never to go
So I’ll live on the smile
And move down the aisle
Of the last bus home"
Wow.
@chiaraelvendork6644
This is the most romantic song I've ever heard.
@scallywag6683
Brings tears to the eye. Absolutely beautiful!
@thatguy8898
I grew up around elbow and this song and my brother moved out 2 days ago and i normally after a bad day just talk abt random stuff and when it says u were the sun in my sunday morning made me cry because i always had to go somewere on a sunday and he never wanted me to go