The band is named after a line in the BBC TV mini-series 'The Singing Detective', in which a character says that the word "elbow" is the most sensuous word in the English language (not due to its definition per se but due to how it feels to say it). Though the group came about in 1990, intially going by names such as 'Soft' and 'Mr. Soft', it wasn't until 'The Noisebox EP' came out on 1 January 1998 that they had a real release. Elbow started out specializing in "chilled funk", but the guys changed the direction of their music after unanimously deciding that they were "shit."
Their new songs picked up notice from both Island Records, but the band got dropped due to business shenanigans before anything actually came out post-singing. Elbow then released two critically acclaimed EP's on the independent Ugly Man Record label, starting with the aformentioned 'Noisebox EP'. Luckily, their work caught the attention of V2 Records.
V2 released Elbow's debut album: "Asleep In The Back." The album was a surprisingly moderate success, gaining substantial critical acclaim and, ultimately, a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize in 2001. The single "Newborn" received attention after being banned by Radio 1 for the lyric, "I'll be the corpse in your bathtub."
Word of mouth then began to work in Elbow's favor. Its 2003 album, "Cast Of Thousands," entered the UK Charts at #7 to critical acclaim. The lead single, "Fallen Angel," charted at #19.
In 2004, Elbow became the first British band to ever play a concert in Havana during an unofficial Cuban tour. The tour was made into a short film by British documentary maker Irshad Ashraf.
Elbow released its third album in 2005: "Leaders Of The Free World." Despite a continued lack of commercial notice, "Leaders Of The Free World" charted at #12, with its lead single, "Forget Myself" achieving #22 in the charts. That autumn, Elbow headlined the first of two sell-out tours.
March 17, 2008, saw the release of Elbow's fourth album, entitled "The Seldom Seen Kid." Released through Fiction, it entered the UK album chart at #5, and went on to win the 2008 Mercury Music Award. "The Fix," features guest vocals and lead guitar by Richard Hawley. April 2009 saw the release of The Seldom Seen Kid Live At Abbey Road, recorded with The BBC Concert Orchestra and Chantage. This album, recorded in Studio One of the world famous Abbey Road Studios on Saturday, January 17, 2008, is a complete run-through of the Mercury winning album. It features the band, a 52-piece orchestra, and a 20-member choir.
"Grounds for Divorce" was featured in VALVe Software game Left 4 Dead in 2008.
The band's fifth album Build A Rocket Boys! was released in the UK on March 14, 2011.
The First Steps Songfacts reports that Elbow was commissioned by the BBC to write a song for their coverage of the 2012 Olympics. The resulting tune is "First Steps". The full song lasts six and a half minutes, but it was written in such a way so that it could be divided into different minute or two long elements for use over both winning and losing footages.
In July 2015, Elbow released the Lost Worker Bee EP, which was soon followed by Guy Garvey's first solo album 'Courting the Squall' (Oct 2015).
Their seventh studio album, 'Little Fictions' was released on 3 February 2017, with Elbow's eighth studio album, 'Giants of All Sizes', released 2 years later on 11 October 2019.
Website: http://elbow.co.uk/
An Audience with the Pope
Elbow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She has the sweetest, darkest eyes
And when it comes into her eyes
I know iron and steel couldn't hold me
Good God, I'm easily bruised
So often in love to her flame
And the things that she's asked me to do
I have an audience with the Pope
And I'm saving the world at eight
But if she says she needs me
She says she needs me everybody's gonna have to wait
(Where could she be?)
Was that a minute or an hour?
(Where could she be?)
She turns the hours into days
Kill the phone, cover the cage
And wait for the doorbell to ring
(Where could she be?)
No, she won't come running
(Where could she be?)
The world is turning at her pace
Kill the phone, cover the cage
And wait for the doorbell to ring
I have an audience with the Pope
And I'm saving the world at eight
But if she says she needs me
She says she needs me everybody's gonna have to wait
I have an audience with the Pope
And I'm saving the world at eight
But if she says she needs me
She says she needs me everybody's gonna have to wait
I have an audience with the Pope
And I'm saving the world at eight
But if she says she needs me
She says she needs me everybody's gonna have to wait
Everybody's gonna have to wait
Elbow's song "An Audience with the Pope" is a song about a man who is deeply in love with a woman that has a hold on him that he can't resist. He expresses his feelings quite openly, admitting that he is "on fire" and "easily bruised" when he is with her. He is so captivated by her that he feels that nothing can stand in his way.
The man in the song then speaks about how he has important things to do, such as "saving the world at eight" and having an "audience with the Pope". However, if his partner needs him, he will be there for her no matter what. He is willing to put everything on hold, even if he is at the peak of his career or has pressing matters to attend to.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency and longing as the man waits for his partner. The lines "Where could she be? Was that a minute or an hour?" capture the anxiety and sense of timelessness that he feels while he waits for her.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of the intensity of love and the lengths that one is willing to go to be with the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet Jesus, I'm on fire
My passion for her burns so brightly that it feels divine
She has the sweetest, darkest eyes
Her eyes are alluring and mysterious
And when it comes into her eyes
When her gaze meets mine
I know iron and steel couldn't hold me
I feel invincible and nothing can stand between us
Good God, I'm easily bruised
Despite my strength, I am vulnerable to her and easily hurt
So often in love to her flame
I am drawn to her passion and intensity
And the things that she's asked me to do
She has challenged and pushed me to my limits
Will see a city of saints forgetting his name
Her influence will cause chaos and may cause me to forget my own beliefs
I have an audience with the Pope
I have significant responsibilities and obligations
And I'm saving the world at eight
I am committed to doing important work for the greater good, starting early in the day
But if she says she needs me
If she requests my time and attention
She says she needs me everybody's gonna have to wait
I will prioritize her over everything else, even my important duties
(Where could she be?)
I am anxiously waiting for her
Was that a minute or an hour?
Time has lost meaning while I wait for her
She turns the hours into days
Her presence slows down time and makes my longing for her feel longer
Kill the phone, cover the cage
I am shutting out all distractions and focusing on waiting for her
And wait for the doorbell to ring
I am eagerly anticipating her arrival
No, she won't come running
She won't be rushed or pressured into anything
The world is turning at her pace
She is in control and moves at her own speed
I have an audience with the Pope
I have significant responsibilities and obligations
And I'm saving the world at eight
I am committed to doing important work for the greater good, starting early in the day
But if she says she needs me
If she requests my time and attention
She says she needs me everybody's gonna have to wait
I will prioritize her over everything else, even my important duties
Everybody's gonna have to wait
My love for her is all-consuming and everything else will have to take a backseat
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CRAIG LEE POTTER, GUY EDWARD JOHN GARVEY, MARK POTTER, MARK ELLIS POTTER, PETER JAMES TURNER, RICHARD BARRY JUPP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheSoulsilent
This is a master piece! Elbow is brilliant.
Kathryn Shrader
A former lover introduced me to Elbow, and sent me this. Hard to beat the ego trip of feeling like the subject of this song. I wonder how much of that relationship was falling in love with Guy’s voice.
sunnygirly2k4
One of my fave songs from the album (time has flown since I bought it) and I often find myself singing the chorus :-D
GT Extra
i feel this song in so many diff ways its not even funny i just love it ....i can let it play all day long
Jai Bee
The band of the millennium - they experienced and described a changing of an age
Shannon Nelson
My favorite from them of all time, I love all they do, but this......
JFD99BAD94
please please please make this available to watch on mobile devices!! And all the studio versions of your songs! I need them so i can listen to them to go to sleep! thanks, i love you guys btw xx:P
eveli
I love this song so much
The Shitpost King
never realised this before, but the low end is amazing!!
ljdavies1987
Seductive is the word for this song. I can imagine slow dancing with an elegant girl to this before our first kiss.