Born in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington in London, Costello is the son of trumpeter, vocalist and band-leader Ronald (“Ross”) MacManus and record store manager Lillian Costello. His family had roots in Merseyside and he moved to Birkenhead at age 16, with his mother, when his parents separated. While he is better known as 'Elvis Costello', a stage name referring to the legendary Elvis Presley suggested by Stiff Records manager Jake Riviera, he has used many other aliases, including 'The Imposter' and 'Napoleon Dynamite'.
In the early 1970s Costello was a participant in London's pub rock scene with the group Flip City. Then in 1977 along with fellow Pub-Rockers Nick Lowe and Ian Dury he made his first releases on the independent label Stiff, tailoring his work towards the burgeoning punk, power pop, and new wave scenes. From 1980's Armed Forces onwards, however, other influences including soul, country, 1960s pop, and classical music began to re-emerge, and he soon became established as a unique and original voice. His output has been wildly diverse: one critic has written that "Costello, the pop encyclopedia, can reinvent the past in his own image".
His prolific and varied 30-year career has been marked by two constants: sharp songwriting and musical restlessness. The latter has seen him dabble in almost every musical form, from country to jazz to orchestral. This stems from the fact that, at heart, Costello is a fan. His desire to work with his musical heroes has attracted collaborators as diverse as Burt Bacharach and Paul McCartney, Anne Sofie von Otter, Allen Toussaint, Aimee Mann, Bill Frisell, and Brian Eno.
But his most successful partners were his long-term band The Attractions. They comprised Steve Nieve (keyboards), Pete Thomas (drums) and Bruce Thomas (bass). Between 1978 and 1983, this outfit produced a peerless series of albums: This Year's Model; Armed Forces; Get Happy!!; Almost Blue; Trust; Imperial Bedroom and Punch the Clock.
These recordings drew on styles spanning soul, country and western and commercial pop. It was only with 1984's Goodbye Cruel World that Costello started to stumble. An album he concedes was one of his worst, it ushered in a period which produced interesting music but lacked the consistent quality of his halcyon days. Interestingly, although he enlisted the other Elvis's band for King of America in 1986, it was a reunion with The Attractions and former producer Nick Lowe that produced his best album of the late 1980s in the form of the scabrous Blood and Chocolate.
The following albums, Spike and Mighty Like a Rose were uncompromising and difficult solo works, as was the string quartet collaboration The Juliet Letters in 1993. It was only reconvening the Attractions for Brutal Youth the following year that gave his fans another glimpse of what first attracted them to him: punchy, angry pop songs, tightly played by an impeccably taut ensemble.
Since then, Costello has become a career dilettante, true to his inner musical quest, but never again returning to heights he scaled in the early 1980s. Maybe the best work of this latter period was 1998's Painted from Memory. This joint effort with Burt Bacharach matched restrained writing from Costello with stately Bacharach arrangements.
Subsequent career nadirs such as the tune-free North (2003), and instrumental orchestral works such as Il Sogno (2004) led many long-term admirers to conclude that Costello had retained his integrity at the expense of his real musical strengths. However, he has given occasional evidence of his former fire. The ballsy bar-room atmosphere of the collaborative The Delivery Man (2004), suggests that he is still capable of giving his fans what they want, in between his more esoteric experiments.
Elvis is married to jazz vocalist Diana Krall and they have twin sons.
*Upon the film's release, it was noted that the name "Napoleon Dynamite" had originally been used by musician Elvis Costello, most visibly on his 1986 album Blood and Chocolate, although he had used the pseudonym on a single B-side as early as 1982. Filmmaker Jared Hess claims that he was not aware of Costello's use of the name until two days before the end of shooting, when he was informed by a teenage extra. He later said, "Had I known that name was used by anybody else prior to shooting the whole film, it definitely would have been changed ... I listen to hip-hop, dude. It's a pretty embarrassing coincidence." Hess claims that "Napoleon Dynamite" was the name of a man he met around the year 2000 on the streets of Cicero, Illinois while doing missionary work for the Mormon Church.
Costello believes that Hess stole the name: "The guy just denies completely that I made the name up... but I invented it. Maybe somebody told him the name and he truly feels that he came about it by chance. But it's two words that you're never going to hear together." To date, Costello has taken no legal action against the film.
Elvis Costello and Elton John to Make a Television 'Spectacle'
Two of the most respected musicians in the world will collaborate on an extraordinary new television series.
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." is hosted by its namesake and produced in conjunction with Sir Elton John's Rocket Pictures. Elton John will be one of the program's Executive Producers.
The series begain airing in 2008 on CTV in Canada, Channel 4 in the UK and Sundance Channel in the US. FremantleMedia Enterprises, will handle sales of the show to the rest of the world.
Conceived to provide a forum for in-depth discussion and performance with the most interesting and influential artists and personalities of our time, the show fuses the best of talk and music television.
"Spectacle: Elvis Costello with..." is an unpredictable and unprecedented television experience. The series of 13 one-hour programs features everything from intimate one-on-ones with legendary performers and notable newcomers to thematic panel discussions, with a variety of performance elements including unique collaborations, acoustic and impromptu "illustrative" demonstrations of the creative process, and some original interpretations of others' songs by Costello.
Complicated Shadows
Elvis Costello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You should've never have been playing with a gun
In those complicated shadows
Well there's a line that you must toe
And it'll soon be time to go
But it's darker than you know in those complicated shadows
All you gangsters and rude clowns
When you should have found someone to put the blame on
Though the fury's hot and hard
I still see that cold graveyard
There's a solitary stone that's got your name on
You don't have to take it from me
But I know what I spake
You think you're like iron and steel
But iron and steel will bend and break
In those complicated shadows
Go!
Sometimes justice you will find
Is just dumb not color-blind
And your poor shattered mind can't take it all in
All those phantoms and those shades
Should jump up on judgment day
And say to the almighty "I'm still stinking of sin"
But the jury was dismissed
Took his neck and they give it a twist
So you see you won't be missed in those complicated shadows
You can say just what you like in a voice like a John Ford film
Take the law into your hands
You will soon get tired of killing
In those complicated shadows
Complicated shadows
Complicated shadows
Complicated shadows
Go!
The song "Complicated Shadows" by Elvis Costello revolves around the idea of regret and the consequences of one's actions. The lyrics talk about how certain people feel they are powerful and invincible like "iron and steel", but eventually they will bend and break. The "complicated shadows" represent the complex and sometimes unclear situations that we face in life. The line "you should've never have been playing with a gun" serves as a powerful reminder that we should always be cautious and responsible with our choices.
The song references gangsters and rude clowns who were "shooting up the town" and "should have found someone to put the blame on." Costello points out that eventually, justice will catch up with them and they will be punished for their actions. There is a sense of foreboding and melancholy in the song, as the idea of death and judgement day is frequently alluded to. The solitary stone mentioned in the lyrics may represent a grave or a memorial, reminding us that our actions have consequences that can last long after we're gone.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you know your time has come and you're sorry for what you've done
You are aware that your actions have consequences, and you regret them.
You should've never have been playing with a gun
You made a poor decision to involve yourself with something dangerous and violent.
In those complicated shadows
In the midst of complex and confusing circumstances.
Well there's a line that you must toe
There are certain boundaries and expectations that you must adhere to.
And it'll soon be time to go
The end is near, and there will be consequences for your actions.
But it's darker than you know in those complicated shadows
The situation is even worse than you realize, and the consequences will be severe.
All you gangsters and rude clowns
All of the violent and disrespectful people who are causing chaos.
Who were shooting up the town
Who were causing destruction and violence throughout the area.
When you should have found someone to put the blame on
Instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they should have sought to hold someone else accountable.
Though the fury's hot and hard
Despite the intense and overwhelming emotions involved.
I still see that cold graveyard
I am still reminded of the consequences of violence and death.
There's a solitary stone that's got your name on
There is a grave waiting for those who continue to engage in violence and destruction.
You don't have to take it from me
You don't have to believe me.
But I know what I spake
But I am sure of what I am saying.
You think you're like iron and steel
You believe you are strong and unbreakable.
But iron and steel will bend and break
But even the strongest and most durable materials can be weakened and destroyed.
In those complicated shadows
In the midst of complex and confusing circumstances.
Sometimes justice you will find
Sometimes you may face consequences for your actions.
Is just dumb not color-blind
Is unfair and not impartial.
And your poor shattered mind can't take it all in
And you may struggle to come to terms with the consequences of your actions.
All those phantoms and those shades
All of the lingering and haunting memories of your actions.
Should jump up on judgment day
Should be brought to light and addressed during a time of reckoning.
And say to the almighty "I'm still stinking of sin"
And confess to God that they are still plagued by their wrongdoing.
But the jury was dismissed
But the punishment was not carried out as expected.
Took his neck and they give it a twist
He was executed in a brutal and violent manner.
So you see you won't be missed in those complicated shadows
Your absence will not be mourned in the midst of the complex and confusing situation.
You can say just what you like in a voice like a John Ford film
You can talk tough and act like a movie character, but that does not change the reality of the consequences you will face.
Take the law into your hands
Try to enforce justice yourself.
You will soon get tired of killing
You will eventually become weary of violence and destruction.
Complicated shadows
Intricate and confusing situations with far-reaching consequences.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DECLAN MACMANUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Soheil Shahrouz
Well you know your time has come and you're sorry for what you've done
You should've never have been playing with a gun
In those complicated shadows
Well there's a line that you must toe
And it'll soon be time to go
But it's darker than you know in those complicated shadows
All you gangsters and rude clowns
Who were shooting up the town
When you should have found someone to put the blame on
Though the fury's hot and hard
I still see that cold graveyard
There's a solitary stone that's got your name on
You don't have to take it from me
But i know what i spake
You think you're like iron and steel
But iron and steel will bend and break
In those complicated shadows
Go!
Sometimes justice you will find
Is just dumb not colour-blind
And your poor shattered mind can't take it all in
All those phantoms and those shades
Should jump up on judgement day
And say to the almighty "i'm still stinking of sin"
But the jury was dismissed
Took his neck and they give it a twist
So you see you won't be missed in those complicated shadows
You can say just what you like in a voice like a john ford film
Take the law into your hands
You will soon get tired of killing
In those complicated shadows
Complicated shadows
Complicated shadows
Complicated shadows
Go!
Soheil Shahrouz
Well you know your time has come and you're sorry for what you've done
You should've never have been playing with a gun
In those complicated shadows
Well there's a line that you must toe
And it'll soon be time to go
But it's darker than you know in those complicated shadows
All you gangsters and rude clowns
Who were shooting up the town
When you should have found someone to put the blame on
Though the fury's hot and hard
I still see that cold graveyard
There's a solitary stone that's got your name on
You don't have to take it from me
But i know what i spake
You think you're like iron and steel
But iron and steel will bend and break
In those complicated shadows
Go!
Sometimes justice you will find
Is just dumb not colour-blind
And your poor shattered mind can't take it all in
All those phantoms and those shades
Should jump up on judgement day
And say to the almighty "i'm still stinking of sin"
But the jury was dismissed
Took his neck and they give it a twist
So you see you won't be missed in those complicated shadows
You can say just what you like in a voice like a john ford film
Take the law into your hands
You will soon get tired of killing
In those complicated shadows
Complicated shadows
Complicated shadows
Complicated shadows
Go!
Nicholas Joseph
This was originally intended to be the intro to the show. Play The Sopranos Opening Theme on mute while this song plays in another tab. Brilliant either way.
Evil Potato
Nope
Pantera
fuck no
David Evans
Kind of catching up on EC after missing out on most of mid and late period releases but being a day~of~release purchase fan of almost all early releases through Trust. THis song is great! Have to check out the rest of this album now.
Kevin Moore
Elvis was way ahead of his time in terms of sampling. Instead of sampling the record like hip-hop he samples the basic idea and builds something new on top of it. This one is a collage of Stones stuff - for example, compare that downward bassline at 3:40 of this video to this: https://youtu.be/93H2Oo7sQYQ?t=156 - or the opening of this video to this one: https://youtu.be/KXUJMaYzh6U
NaboCane
Elvis C. is the tunesmith's tunesmith.
C Purssey
Who's here because they just bloody like Elvis Castello?
Five Head
He’s ok
Carl Webb
Charles Purssey mos Def a Elvis fan!