Punch The Clock was ranked as the number 1 "Album of the Year" for 1983 by NME; thirty years later, the magazine ranked it at number 345 in its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
Let Them All Talk
Elvis Costello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See what I do
Believe me now I'm all over you
All over you
I know a place
A certain very tender spot
To have and to hold
To have and have not
Have we come this fa-fa-fa to find a soul cliche
Let them talk
Let them talk
Let them all talk
Oh yeah we're killing time
Just to keep you clocking on
These are the best years of your life
Now they're here and gone
Do the world a service
And you could do yourself a favor
Whose tongue now is tasting last week's flavor
Our day will come
When you have squandered all your youth
To have and to hold
A stranger to the truth
Listening to the sad song that the radio plays
Have we come this fa-fa-fa to find a soul cliche
Let them talk
Elvis Costello's song "Let Them All Talk" is a commentary on society's obsession with superficiality and the need for social success. In the song, Costello highlights the fact that individuals are constantly seeking validation from others and are willing to do whatever it takes to gain social acceptance. The lyrics "hear what I say, see what I do, believe me now, I'm all over you" indicate the idea of creating an image that is aimed at impressing others, regardless of whether it is authentic or not.
Costello further emphasizes this point by referencing the idea of having and to hold, which suggests a desire for possessions and material gains. He also notes the danger of getting caught up in the cycle of society's expectations, which is reflected by the line "just to keep you clocking on, these are the best years of your life, now they're here and gone." This line suggests that individuals waste their best years trying to fit in and impress others, instead of living their lives to the fullest.
Towards the end of the song, Costello urges individuals to stop caring about what others think, and to focus on their own happiness. The line "our day will come when you have squandered all your youth, to have and to hold, a stranger to the truth" indicates that individuals who spend their life trying to impress others will eventually realize that they have lost their true selves in the pursuit of superficial success.
Overall, "Let Them All Talk" is a powerful commentary on the dangers of societal pressure and the need for authenticity and self-acceptance.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear what I say
Listen to my words
See what I do
Pay attention to my actions
Believe me now I'm all over you
Trust me, I am completely invested in you
All over you
Completely invested in you
I know a place
I am aware of a location
A certain very tender spot
A specific location that is sensitive
To have and to hold
To possess and keep
To have and have not
Some possess while others don't
Listening to the sad song that the radio plays
Hearing the melancholic tune played on the radio
Have we come this fa-fa-fa to find a soul cliché
Has society resorted to using overused ideas to find a 'soul'?
Let them talk
Allow others to speak their minds
Let them talk
Allow others to speak their minds
Let them all talk
Allow everyone to speak their minds
Oh yeah we're killing time
We are passing time without purpose
Just to keep you clocking on
To keep you working without question
These are the best years of your life
This is supposed to be the peak years of your life
Now they're here and gone
Now they have passed by quickly
Do the world a service
Helping the world
And you could do yourself a favor
You could also benefit yourself
Whose tongue now is tasting last week's flavor
Who is now using outdated or irrelevant information?
Our day will come
Our time will come
When you have squandered all your youth
When you have wasted your younger years
To have and to hold
To keep and possess
A stranger to the truth
Ignorant of reality
Listening to the sad song that the radio plays
Hearing the melancholic tune played on the radio
Have we come this fa-fa-fa to find a soul cliché
Has society resorted to using overused ideas to find a 'soul'?
Let them talk
Allow others to speak their minds
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Connor Vaules
Lyrics for those interested:
Hear what I say
See what I do
Believe me now I'm all over you
All over you
I know a place
A certain very tender spot
To have and to hold
To have and have not
Listening to the sad song that the radio plays
Have we come this fa-fa-fa to find a soul cliche
Let them talk
Let them talk
Let them all talk
Oh yeah we're killing time
Just to keep you clocking on
These are the best years of your life
Now they're here and gone
Do the world a service
And you could do yourself a favor
Whose tongue now is tasting last weeks flavor
Our day will come
When you have squandered all your youth
To have and to hold
A stranger to the truth
Listening to the sad song that the radio plays
Have we come this fa-fa-fa to find a soul cliche
Let them talk
Patricio Fernandez
Even in a song with back up singers and a prominent brass section, the amazing Steve Nieve manages to steal the spotlight with his impecable arrangements.
Frederick Rose
The King never disappoints!
Cristina Klun
Simply adorable! One of my favourites tunes! Like many, many MANY Elvis's songs I didn't get it instantly. Now it's stuck on my playlist ready to kick me up no matter how bad I feel. Genius+coolness=Elvis. Thank you so much for making this damn gloomy quarantine bearable! 🤗
Preach Caleb
This is such a great album opener. I love this song.
Ruby Crimson
his songs are so catchy! this is truly greatness
artistak1
Ｆａｆａｆａ fantastic❤
local bod
This takes me back. I listened to this when it was released as a 15 year old. A great album.
Tony Stevens
It was on a Great album punch the clock 👌
local bod
@Tony Stevens Yes, indeed. It is a fantastic song as are the others on Punch The Clock.
James Bush
I always like the call and response with the background singers on this one! Horn work is dazzling!