Red Shoes
Elvis Costello Lyrics


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Oh, I used to be disgusted
And now I try to be amused
But since their wings have got rusted
You know, the angels wanna 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 wanna 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 wanna 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 wanna wear my red shoes

Oh, I won't get any older, now the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes




Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes

Overall Meaning

"Red Shoes" by Elvis Costello appears to be a song about an old lover who has moved on and how the singer is responding to this new development. The first verse begins with the singer saying that he used to be disgusted but now he tries to be amused, implying that he has matured or changed his attitude. He mentions angels who want to wear his red shoes implying that he has something special, but then he quickly adds that he won't get any older because of them. The second verse describes the ex-lover dancing and causing the singer to see how their love fell apart. They lament how everyone wants to be her friend, while it still hurts for the singer to see her. In the third verse, the singer talks about a different girl who is disgusted and abused because she is tired of being used for sex, yet he is all in and it's difficult to deny her.

The chorus that follows repeats the theme of rusty angels wanting to wear the singer's red shoes. Thus, the song suggests that the singer's special gifts or qualities are causing trouble in his relationships or attracting the wrong people. The lyrics also depict a sense of regret, nostalgia, and sadness about lost love and missed opportunities. The song's meaning and lyrics are open to interpretation, but it provokes emotions of both regret and acceptance of life's changes.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, I used to be disgusted
I used to be very unhappy.


And now I try to be amused
Now I try to make myself happy through entertainment.


But since their wings have got rusted
The angels have lost their power and influence.


You know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Even though the angels have lost their power, they still desire my possessions.


But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain
When the angels tried to negotiate with me.


That's when I knew that I could not refuse
I realized that I couldn't say no to their request.


And I won't get any older, now that angels wanna wear my red shoes
The angels' desire for my shoes keeps me young and relevant, despite aging.


Oh, oh, I was watching while you're dancing away
I observed while you danced and enjoyed yourself.


Our love got fractured in the echo and sway
Our relationship suffered and broke due to our differences.


How come everybody wants to be your friend?
Why do so many people desire to be your friend?


You know that it still hurts me just to say it
Admitting this fact is painful for me.


Oh, I know that she's disgusted (oh, why's that?)
I know that she is very unhappy. (why is that?)


Because she's feeling so abused (oh, that's too bad)
She feels used and mistreated, which is very unfortunate.


She gets tired of the lust (oh, I'm so sad)
She becomes weary of the sexual desire, which is very upsetting.


But it's so hard to refuse
However, it's difficult to say no.


Can you say that I'm too old
Do you believe that I am too old?


When the angels have stolen my red shoes?
Even though the angels have taken my red shoes, I still feel young and relevant.


Oh, oh I said, 'I'm so happy I could die'
I expressed my extreme happiness.


She said, 'Drop dead,' then left with another guy
She told me to die and then left with someone else.


That's what you get if you go chasing after vengeance
This is the consequence of seeking revenge.


Ever since you got me punctured, this has been my sentence
Since you hurt me, my life has been difficult and painful.


Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
The angels' desire for my red shoes is a recurring theme.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Elvis Costello

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Desdinova69

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
Red shoes, 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
Red shoes, 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
Red shoes, the angels want to wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels want to wear my red shoes



@lauryliepolito52

Oh I used to be disgusted
and now I try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
you know, the angels wanna 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 the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
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)
Cause 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.
How can you say that I'm too old,
when the angels have stolen my red shoes.

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
and now I try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.



@t3nd0br09

Oh I want to count to ten now
But it's something I can't do
'Cause I don't have all the numbers
No a monster went and ate my red two

And when I heard him shout cowabunga
That's when I knew that my counting was through
And I can't count any higher
Now the monster went and ate my red two

Oh he was watching while I counted to one
I was smiling because counting's so much fun
But he took my two and then he ate it for his lunch
Now my counting's over before it's begun

Oh I'm feeling so sad now (hey why is that)
'Cause my number got chewed (that's too bad)
There are tears in my eyes (Mr. Elvis how sad)
Now I'm crying boo hoo

Will I ever count to ten
Now that a monster went and ate my red two

Oh Elmo said
Don't worry Elmo knows what to do
He ran right out and came back with another two
Now my friend Mr. Elvis can start counting once again
And with this brand new two I can count up to ten

Now I'm feeling so happy
I feel like shouting yahoo
And me still feeling hungry
Cowabunga
Cookie Monster went and ate the new red two

Oh when I heard him shouting cowabunga
That's when I knew that my counting was through
And I can't count any higher
Now the monster went and ate my red two

Red two
A monster went and ate my red two
Red two
A monster went and ate my red two
Red two
A monster went and ate my red two
Red two
A monster went and ate my red two



@marieblue

In “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes” (1977j, Elvis Costello makes a deal with angels who have come down to Earth 🌎 because their wings have rusted. In exchange for his red shoes, they will grant him immortality. His estranged girlfriend, however, doesn’t share his enthusiasm, telling him to drop dead and leaving the club with another fellow.

The English musician crafted this tune backward, starting with the club scene where the girl abandons him. And from there, he worked his way up to closing the deal with the celestial beings. Costello was only 22 years old at the time : quite a young age to contemplate eternal life❕

The singer-songwriter - still known as Declan McManus back then - composed this in 10-odd minutes while on a train. Since he didn’t have a tape recorder with him, he retained the piece in his mind until he got home, where he found one of his old guitars and played it over and over until he had it all committed to memory.

The lay features Byrds-inspired music with an intro by guitarist John McFee, who referred to it as “That one that sounds like The Byrds” ❕

“Red Shoes” remains a STAPLE of McManus-Costello’s live set… STILL‼️ 💚👞💙



All comments from YouTube:

@juliasutton5611

My favourite lyrics from any song: 'I said I'm so happy I could die, she said "drop dead" then left with another guy' genius.👏👏👏

@georgeharrison70

My Aim is True is definitely one of the finest albums of 1977.

@joemallett1897

I couldn't agree more.

@markanon5581

Yes!

@adamr63

Your Aim Is True.

@lizardog

One of the best albums of all time.

@pyewackett5

A comment from years ago - but still holds true

12 More Replies...

@Ann_Dromeda

In late 2018, I had a health scare. When I recovered, I immediately went out and bought a pair of eight eyelet, oxblood red, Doc Martens to mark the occasion. This song was my inspiration.

@psmguy63

That is brilliant. Made me grin exuberantly

@ameliabird3231

Love it! What a great idea!

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