Internationally, the band is perhaps best known for popular rock hits such as "Oliver's Army" and "Pump It Up", both featuring expressive yet sardonic vocals from Costello. He reconvened the band for one-off albums and tours over the following decade, particularly from 1994 through 1996. He has also enlisted Nieve, and to a lesser extent Pete Thomas, for other recordings and performances, and this continues to the present day. Costello and Bruce Thomas have had a notoriously stormy relationship, documented in Thomas' 1990 autobiographical novel 'The Big Wheel'. The original Attractions reunited for the 'Brutal Youth & All This Useless Beauty' sessions despite Costello and Thomas' differences. Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve, along with Bruce Thomas' replacement Davey Faragher, have been a part of Costello's other most well known backing band, The Imposters.
Together, Costello and the Attractions, based out of London, England, recorded ten albums. Most of which are critically regarded as among Costello's finest. They are: 'This Year's Model' (1978); 'Armed Forces' (1979); 'Get Happy' (1980); 'Trust' (1981); 'Almost Blue' (1981); 'Imperial Bedroom' (1982); 'Punch The Clock' (1983); 'Goodbye Cruel World' (1984); 'Blood and Chocolate' (1986), and 'All This Useless Beauty' (1996). The full band plays on some, but not all, tracks on the 1994 release 'Brutal Youth', which is credited to Costello alone. In addition, The Attractions also recorded an album without Costello, titled 'Mad About the Wrong Boy', which they released in 1980.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions most recently appeared together, although they didn't play, when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. The band's work has continued to receive much airplay and sell quite well over the years. 'Mad About the Wrong Boy', while obscure, has been a collectors item for many new wave and power pop fans.
Big Boys
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
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In the usual way
Everything is so provocative
Very very, temporary
I shall walk (I shall walk)
Out of this place (out of this place)
I shall walk
'Cause you go silly
If she's willing
Trying so hard to be like the big boys
So you take her to the pictures
Trying to become a fixture
Inch by inch trying to reach her
All the way through the second feature
Worrying about your physical fitness
Tell me how you got this sickness, oh ohhhh
I was caught in the suction
By a face like a truncheon
I was down upon one knee
Stroking her vanity
I was stuck on a hammerhead
I came alive and left for dead
As my face returned to red
Choking on my pride and pity
We can talk (we can talk)
Until your face is blue ('til your face is blue)
We can talk but she'll get to you
After you've been loved and hated
By the ones you've watched and waited
Found that they were overrated
She'll be the one, when the party's over
She'll be the one, when the girls have gone home
She'll be the one, that you'll wish you'd held onto
She'll be the one, but it's too late for you to
She'll be the one, who knows all your history
She'll be the one
So you can cross her off your list
And you try so hard
And you try so hard
And you try so hard
To be like the big boys, oh
The lyrics of Elvis Costello’s song Big Boys talk about a young man trying to fit in and impress a girl, who is more interested in hanging out with “big boys.” The song opens with the singer saying that he is starting to function in the usual way, trying to create an impression with the girl he likes. He realizes that everything is so temporary and provocative- this suggests that his efforts to become like the 'big boys' will fade away, and he will be left with nothing. The singer then decides to walk out of the girl’s life as she goes silly with anyone who is willing to do things for her. He is trying to be like the big boys to impress her; he visits the cinema with her, inch-by-inch trying to reach her, but he's obsessing over his physical fitness, which is causing him to get sick.
The chorus of Big Boys encourages the main character to be himself and not try too hard to impress someone who isn’t interested in him. They can talk until they're blue in the face, but eventually, they will lose interest in him. The singer advises that the girl will be the one who knows all his history; she's the one he'll regret losing. In the end, he asks the listeners to stop trying to fit in with the big boys and to be themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I am starting to function
I am beginning to move and interact in the usual way
In the usual way
In a typical, familiar manner
Everything is so provocative
Everything is stimulating and enticing
Very very, temporary
Extremely transient or short-lived
I shall walk (I shall walk)
I will depart
Out of this place (out of this place)
Away from this location
Out on you
Leaving because of you
'Cause you go silly
Because you behave foolishly
If she's willing
If the woman is interested
Trying so hard to be like the big boys
Attempting to emulate the behavior of mature men
So you take her to the pictures
Taking her to the movies
Trying to become a fixture
Trying to become a regular presence in her life
Inch by inch trying to reach her
Slowly and persistently attempting to get her attention and affection
All the way through the second feature
Watching a movie until the very end
Worrying about your physical fitness
Concerned about being in good physical shape
Tell me how you got this sickness, oh ohhhh
Explain to me how you became so obsessed and unhealthy in your behavior
I was caught in the suction
I was pulled in by the force or allure
By a face like a truncheon
By a face that is stern and unyielding
I was down upon one knee
I was humbled and submissive
Stroking her vanity
Flattering and indulging her ego
I was stuck on a hammerhead
I was fixated on a stubborn and difficult issue
I came alive and left for dead
I experienced a sudden jolt or awakening, but felt overwhelmed and defeated
As my face returned to red
As I became embarrassed or ashamed
Choking on my pride and pity
Struggling with the conflict between my self-esteem and sympathy for others
We can talk (we can talk)
We can have a conversation
Until your face is blue ('til your face is blue)
Until you are exhausted or helpless
We can talk but she'll get to you
We can speak, but she will captivate you
After you've been loved and hated
Once you have gained and lost affection
By the ones you've watched and waited
By those you have observed and anticipated
Found that they were overrated
Discovered that they were not as impressive as expected
She'll be the one, when the party's over
She will be the person you desire when the event is finished
She'll be the one, when the girls have gone home
She will be the woman you want when the other females have departed
She'll be the one, that you'll wish you'd held onto
She will be the one you regret not holding onto
She'll be the one, but it's too late for you to
She will be the one you can no longer have
She'll be the one, who knows all your history
She will be the person who is familiar with your past
So you can cross her off your list
You can eliminate her from your plans
And you try so hard
You exert so much effort
To be like the big boys, oh
To behave like a grown man
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind