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.
End of the World
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wonder who he's gonna stick it in this time
Everyone was looking for a little entertainment
So they'll probably pull his hands off when they find out his name
And then they shut down the power all along the line
And we got stuck in the tunnel where no lights shine
They got to touchin', all the girls were scared to call out
Nobody was saying anything at all
We were waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Dear Lord, I sincerely hope you're coming
'Cause you really started something
Things got back to normal as the train began to roll again
We got to the station about 20 minutes later
The legendary hitch-hiker says that he knows where it's at
Now he'd like to go to Spain or somewhere like that
With his two-tone Bible and his funny cigarettes
His suntan lotion and his castanets
He was waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Dear Lord, I sincerely hope you're coming
'Cause you really started something
And then the bride, the groom, the congregation and the priest
All got onto the train when we were three stations east, yeah
Hiding from a scandal in the national press
They had been trying to get married since they stole the wedding dress
You may see them drowning as you stroll along the beach
But don't throw out the lifeline till they're clean out of reach
Waiting for the end of the world
Waiting for the end of the world
Elvis Costello & The Attractions's song "End of the World" is a satirical take on the idea of an impending apocalypse. The song starts with a man from the television getting on a train, and the singer wonders who this man is going to "stick it in" next, implying that he is a promiscuous figure. The other passengers on the train are looking for entertainment, but things take a turn when the power shuts down, leaving them stuck in a tunnel with no lights. Despite the tense situation, no one speaks up, and there is a feeling of waiting and uncertainty.
The chorus repeats the line "waiting for the end of the world" multiple times, giving the song a foreboding feeling. The singer wonders if the Lord is coming to end the world, as they had "really started something." The second half of the song introduces a hitchhiker, who has a "two-tone Bible and his funny cigarettes, his suntan lotion and his castanets." He too is "waiting for the end of the world," and wants to go to Spain. The song ends with a scene where a bride, groom, congregation, and priest all get onto the train, hiding from a scandal in the national press. Despite potential danger, the singer warns not to throw out the lifeline until they are "clean out of reach."
Overall, "End of the World" is a cynical commentary on the state of society and the potential for an apocalyptic event. The song suggests that people are more interested in entertainment and scandal than real issues, and that even in moments of crisis, there is a sense of waiting and inaction.
Line by Line Meaning
The man from the television crawled into the train
A television personality got on the train.
I wonder who he's gonna stick it in this time
I wonder who he's going to take advantage of this time.
Everyone was looking for a little entertainment
Everyone on the train wanted to be entertained.
So they'll probably pull his hands off when they find out his name
If they discovered his true identity, they would harm him.
And then they shut down the power all along the line
The train lost power and stopped moving.
And we got stuck in the tunnel where no lights shine
The train was stuck in a dark tunnel.
They got to touchin', all the girls were scared to call out
People started to get too close, and the girls were fearful.
Nobody was saying anything at all
No one was talking or making noise.
We were waiting for the end of the world
We were waiting for something cataclysmic to happen.
Waiting for the end of the world
Anticipating the apocalypse.
Waiting for the end of the world
Anticipating the apocalypse.
Dear Lord, I sincerely hope you're coming
A plea for divine intervention.
'Cause you really started something
The world seems out of control, and it would be helpful if divine intervention could fix things.
Things got back to normal as the train began to roll again
The train began to move again, and things returned to normal.
We got to the station about 20 minutes later
The train arrived at a station about twenty minutes later.
The legendary hitch-hiker says that he knows where it's at
A hitchhiker who is known for his great stories claimed to know where the train was heading.
Now he'd like to go to Spain or somewhere like that
He expressed a desire to travel to Spain.
With his two-tone Bible and his funny cigarettes
The hitchhiker had interesting possessions.
His suntan lotion and his castanets
He carried suntan lotion and castanets for entertainment.
He was waiting for the end of the world
He, like others, was anticipating a catastrophic event.
Waiting for the end of the world
Anticipating the apocalypse.
Waiting for the end of the world
Anticipating the apocalypse.
Dear Lord, I sincerely hope you're coming
A plea for divine intervention.
'Cause you really started something
The world seems out of control, and it would be helpful if divine intervention could fix things.
And then the bride, the groom, the congregation and the priest
A wedding party boarded the train.
All got onto the train when we were three stations east, yeah
They boarded the train three stops down the line.
Hiding from a scandal in the national press
They were trying to avoid being in the public eye because of a scandal.
They had been trying to get married since they stole the wedding dress
The couple had been attempting to get married for quite some time, having previously stolen a wedding dress.
You may see them drowning as you stroll along the beach
They may act like they are in trouble.
But don't throw out the lifeline till they're clean out of reach
Don't intervene until you're sure they need help.
Waiting for the end of the world
Anticipating the apocalypse.
Waiting for the end of the world
Anticipating the apocalypse.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind