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.
Fish 'N' Chip Paper
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the cost of living in sin would make a poor man out of Paul Getty
The girl in your dreams would have you up on an under age charge
And the man of the moment is the lifer at large
If you've got something to hide, if you've got something to sell
If you've got somebody's pride she might kiss and tell
Or wind up with a fight fan in the Hammersmith Hotel
You better speak up now
It won't mean a thing later
Yesterday's news is tomorrow's fish and chip paper
Your girl says she's leaving and this time she really means it
You can just look at the pictures, you don't actually have to read it
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
There's a man in the launderette and he's looking through your underwear
For clues
And the milkman is working through the News of the Screws
He says...
If you've got something to hide, if you've got something to sell
If you've got somebody's pride she might kiss and tell
Or wind up with a fight fan in the Hammersmith Hotel
You better speak up now if you want your piece
You better speak up now
It won't mean a thing later
Yesterday's news is tomorrow's fish and chip paper
The lyrics to Elvis Costello & The Attractions' song Fish 'n' Chip Paper are a commentary on the fleeting nature of fame and the public's insatiable appetite for scandal and gossip. The first verse speaks of the sudden appearance of confetti, which is a symbol for celebration, but also an indication of how quickly something can become meaningless or forgotten. The next line references the high cost of breaking the rules, which can lead to ruin for even the wealthiest individuals. The mention of Paul Getty, a well-known billionaire, highlights that even he would struggle to maintain his wealth and status if caught in a scandalous situation. The following lines warn of the potential legal consequences of pursuing underage relationships and the irony that the person who is currently the center of attention is someone who is serving a life sentence in jail.
The chorus emphasizes the idea that once scandalous news has been reported, it quickly loses its relevance and becomes irrelevant, like yesterday's news that is used to wrap fish and chips. The second verse continues this trend of people's personal lives being exposed, with the mention of a man in the launderette going through someone's underwear for clues. The mention of the News of the Screws, a former newspaper infamous for invading people's privacy, reinforces the idea that the public relishes hearing about the private lives of others.
Overall, the song Fish 'n' Chip Paper is a warning about the dangers of living a scandalous life and the price one pays for temporary fame. It is a commentary on society's fascination with celebrity gossip and the idea that once someone's moment in the spotlight has passed, they will likely be forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
When Sunday morning dandruff turns out to be confetti
When you think you have a problem, but it turns out to be a cause for celebration
And the cost of living in sin would make a poor man out of Paul Getty
Living a sinful lifestyle is so expensive that even a wealthy person like Paul Getty could end up poor
The girl in your dreams would have you up on an under age charge
If the girl of your dreams is younger than you, you could be accused of a crime
And the man of the moment is the lifer at large
The person who's getting the most attention right now is a criminal who's still on the loose
If you've got something to hide, if you've got something to sell
If you're keeping a secret or trying to profit from something
If you've got somebody's pride she might kiss and tell
If you have someone's reputation in your hands, they might reveal embarrassing information
Or wind up with a fight fan in the Hammersmith Hotel
Or end up in a violent confrontation with a fan at a hotel in Hammersmith
You better speak up now if you want your piece
If you want your share of something, you need to act quickly and speak up
You better speak up now
Don't hesitate to speak up if there's something you want or need
It won't mean a thing later
If you don't speak up now, it won't matter later
Yesterday's news is tomorrow's fish and chip paper
News that's important or scandalous today will be worthless and disposable tomorrow
Your girl says she's leaving and this time she really means it
Your significant other is breaking up with you and is serious this time
You can just look at the pictures, you don't actually have to read it
Sometimes the visual evidence is enough, you don't need to know the details
There's a man in the launderette and he's looking through your underwear
Someone is invading your privacy and going through your personal belongings
For clues
Trying to find evidence or information about you
And the milkman is working through the News of the Screws
Even the milkman is interested in reading the scandalous news of the day
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind