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.
New Lace Sleeves
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shy apologies and polite regrets
Slow dances that left no warning of
Outraged glances and indiscreet yawning
Good manners and bad breath get you nowhere
Even presidents have newspaper lovers
Ministers go crawling under covers
He's no saint
They're all covered up with white washed grease paint
And you say
The teacher never told you anything but white lies
But you never see the lies
And you believe
Oh you know you have been captured
You feel so civilized
And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
The salty lips of the socialite sisters
With their continental fingers that have
Never seen working blisters
Oh I know they've got their problems
I wish I was one of them
They say daddy's coming home soon
With his sergeant stripes and his empire mug and spoon
No more fast buck
And when are they gonna learn their lesson
But when are they gonna stop all of these victory processions
And you say
The teacher never told you anything but white lies
But you never see the lies
And you believe
But you know you have been captured
You feel so civilized
And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
In Elvis Costello's song "New Lace Sleeves," he paints a picture of the facade of polite society. Bad lovers may apologize and regret their actions, but their actions reveal their true nature. The slow dances may have been innocent, but there were outraged glances and indiscreet yawning. Good manners only get you so far when bad breath betrays you. Even those in power, such as presidents and ministers, have their own indiscretions and secret lovers.
The chorus reveals the song's theme of people believing lies and the cost of fitting into polite society. The singer suggests that the teacher never told the truth and people are captured by the idea of being "civilized" and pretty in their new lace sleeves. The salty lips of the socialite sisters may seem enviable, but they too have their own problems. The singer wishes he was one of them, but realizes that fitting in comes at a cost.
The song's verses and chorus convey the idea of the facade of polite society and the cost of fitting in. The singer suggests that even those in power have their secrets and the teacher never tells the truth. People are captured by this idea of being civilized and pretty in their new lace sleeves, but it comes at a cost. The song's theme is relatable today as people struggle to fit into social norms and the cost of living up to the image they project.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad lovers face to face in the morning
Two people in a romance who don't see eye-to-eye, waking up next to each other
Shy apologies and polite regrets
Apologizing to each other for the disagreements that occurred last night
Slow dances that left no warning of
The two seemed to be getting along well, but things turned sour suddenly
Outraged glances and indiscreet yawning
Angry looks and boredom become prevalent as the conversation grows tiresome
Good manners and bad breath get you nowhere
Appearing polite very much, but not doing much to help the situation
Even presidents have newspaper lovers
Everyone cheats in their own way, even those who hold the highest positions in the country
Ministers go crawling under covers
Even religious figures can take part in sinful acts behind closed doors
She's no angel
The woman in question has her own complications and faults
He's no saint
The man in question has his own complications and faults
They're all covered up with white washed grease paint
Both parties are hiding something behind a facade of perfection
And you say
The singer is addressing the listener
The teacher never told you anything but white lies
You have been taught false or incomplete information
But you never see the lies
You are unable to recognize the falsehoods
And you believe
Despite everything, you still trust in what you've been told
Oh you know you have been captured
You are in a volatile situation you cannot fully control
You feel so civilized
You think you have a handle on things and can maintain composure
And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
You're superficially maintaining grace while ignoring the turmoil beneath the surface
The salty lips of the socialite sisters
Women renowned for their wealthy and privileged status
With their continental fingers that have never seen working blisters
These women have never had to suffer through hard labor
Oh I know they've got their problems
Despite their fortunes, they still have their own issues
I wish I was one of them
The singer wishes they had the privilege and security these women possess
They say daddy's coming home soon
The socialite sisters have insider information about a loved one's imminent return
With his sergeant stripes and his empire mug and spoon
This individual has served in the military and brings back artifacts indicative of a colonialist past
No more fast buck
Soon after this person returns, there won't be any quick and easy money to be made
And when are they gonna learn their lesson
The group being discussed should take a lesson from recent events
But when are they gonna stop all of these victory processions
Despite their luck, they should be humble and not flaunt their victories
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Repeated chorus, noting the continued hidden tensions beneath the surface
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Repeated chorus, noting the continued hidden tensions beneath the surface
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Repeated chorus, noting the continued hidden tensions beneath the surface
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Repeated chorus, noting the continued hidden tensions beneath the surface
Look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
Repeated chorus, noting the continued hidden tensions beneath the surface
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeffreylebowski519
"But you know you have been captured
You feel so civilized
And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves"
My girlfriend bought me the "Trust" LP in 1981, but I didn't 100% bond with it except for this song.
She later broke up with me and a couple of years after, ended up marrying a guy with a lot of money.
Big white wedding, lavish do, etc etc.
I watched her leave her parents house for the church in a white Rolls Royce sobbing my heart out.
I played this song endlessly for weeks and when I listen to it now it feels like he had a direct portal into my brain.
Maybe he did.
I now love the entire album and often sink a bottle of red with headphones on, just marvelling at the genius of the man.
The marriage lasted about 3 years...
Thanks EC
😭
@gabishoval6048
Bad lovers face to face in the morning
Shy apologies and polite regrets
Slow dances that left no warning of
Outraged glances and indiscreet yawning
Good manners and bad breath get you nowhere
Even presidents have newspaper lovers
Ministers go crawling under covers
She's no angel
He's no saint
They're all covered up with white washed grease paint
And you say...
[Chorus:]
The teacher never told you anything but white lies
But you never see the lies
And you believe
Oh you know you have been captured
You feel so civilized
And you look so pretty in your new lace sleeves
The salty lips of the socialite sisters
With their continental fingers that have
never seen working blisters
Oh I know they've got their problems
I wish I was one of them
They say daddy's coming home soon
With his sergeant stripes and his Empire mug and spoon
No more fast buck
And when are they gonna learn their lesson
When are they gonna stop all of these victory processions
And you say...
@benjaminarmstrong7047
Nick Lowes production on these albums was just sparkling.
@dewanevl
Steve’s organ stings at the end just add that extra je ne sais quoi.
@oppothumbs1
Lowe said he really did little as the others knew what to do . Maybe modest?
@chuckcribbs3398
Elvis Costello should go down in music history as one the of greatest lyricists of all time. And he has a great voice that gets overlooked.
@christopherbrougham
With Morrissey a close second or equal. It's a coin toss. But absolutely, Elvis has a poetic catalogue which is unmatched. Both beyond McCartney and Lennon. It's controversial I know but just read both of their prodigious works. Album upon album of excellence, and both still going.
@BLenz-114
100% agree on both counts.
@craigbeasley1
In a way he's Bernie 20 or 30 years ago: articulate and determined to conquer all.
@hughmcaloon6506
No kidding. And I didn't get it until a friend who's a fan gave me a ticket to a show. Wow. Saw him live several times after that.
@jamespaolillo2395
His version of My Funny Valentine is a testament to his vocal talent.
@dougmedina4619
One of the very best songs he ever wrote!