Released as the first single from Armed Forces, "Oliver's Army" was Costello's most successful single in the United Kingdom, spending three weeks at number two on the UK Singles Chart and remaining on the chart for 12 weeks. The song also charted in New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Australia, and it spawned the successful follow-up single "Accidents Will Happen", which reached the top 30 in the UK.
"Oliver's Army" has since been recognized by writers as one of the highlights of Armed Forces and has received critical acclaim for its melody, production, and lyrics. The song has appeared on numerous rankings of Costello's great songs and multiple compilation albums. Multiple artists, including Blur, have covered it.
Costello wrote "Oliver's Army" as a comment on the Troubles in Northern Ireland during the 1970s. He was inspired to write the song after seeing British soldiers patrolling the streets of Belfast. He stated, "I made my first trip to Belfast in 1978 and saw mere boys walking around in a battle dress with automatic weapons. They were no longer just on the evening news. These snapshot experiences exploded into visions of mercenaries and imperial armies around the world. The song was based on the premise 'they always get a working-class boy to do the killing'". Costello's family had roots in the Northern Ireland conflict; as his father, Ross McManus, recalled, "'Oliver's Army' is an important track for me... My grandfather was an Ulster Catholic, and as a child, I lived in an area where bigotry was rife". Costello's Irish grandfather, Pat McManus, had served as a British soldier during World War I and the Easter Rising.
According to Sound on Sound, the title "Oliver" refers to English statesman Oliver Cromwell, who personally led the Parliamentarian forces which conquered Ireland in 1649. In addition to the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the song references other "imperialist battles" in Hong Kong, Palestine, and South Africa. However, Costello later explained that the song was not intended to be a comprehensive political piece; he said "It wasn't supposed to read like a coherent political argument. It was pop music". He also pointed out that the opening lyrics "argued the absurdity of even trying to write about such a complex subject".
The song lyrics contain the phrase "white n**ger", a racial slur that usually remains uncensored on radio stations. The usage of the phrase came under scrutiny, particularly after Costello used racial slurs during a drunken argument with Stephen Stills and Bonnie Bramlett in 1979. The same year, Costello's father published a letter in Rolling Stone defending his son against accusations of racism, stating "Nothing could be further from the truth. My own background has meant that I am passionately opposed to any form of prejudice based on religion or race...His mother comes from the tough multiracial area of Liverpool, and I think she would still beat the tar out of him if his orthodoxy were in doubt".
In March 2013, the radio station BBC Radio 6 Music played the song with the phrase removed, despite BBC radio stations having played the song uncensored for over 30 years. This decision attracted public criticism, with critics citing the intended anti-racist and anti-war theme of the single. In January 2022, Costello said that he would no longer be performing the song and asked that radio stations no longer play it. In an interview on Australian radio around the same time, Costello clarified he did not specifically ask radio stations to stop playing the song, but he did state that the way some radio stations edited or bleeped the phrase called attention to the phrase without engaging the context in which it was written.
Oliver's Army
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could talk all night
My mind was sleepwalking
While I'm putting the world to right
Call careers information
Have you got yourself an occupation?
Oliver's army is here to stay
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
There was a Checkpoint Charlie
He didn't crack a smile
But it's no laughing party
When you've been on the murder mile
Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white nigger
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Hong Kong is up for grabs
London is full of Arabs
We could be in Palestine
Overrun by the Chinese line
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne
But there's no danger
It's a professional career
Though it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg
Oliver's Army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
The opening lines of Elvis Costello's song "Oliver's Army" suggest a narrator who is full of verve and opinions he wants to share with anyone who will listen, as he declares "Don't start that talking, I could talk all night. My mind was sleepwalking, while I'm putting the world to right." However, the mood soon changes as he looks out on the world around him and sees Oliver's Army on the march; a reference to the British military, which at the time was involved in several overseas conflicts, such as the Falklands War. The singer expresses his desire to be "anywhere else but here today.ā
The line "Only takes one itchy trigger, one more widow, one less white nigger" speaks to the kind of violence and social unrest prevalent at the time, as well as the singer's sense of injustice and unease with the military presence surrounding him. The song continues with a blend of personal narrative and broader commentary on geopolitical issues, as the singer considers different locations around the world, such as Hong Kong or Palestine, that could be redefined by the forces of imperialism and occupation. He concludes by reiterating his dissatisfaction with the present moment, singing "And I would rather be anywhere else, but here today."
Overall, "Oliver's Army" is a pointed social commentary cloaked in a catchy melody and lively instrumentation. It speaks to the dissatisfaction and restlessness of a generation living in uncertain times, while also capturing the zeitgeist of a particular moment in history.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't start that talking
Please do not begin having a conversation
I could talk all night
I am capable of conversing until the early morning
My mind was sleepwalking
I was not fully aware of my thoughts and my surroundings
While I'm putting the world to right
Even though I am trying to fix all of the world's problems
Call careers information
Please contact the office that offers information on job opportunities
Have you got yourself an occupation?
Do you currently have a job or career?
Oliver's army is here to stay
A group of people loyal to Oliver is permanently living or stationed here
Oliver's army are on their way
More people who are loyal to Oliver are arriving soon
And I would rather be anywhere else
I would prefer to be in a different location
But here today
Unfortunately, I am present here right now
There was a Checkpoint Charlie
There used to be a checkpoint manned by someone named Charlie
He didn't crack a smile
Charlie did not show any sign of amusement or happiness
But it's no laughing party
The situation is not amusing or enjoyable
When you've been on the murder mile
When you have traveled on the perilous and dangerous path
Only takes one itchy trigger
One person with a twitchy finger on the trigger can cause problems
One more widow, one less white nigger
One more woman will be widowed, one less white person will be alive
Hong Kong is up for grabs
Someone can easily take control of Hong Kong
London is full of Arabs
There are a lot of Arabs living in London
We could be in Palestine
We have the possibility of being in Palestine
Overrun by the Chinese line
Taken over by the Chinese military or police force
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne
With the men from the Mersey River, Thames River, and Tyne River
But there's no danger
There is no risk or threat
It's a professional career
This is a legitimate and respected profession
Though it could be arranged
However, it is possible to make other arrangements
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
With a single conversation with Mr. Churchill, the plan could be changed
If you're out of luck or out of work
For those who are experiencing hardship and unemployment
We could send you to Johannesburg
We can relocate you to Johannesburg
Oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh
Chorus of the song
Lyrics Ā© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elvis Costello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jamesjoseph7508
@@nessi777 it will never be cancelled..
The N word was used because that is what Catholics were looked upon as in that period.
Should Birkenau be bulldozed because of what happened here.?
Sometimes we need reminders...and especially for those that think by abolishing a name or a place, history magically disappears.
Ive lost a little bit of love for Elvis for what he is doing.
His prerogative though.
I will continue to sing it in its original form,,,,40 years and never a complaint yet.
Well plenty for the singing....but nt the lyrics ;-)
@andrespaz-moscoso2291
Iām probably the youngest in this comment section. Iām 14 and this was my dadās favorite song. He passed a month ago and Iām listening on repeat because of him
@ConnorUdhus
I'm just a teensy bit older, 16 turning 17 in a couple weeks. Recently got into Costello and no one under the age of 50 seems to care! I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure he would be so grateful you're reconnecting with his favorites.
@williamhilinsky1327
God bless your dad.
@catkinscat6082
Bless you, music can help you through the worst of times
@mickeymisa9350
Bless you, you had a lovely father and you will be a good man for this. respect to you.
@CliveTheFrog
Ur dad was a legend
@Reizermo
Met him twice on the street in London. We had a nice chat. He even remembered me the second time. Sound guy. Amazing talent.
@fisherdole196
I saw him live in London, he came down from the stage and passed playing the guitar just next to me, I didnt know what to do when he came just a feet or two next to me so I just touched him and said someting stupid I guess?
@stuartmckern6206
Wow!!
@0002EcM
He married above his weight