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.
Possession
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If there's anything that you need,
There's no need to be evasive,
Money talks, and it's persuasive.
[Chorus]
Possession
Possession
Now you're sending me your best wishes,
Tied with love and vicious kisses,
You lack lust; you're so lackluster,
Is that all the strength you can muster?
[Chorus]
Even when we are out of touch,
Now I know that I've seen too much,
Seen too much
So I see us lying back to back,
My case is closed, my case is packed,
I'll get out before the violence,
Or the tears, or the silence.
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Possession by Elvis Costello & The Attractions hit at the heart of the desperation one can feel when trying to hold onto something or someone that isn't really meant for them. The song is an exploration of the power dynamics at play in a romantic relationship. The persona in the song is holding on to someone with all his might, hoping that they will reciprocate his love and need for them. The lines "If there's anything that you want, If there's anything that you need, There's no need to be evasive, Money talks, and it's persuasive" speak to the idea that sometimes we hold on to people because we want to fill a void in our lives, regardless of whether or not it's a healthy relationship.
The chorus, with the repeated line "Possession, possession" seems to indicate the persona's desperation and even obsession with the idea of possessing the other person. The second verse speaks to the lack of passion and effort from the other person in the relationship - "You lack lust; you're so lackluster, Is that all the strength you can muster?". This points to the power dynamic in the relationship, where the persona is putting in all the effort and the other person is simply not reciprocating.
The final verse is a declaration of the persona's decision to leave the relationship. Despite the desperation to hold on to the other person, the persona realizes that staying in the relationship would only lead to violence or tears. The line "My case is closed, my case is packed" indicates that he has made up his mind and is ready to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
If there's anything that you want,
If there's something you're yearning for,
If there's anything that you need,
If there's something you require,
There's no need to be evasive,
No need to hold back or hide,
Money talks, and it's persuasive.
Money has power and influence.
[Chorus] Possession Possession
The song title is repeated twice.
Now you're sending me your best wishes,
You're reaching out with kind intentions,
Tied with love and vicious kisses,
Your words and actions are tied with both love and venom,
You lack lust; you're so lackluster,
You have no passion or enthusiasm,
Is that all the strength you can muster?
Is that the best you can do in terms of effort?
[Chorus] Possession Possession
The refrain is repeated again.
Even when we are out of touch,
Even when we're not in contact,
Now I know that I've seen too much,
I've realized that I've witnessed too much,
Seen too much
Reiterated for emphasis.
So I see us lying back to back,
I envision us sleeping next to each other,
My case is closed, my case is packed,
I'm ready to move on and leave,
I'll get out before the violence,
I'll leave before things take a turn for the worse,
Or the tears, or the silence.
Or before someone gets hurt emotionally.
[Chorus] Possession Possession
Refrain is repeated one last time.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aljustal6554
"So I see us lying back to back---my case is closed, my case is packed---I'll get out before the violence---or the tears, or the silence"
@sratus
'If there's anything that you want'- the same opening line as From Me to You by The Beatles.
@lads.7715
"I'll get out before the violence,
Or the tears ....or the silence "
@sratus
He's a lyrical master
@pcno2832
He took the other route, at least as far as the silence was concerned, the next year when he covered "A Good Year For the Roses".
@lads.7715
EC Bio: song written during the 10 minute ride to the Holland studio, and immediately recorded the moment they walked in the door. His opening organ line is sped-up version of Dylan's "Is Your Love in Vain" which EC was listening to that morning.
@stoneyll
Elvis is King~!
@tonyferguson4058
So wonderful, timing beat sentiment.
@drstevie
Immense song & LP.
@mamalama7204
NEEDS MORE VIEWS!!!