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.
Shot With His Own Gun
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By a man with a mind like the gutter press
So disappointed to find it's no big sin
Lying skin to skin
Shot with his own gun
Now dad is keeping mum
Shot with his own gun
Now somebody has to pay for the one who got away
What's on his mind now is anyone's guess
Losing his touch with each caress
Spending ev'ry evening looking so appealing
He comes without warning
Leaves without feeling
Shot with his own gun
Now dad is keeping mum
Shot with his own gun
On your marks, man, ready, set
Let's get loaded and forget
The little corporal got in the way
And he got hit by an emotional ricochet
It's a bit more now than dressing up dolly
Playing house seems so melancholy
Shot with his own gun
Now dad is keeping mum
Shot with his own gun
Oh it's too sad to be true
Your blue murder's killing you
The lyrics of "Shot With His Own Gun" by Elvis Costello & The Attractions depict a story of betrayal and hypocrisy. The singer sings to someone who has been caught red-handed in infidelity, remarking on how unpleasant it must be to be exposed by someone with less than honorable intentions. However, the real punch of the song comes when the chorus strikes, revealing that the cheater has been "shot with his own gun" - a metaphorical statement meaning that the consequences of their actions have backfired and they are now the victim of their own wrongdoing. The phrase "now dad is keeping mum" further elucidates the theme of secrecy and concealment.
The singer of the song then goes on to describe their disdain for the cheater's behavior, as well as their inability to connect meaningfully with those they engage with intimately. They describe the cheater as someone who loses their touch with each caress and comes without warning, leaving without feeling. The next verse ties in the imagery of gun violence once again, describing how the "little corporal got in the way" and was hit by an "emotional ricochet." The song ends on a mournful note, with Costello singing "oh it's too sad to be true, your blue murder's killing you."
Line by Line Meaning
How does it feel now you've been undressed
Asking the person how they feel after being exposed/naked
By a man with a mind like the gutter press
Exposing that the man who undressed them had a vulgar and base mentality
So disappointed to find it's no big sin
Feeling let down that what they thought was a big deal turned out to be trivial
Lying skin to skin
Being physically intimate with each other by having their bare skin touch
Shot with his own gun
Getting hurt as a result of one's own actions
Now dad is keeping mum
The father or someone in a position of authority is staying quiet about the situation
Now somebody has to pay for the one who got away
Someone has to be held accountable for the actions that caused the harm
What's on his mind now is anyone's guess
It's unclear what the person is thinking or feeling
Losing his touch with each caress
The man is losing his ability to be intimate and connect emotionally with each touch
Spending ev'ry evening looking so appealing
Putting effort into looking good, but it's not leading to fulfilling experiences
He comes without warning
He appears without any prior notice
Leaves without feeling
He leaves without any genuine emotional connections or attachments
On your marks, man, ready, set
Getting ready to engage in drinking and partying
Let's get loaded and forget
Drinking alcohol to the point of getting drunk and trying to forget their problems
The little corporal got in the way
A small issue or trivial matter prevented progress or led to difficulties
And he got hit by an emotional ricochet
He was emotionally hurt due to the indirect consequences of someone else's actions
It's a bit more now than dressing up dolly
The situation is more serious and complex than originally thought
Playing house seems so melancholy
The idea of playing pretend and acting like everything is perfect is now depressing
Oh it's too sad to be true
The situation is so sad that it feels unreal
Your blue murder's killing you
Your intense anger, frustration or disappointment is harming you emotionally
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind