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.
Too Far Gone
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You love more than me...
Someone you love more than me.
And I hate to say it
But you have a right to be free
I know that's the way it should be.
But I'm too far gone
I've loved you so much for so long
And I'm too far gone.
If ever your new love
Should hurt you or make you feel blue
Hurt you or make you feel blue
Just remember your old love
Will still be around loving you
I'll be around loving you.
'Cause I'm too far gone
Too far gone
I've loved you so much for so long
And I'm too far gone.
The lyrics of Elvis Costello & The Attractions's song "Too Far Gone" are about a lover accepting the reality of a breakup. The singer acknowledges that his significant other may find someone else who they love more than him and understands that they have a right to be free. The singer even goes so far as to offer to be there for his old love if the new one ever hurts them in the future. However, the singer concludes that he is still too far gone and that he has loved his significant other for so long that letting go is no longer an option for him.
The song's lyrics convey a sense of sadness and acceptance. The singer is facing the truth of his situation and is trying to move on, but he cannot. He is too far gone, too deep in love with his significant other, and cannot easily let go of the love that he has felt for so long. This makes the song relatable to anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak and struggled to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that somewhere there's someone
The singer is aware that there's someone else whom his lover loves more.
You love more than me...
The singer's lover has someone else in her life that she loves more.
Someone you love more than me.
The singer's lover has someone else in her life whom she loves more than she loves him.
And I hate to say it
The singer is not happy to acknowledge the fact but is aware of it.
But you have a right to be free
The singer believes that his lover has the right to make her own choices and decisions.
I know that's the way it should be.
The singer accepts that his lover should be free to love whomever she chooses, even if it isn't him.
But I'm too far gone
The singer has loved his lover for a long time and cannot simply let her go.
Too far gone.
The singer has reached a point where his love for his lover is so strong that he cannot simply move on.
I've loved you so much for so long
The singer has been in love with his lover for an extended period of time.
And I'm too far gone.
The singer is so in love with his lover that he cannot imagine life without her.
If ever your new love
The singer is acknowledging that his lover may find someone new to love.
Should hurt you or make you feel blue
The singer is assuring his lover that if her new love hurts her or makes her feel sad, he'll be there for her.
Hurt you or make you feel blue
The singer is stating that he will still be around to comfort his lover if her new relationship does not work out.
Just remember your old love
The singer refers to himself as the 'old love' which could imply that he has been there for her for a longer period of time.
Will still be around loving you
The singer assures his lover that he will still be there for her, even though she may have found someone else.
I'll be around loving you.
The singer promises his lover that he will still give her the love and attention that she deserves.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY SHERRILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind