Clubland
Elvis Costello \/ The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going off-limits, going off duty
Going off the rails, going off with booty
They tell tales of fiction found on all the criminal types
Lead to a higher-ranking man or a face with thin red stripes
The boys next door
The mums and dads
Have you ever been had in clubland?
In clubland
There's a piece in someone's pocket to do the dirty work
You've come to shoot the pony, they've come to do the jerk
They leave him halfway to paradise, they leave you halfway to bliss
The ladies' invitation never seemed like this
The boys next door
The mums and dads
New-weds and nearly-deads
Have you ever been had in clubland?
In clubland
The long arm of the law slides up the outskirts of town
Meanwhile in clubland they are ready to pull them down
Hey
The right to work is traded in for the right to refuse admission
Don't pass out now, there's no refund, did you find out what you were missing?
The crowd is taking forty winks minus ten percent
You barely get required sleep to go lingering with contemptment
Thursday to Saturday
Money's gone already
Some things come in common these days
Your hands and work aren't steady
The boys next door
The mums and dads
New-weds and nearly-deads
Have you ever been had in clubland?
In clubland
In clubland
In clubland, he-e-y
"Clubland" by Elvis Costello & The Attractions is a song that explores the shady world of nightclubs and the people that inhabit them. The lyrics describe a place where illicit activities are the norm, and where people come to indulge in their vices. The singer talks about "backhanders" and "bevy of beauty," which alludes to people using bribes and flirting in order to get what they want. He also mentions going "off-limits, going off duty," which can be interpreted as people letting go of their inhibitions and engaging in behavior that they wouldn't do in their daily lives.
The chorus of the song asks the listener if they have ever been "had in clubland," suggesting that these nightclubs are not to be trusted, and that people often get taken advantage of. The lyrics suggest that there is a corrupt system at play, where the criminal underworld makes deals with those in power, and where the police turn a blind eye. There is also the sense that the people who go to these nightclubs are trapped in a cycle of addiction and excess, where they come on Thursday and leave on Saturday, having spent all their money and lost all sense of control.
Overall, "Clubland" is a song that paints a grim picture of nightclubs and the people who frequent them. It is a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting caught up in a world of excess and indulgence, and about how easy it is to lose oneself in the pursuit of pleasure. The song's cynical tone and gritty lyrics make it a standout track in Elvis Costello's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
With a handful of backhanders and a bevy of beauty
With bribes and attractive women at hand
Going off-limits, going off duty
Ignoring the rules and responsibilities
Going off the rails, going off with booty
Losing control and stealing valuable items
They tell tales of fiction found on all the criminal types
False stories are told about any lawbreaker
Lead to a higher-ranking man or a face with thin red stripes
Accusations can incriminate those in power or high-stakes positions
The boys next door
The average people
The mums and dads
Parents and adults
New-weds and nearly-deads
Newlyweds or elderly people
Have you ever been had in clubland?
Have you ever been taken advantage of in the club scene?
There's a piece in someone's pocket to do the dirty work
Bribery is used to conduct illegal activity
You've come to shoot the pony, they've come to do the jerk
You are here to have fun, they are here to exploit you
They leave him halfway to paradise, they leave you halfway to bliss
They will stop short of giving you what you want
The ladies' invitation never seemed like this
Women are not usually invited to participate in these activities
The long arm of the law slides up the outskirts of town
Police are starting to investigate the area
Meanwhile in clubland they are ready to pull them down
Even with the potential threat of being caught, they are still engaging in illegal behavior
The right to work is traded in for the right to refuse admission
The opportunity for legal work is exchanged for entry into the club scene
Don't pass out now, there's no refund, did you find out what you were missing?
Don't lose consciousness or you won't get your money back, did you become aware of what is really happening?
The crowd is taking forty winks minus ten percent
The people are barely awake
You barely get required sleep to go lingering with contemptment
You barely get enough sleep and still have negative feelings
Thursday to Saturday
The busiest club nights
Money's gone already
People have already spent all their money
Some things come in common these days
Certain behaviors or situations are becoming typical
Your hands and work aren't steady
Your actions and job are inconsistent
In clubland, he-e-y
In the world of clubs
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yummyyum36719
@@patriciofernandez2711 My wife, who is a very fine operatic soprano of paint peeling Wagnerian amplitude, actually thinks that Elvis sings well for his style. She also likes Bowie. The understanding is that those voices have individual stamps that make them great for rock and pop music.
There are three things technically that that are "bad technique" hallmarks of Elvis' singing.
1. The glottal stroke.
Consider for example the famous opening two pitches of "Accidents Will Happen" on the words "Oh I" (C# and B on the album recording)
Both words are preceded by hard glottal attacks.
No vocal coach would ever suggest such a thing but it's an EC trademark. Elvis would not be "Elvis" without it.
2. The Nasality.
Elvis' natural range is that of a baritone. Something like "Watch Your Step" proves it. He is way too comfortable on those lower notes to be a tenor.
Yet British New Wave vocal lines are still influenced by classic rock styles, which for the most part call for higher tenors. Elvis used a nasality to hit higher pitches. He's singing a high A in chest voice here in his harmony lines for "In Clubland" but he aims the tone into his nose to get the pitch, rather than using a "mask resonance" technique. John Lennon did the same thing but his voice was much sweeter naturally than EC's voice. With Elvis there is a rasp to it, almost like a muted trumpet, when he sings in the upper range. (The fact that his dad was a trumpet player may have played a part in that as well.)
3. Near laryngitis.
Elvis' voice often seems like it's about to break down. The vocal cords don't always seem to be vibrating cleanly but instead cut in and out as though tissue is swollen. That is not at all what a smooth, trained singer would want to exploit.
Yet, by sheer force of emotion alone, he drives what seems like a very fragile voice to powerful heights, at times roaring into the microphone, not shouting but basically backing up that fragile voice with a ton of breath support.
So yeah...if you are coaching a classical singer you would say "don't do that", but those features are important parts of the Elvis Costello sound.
@nsilver61
Have never tired of this song. Sounds like nothing before it, and nothing since.
@spewey111
"The long arm of the law slides up the outskirts of town." Brilliant. And I love Steve's little piano flourish at the very end of the song.
@jeanbaumgartner4052
ELVIS Costello IsACOOL! 😎Cat 🐈 😻 🐈⬛ 😺 🐱 😸! 💯%!
@andrewgranger3370
His lyrical wordplay is amazing.
@yummyyum36719
Yup ending on the tritone...
@yummyyum36719
The thunder of Bruce's bass on this number. Sadly it is not EQ'd properly here.
@lindstrum3385
This wonderful chap never needs to write a song over 4 minutes. So much beauty in that time leaves one joyfully exhausted.
@yummyyum36719
You would get more thrill out of a 70 minute Elvis concert than a 3 hour Springsteen Concert, nothing against prime Bruce.... but nobody could destroy you emotionally quicker than this band at its best.
@groptimum
Incredible Elvis Costello tune. Amazing melodic, orchestrated song with these almost big band and jazz elements mixed in.
@yummyyum36719
Trying to come up with something to send to my opera singing wife that shows off the Attractions in their prime where Elvis' voice isn't too jarring.
This one could be the one.
It's a brilliant song.
Saw him do it live a number of times. But geez the bass track is really low on this.
On the vinyl they thundered on this tune.
Is that some sort of anti Bruce thing they've done or what??
All the old tracks seem to not have that booming bass.