Uncomplicated
Elvis Costello Attractions Lyrics


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Blood and chocolate
I hope you`re satisfied what you have done
You think it`s over now
But we've only just begun

I asked for water
And they gave me rose` wine
A horse that knows arithmetic
And a dog that tells your fortune

[Chorus]
It`s in your eyes
Uncomplicated

I want to buy you
A big blue Diamel
Cheap white plastic shoes
That don`t walk out and don`t let in

I want to show you
How I love you
When you`re over me
There`s no-one above you

[Chorus]

You think it`s over now
But this is only the beginning





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Uncomplicated" by Elvis Costello & The Attractions is a breakup song that is filled with a mix of bitter and sarcastic lines. The opening words "blood and chocolate" signify the messy aftermath of their relationship. The next line, "I hope you're satisfied with what you've done," portrays the anger and bitterness he feels towards his former partner. He continues, saying that his ex might think that it's over, but it's only the beginning. This shows that he still has a lot of things that he wants to express.


The next verse, "I asked for water, and they gave me rose wine," depicts how life is full of disappointment, and how one can't rely upon getting what they ask for. The last two lines of the verse, "A horse that knows arithmetic, and a dog that tells your fortune," showcase his disillusionment, revealing that he no longer believes in miracles and weird happenings.


In the chorus, "It's in your eyes uncomplicated," he is mocking his ex for having ambiguous answers when they were together, and how he used to try to read their eyes for answers that they would never provide. In the second verse, he is trying to get his ex-girlfriend back by buying her materialistic things, like a big blue Diamel and cheap white plastic shoes, which shows his ignorance about what it takes in a relationship to bring a person back. The final chorus echoes the bitterness felt in the beginning of the song, with him not ready to move on just yet.


Line by Line Meaning

Blood and chocolate
The aftermath of your actions is both terrible and enjoyable, like the mix of blood and chocolate.


I hope you're satisfied what you have done
I hope that you feel fulfilled by your actions, no matter how damaging they were to our relationship.


You think it's over now / But we've only just begun
You believe that our relationship has come to an end, but I know that it has only just started.


I asked for water / And they gave me rose' wine
I asked for something simple and was given something extravagant instead.


A horse that knows arithmetic / And a dog that tells your fortune
I was given useless gifts that had no connection to what I originally asked for, just like a performing horse and fortune-telling dog.


It's in your eyes / Uncomplicated
I can see the honest, uncomplex nature of our relationship in your eyes.


I want to buy you / A big blue Diamel / Cheap white plastic shoes / That don't walk out and don't let in
I want to give you gifts that may seem contradictory or nonsensical, but are ultimately there for you to stay grounded and secure.


I want to show you / How I love you / When you're over me / There's no-one above you
I want to demonstrate the depth of my love for you, even when you may no longer feel the same way. In my eyes, no one compares to you.


You think it's over now / But this is only the beginning
You still believe that our relationship has ended, but I see it as the start of something new and better.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DECLAN MACMANUS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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