Toledo
Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach Lyrics
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I saw the light blinking red
Beside the cradle
But you don't know how far I've gone
Now I must live with the lie
That I made
But if I call I know I won't have to say it
You'll hear my voice
Something is bound to betray it
But do people living in Toledo
Know that their name hasn't travelled very well?
And does anybody in Ohio
Dream of that Spanish citadel?
But it's no use saying that I love you
And how that girl really didn't mean a thing to me
For if anyone should look into your eyes
It's not forgiveness that they're gonna see
You hear her voice
"How could you do that?"
You hear her voice
"How could you do that?"
So I walked outside in the bright
Sunshine and lovers pass by
Smiling and joking
But they don't know the fool I was
Why should they care what was lost
What was broken?
I know I won't have to say it
You'll hear my voice
Something is bound to betray it
But do people living in Toledo
Know that their name hasn't travelled very well?
And does anybody in Ohio
Dream of that Spanish citadel?
But it's no use saying that I love you
And how that girl really didn't mean a thing to me
For if anyone should look into your eyes
It's not forgiveness that they're gonna see
But do people living in Toledo
Know that their name hasn't travelled very well?
And does anybody in Ohio
Dream of that Spanish citadel?
But we still have Florence, Alabama
We don't have Paris and we don't have Rome
The song "Toledo" by Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach is a heartbreaking tale of infidelity and the guilt and shame that follows. The singer is trying to reconcile with himself and his lover after cheating on her. Though he wants to make amends, he knows that his words will sound hollow, and his voice will betray his true feelings. He talks about how people in Toledo, Ohio, may not realize that the name of their city hasn't traveled well, and how the Spanish citadel may only exist in dreams. But he has one thing that he holds onto, a place that he and his lover can still call their own, Florence, Alabama. It's a melancholic but beautiful song that features Bacharach's lush orchestration and Costello's emotive vocals.
The song is layered with meaning and references that add depth to the lyrics. Toledo, Ohio, and the Spanish citadel refer to places that the singer associates with his lover. Toledo may represent a place where they were happy, while the Spanish citadel could be a metaphor for their relationship, something that he built up but ultimately destroyed. Florence, Alabama, is the only place that he sees as salvageable, representing hope in an otherwise hopeless situation. The lyrics also touch upon the idea of perception vs. reality, how one person's reality can be vastly different from another's. The singer sees himself as a fool, while the lovers he sees in the sunshine see only happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
All through the night you telephoned
You constantly called me throughout the night
I saw the light blinking red
I noticed the blinking red light indicating a message on my phone
Beside the cradle
Next to my phone that I kept near me, like a baby in a cradle
But you don't know how far I've gone
You have no idea how badly I messed up
Now I must live with the lie
I have to continue living with my deception
That I made
That I created and perpetuated
But if I call
If I reach out to you
I know I won't have to say it
I know I won't have to explain myself
You'll hear my voice
You'll pick up on the emotions in my voice
Something is bound to betray it
Something in my voice will reveal my true feelings
But do people living in Toledo
Do the residents of Toledo, Ohio
Know that their name hasn't travelled very well?
Realize that their city isn't well-known outside of their region?
And does anybody in Ohio
Do they wonder in Ohio
Dream of that Spanish citadel?
Dream of that beautiful and exotic place in Spain?
But it's no use saying that I love you
It's pointless to tell you that I love you
And how that girl really didn't mean a thing to me
And that other person didn't mean anything to me
For if anyone should look into your eyes
Because if someone were to look into your eyes
It's not forgiveness that they're gonna see
They will see that you cannot forgive me easily
You hear her voice
You'll hear her accusing voice
"How could you do that?"
"How could you do that?"
So I walked outside in the bright
I stepped outside into the shining
Sunshine and lovers pass by
Sunlight and happy couples walked by
Smiling and joking
Laughing and enjoying each other's company
But they don't know the fool I was
They don't realize what a fool I've been
Why should they care what was lost
Why would they concern themselves with what I've lost
What was broken?
What I've destroyed?
But we still have Florence, Alabama
But at least we still have Florence, Alabama
We don't have Paris and we don't have Rome
We may not have romantic, exotic cities like Paris or Rome, but we still have each other in Florence, Alabama
Contributed by Grayson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@debradireen3625
Stunning song reminiscent of 60’s Bacharach. Elvis Costello sings this song so beautifully.❤
@webjunkienyc
Just revisited this today. Such beauty. RIP Burt Bacharach.
@amyers532
yep just brilliant
@JennGarmanArt
Me, too. Two incredible talents coming together. There is nothing better.
@suzireaves8714
Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello are musical geniuses.
@therussiandragon616
RIP, Burt Bacharach. What a brilliant run.
@derekkelly8704
Elvis Costello is one of the greatest lyricists is music history. The words he uses to paint a picture are so unique and intelligent. And Burt Bacharach? My all-time favorite composer/arranger. The album is a masterpiece.
@magicknight13
Well said! Totally agreed
@romeobrillantes9358
Lyricist was Hal David…
@davecongalton2858
Check out at 2:37 when Burt turns and flashes a grin to the woman over his left shoulder. She smiles back. Burt, you sly devil!