Veronica
Paul McCartney & Elvis Costello Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Is it all in that pretty little head of yours?
What goes on in that place in the dark?
Well, I used to know a girl and I could have sworn
That her name was Veronica

Oh well, she used to have a carefree mind of her own
And a delicate look in her eye
These days I'm afraid she's not even sure

If her name is Veronica

Do you suppose that waiting hands on eyes
Veronica has gone to hide?
And all the time she laughs at those
Who shout her name and steal her clothes
Veronica
Veronica
Veronica (Veronica)

Do the days drag by? Did the favors wane?
Did he roam down the town all the while?
Will you wake from your dream with a wolf at the door
Reaching out for Veronica

Well, it was all of sixty-five years ago
When the world was the street where she lived
And a young man sailed on a ship in the sea
With a picture of Veronica

On the Empress of India
And as she closed her eyes upon the world
And picked upon the bones of last week's news
She spoke his name out loud again

Do you suppose that waiting hands on eyes
Veronica has gone to hide?
And all the time she laughs at those
Who shout her name and steal her clothes
Veronica
Veronica
Veronica (Veronica)

Veronica sits in her favorite chair
She sits very quiet and still
And they call her a name that they never get right
And if they don't then nobody else will

But she used to have a carefree mind of her own
With a devilish look in her eye
Saying, "You can call me anything you like
But my name is Veronica"

Do you suppose that waiting hands on eyes
Veronica has gone to hide?
And all the time she laughs at those
Who shout her name and steal her clothes
Veronica

Veronica
Oh (oh) Veronica

Overall Meaning

The song “Veronica” by Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello is about a woman named Veronica who is struggling with memory loss due to Alzheimer's disease. The song describes how Veronica used to be carefree and independent, but now she struggles to remember even her own name. The lyrics speculate on where Veronica might be hiding and what might be going through her mind as she struggles with memory loss. The song also touches on the idea of identity and how it can be lost or forgotten.

The song was inspired by a real person, a friend of McCartney's mother who had Alzheimer's disease. The song was written in 1987 and was released on McCartney’s solo album “Flowers in the Dirt” in 1989. The album was critically acclaimed and sold well, reaching the top 10 in many countries.

Line by Line Meaning

Is it all in that pretty little head of yours?
Are all your thoughts just in your mind?

What goes on in that place in the dark?
What happens in your mind when it's dark?

Well, I used to know a girl and I could have sworn That her name was Veronica
I knew a girl named Veronica (or think I did).

Oh well, she used to have a carefree mind of her own And a delicate look in her eye These days I'm afraid she's not even sure If her name is Veronica
She used to be carefree and have a unique spirit. Now, she's unsure if she's even named Veronica.

Do you suppose that waiting hands on eyes Veronica has gone to hide? And all the time she laughs at those Who shout her name and steal her clothes Veronica Veronica Veronica (Veronica)
I wonder if someone is waiting for Veronica. Has she disappeared or gone into hiding? She seems to laugh at those calling her name and taking her belongings. Veronica, Veronica, Veronica.

Do the days drag by? Did the favors wane? Did he roam down the town all the while? Will you wake from your dream with a wolf at the door Reaching out for Veronica
Do the days feel long? Has he lost his charm? Is there danger ahead for Veronica?

Well, it was all of sixty-five years ago When the world was the street where she lived And a young man sailed on a ship in the sea With a picture of Veronica On the Empress of India And as she closed her eyes upon the world And picked upon the bones of last week's news She spoke his name out loud again
Sixty-five years ago, when she lived on the street, a man sailed across the sea with a photo of her. While reading old news, she says his name aloud.

Veronica sits in her favorite chair She sits very quiet and still And they call her a name that they never get right And if they don't then nobody else will
Veronica sits silently in her favorite chair. People always mispronounce her name, and if they don't get it right, no one else will.

But she used to have a carefree mind of her own With a devilish look in her eye Saying, "You can call me anything you like But my name is Veronica"
She used to be carefree, with an impish glint in her eye. She'd say, "You can call me whatever, but I'm Veronica."

Do you suppose that waiting hands on eyes Veronica has gone to hide? And all the time she laughs at those Who shout her name and steal her clothes Veronica Veronica Oh (oh) Veronica
Is someone waiting for Veronica to emerge from hiding? She smiles at those calling her name, even if they stole her things. Veronica, Veronica, oh Veronica.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Elvis Costello, Paul James Mccartney

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@pickmeaname

2y↑155

My mother's name is Veronica. Always loved this song, but after losing her to dementia this week, its especially poignant. Sweetest lady with a great sense of humor.
Wiping away tears at the moment.

@petersinton43

2y↑3

God bless you sir,it's never easy especially when it's your mum,going through the same & from one brother to another I hope I find your strength, early days yet for me bur she's just had a stroke to top things off...her eyes have lost that spark.

@pickmeaname

2y↑2

@@petersinton43Thank you for the kind words. it's hard, but you can do it, but try not to do it alone if you don't have to. Sometimes it helps to remember what mom did for you while growing up. Even though less than perfect, my mom did the best she could. Always there for us growing up.
Always keep the memory of how she was in your heart.
God's peace to you, your mom, and your family..

@PushyCat222

1y↑2

Er Me Gerd…What a sweetheart sentiment, I’m certain Veronica would be proud…

@DavidHernandez-oc1oz

1y↑2

Bless you Scott. This song has always touched me. Still does after all these years.

@jonneiss7562

1y↑2

very sorry for your loss. My mom is in a nursing home, with dementia. Very difficult and sad.

9 More Replies...

@IAMCOONDAWG

2y↑108

Still can’t get through this song without crying. So sad for such an up beat melody. When I was younger I had no clue of it’s powerful lyrics.
Elvis is an underrated genius

@zciliyafilms5508

1y↑10

Something about this song that I learned recently. Originally it was going to be slow and maudlin. But it was written with assistance from Paul McCartney, and he convinced Elvis to make it upbeat. I think the results clearly confirm this was the right choice.

@jml-rj5re

1y↑5

@@zciliyafilms5508 You can really hear it in the chorus. McCartney and Costello gave each other what they lacked.

@jeffreedy2605

46w

Same here...

@raywalsh9152

24w

Wow. Thank you for that. I was just watching this, having heard the song back when it was released, and there was a moment where I thought, that's very Paul McCartney. Glad to know that my musical acumen is somewhat still intact.@@zciliyafilms5508

@pixiewings21_9

16w↑2

@zciliyafilms5508
Paul McCartney didn't convince Elvis to change the song, Elvis wanted the music to be upbeat despite the sad lyrics. Paul understood what Elvis was looking for and helped him write/develop the song. Great collaboration.

@billlaspin1277

2y↑104

This song came out when I met my first wife, who died in 1997, and every time I hear it I start crying my eyes out just like I am now. I miss you so much Lisa

@petersinton43

2y↑3

Regardless of time past I feel your pain.I truly hope after all this time from one stranger to another you are fighting the good fight & making her proud regardless. God love you.

@suziemalloy7216

1y↑1

God bless. I was dying laughing because my ex husband dated a Monica. He died in 2011.

@roxannewood7645

1y↑1

I am so sorry man !!

@rcgeneration824

49w↑1

I'm so sorry for your loss. 😞 I know exactly how you feel. I lost my wife in 2001. Best wishes.

@williammudloff5543

32w↑1

Respect👍

4 More Replies...

@DCI226

6y↑235

The issue of dementia/Alzheimer's aside, this song always makes me think about how we should see elderly people, not just as they are today, but as a living record of a thousand life memories, worth listening to and learning from. Another song comes to mind, "Hello in There" which is about loneliness in the elderly.

@pleasant_screams903

2y↑13

As a nurse I understand and I can't listen without tears.

@drmemory7

2y↑8

John Prine was in his early 20's when he wrote Hello in There. Unbelievable insight.

@lyric8529

2y↑1

💙

@artdonovandesign

2y↑2

Very well stated, Derek.

@lauramilagros5472

2y↑1

9/3/22 To Derek Chambers: Thank you for your insightful, open minded, kind, empathetic comments. I'm now 68 & as an aging Cultural Baby Boomer *(b. 1940 - 1957) who is now treated as insignificant & like i don't exist, with ppl under 40 looking right through me bc I look old ... your comments brighten my day. If you've never watched the show THIS IS US, bc of your POSITIVE attitude towards those over 40 or 50, you might enjoy it bc it focuses on a Boomer couple. The husband dies in a freak accident in his 40s & we see how his wife carries on until her death at 84. The key obstacle: she developed Alzheimer's in her 60s - still literally in her prime. The show ended 5/2022. All épis are on HULU.

* Those born 1958 to 1976 are Cultural & Statistica Generation X.or Gen Xers. They are children of the 70s & 80s. ~~ True Boomers are children of the 40s, 50, 60s. We are now the 2nd oldest Gen on the planet. The Sandwich Generation, or "Sandwichers" are the oldest living Gen - born 1930 to 1939. They are called such because they are "sandwiched" in between The Greatest Generation (b 1915 - 1929). & Cultural BOOMERS, b. 1940 to 1957.

It would take too long to explain the difference between Statistical Boomers - born 1946 to 1965, based only on the stats of the massive rise in birth rates after WWII, & True or Cultural Boomers - born 1940 to 1957. Trust me. I was born in 1954 & I can't relate to anyone born in 1965 - let alone born after 1958 in general!! They missed out on EVERYTHING of the 50s & 60s - everything we true Boomers went through! Totally different CULTURAL generation & experiences. I've also read over & over that those born 1958 to 1965 don't consider themselves Boomers & can't relate to us (those born 1957 & before), either. One thing the 2 Gens now sadly have in common: the Gen Xers born 1960 & before, & ALL Boomers, are now both seniors & we're both old.

7 More Replies...

@1220b

6y↑325

I regard this as one of the greatest songs ever written. The way he sings over his own voice is a lovely touch.

@ligma334

3y↑1

A lot of artists do it and it's one of my favorite styles they sound like 2 different people matt skiba does it a lot as well but this really sounds like he's telling us a story while he's also singing giving it 2 meanings it's genius

@lolycastaneda5338

@@ligma334 woah woah! Ima stop you right there yes many songs have this style of singing mixed with the music but what do you mean by MEANING????

@ligma334

3y↑4

Well the story is about his gran that can't remember her life as she's getting older and he turned it into a song originally I thought it was just a love song about a girl but only until you read the lyrics you get the true meaning

@if6wer966

2y↑6

Some guy McCartney helped him write it

@spaced-out-records

1y↑2

Yes I agree .. songs that touch on what it is to be a human being are very special

3 More Replies...

@janeough45

7y↑94

this bloke is a complete genius ,his songs and lyrics are beyond compare ....he as given us years of pure joy x thank you so much ....

@glennjelich3174

2y↑1

Well said.......Elvis Costello never received the accolades he deserved

@johnsmith-cv1lp

2y↑4

U know he wrote this with Paul McCartney?

@jeanninebuquet9635

5y↑302

I'm a CNA in a nursing home and every time I hear this song I think of my residents who I love

@chriscrawford2401

5y↑19

Thank you for your kindness to them.

@CaptTom11

4y↑8

It's a hard but very important job. It is made more difficult by the inherit greed in the system. That brings understaffed halls and everyone pays for it. Except management.

@Ozymandias1

4y↑4

It's even more difficult now. So many people in nursing homes are dying of COVID-19 now. But some still survive. Like this 107 year old Dutch woman: https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/10/107-year-old-woman-oldest-survivor-coronavirus-12536607/

@kernowrock555

4y↑3

My Dad has dementia ..so I am respectful. Please check out 'Mad as a hatter' by Larkin Poe , they wrote in about their grandfather, its lovely .

@f.a.kefacebook5688

4y↑2

My mother will die soon. I ate this song. too true. fuck this goddam world.

9 More Replies...

@sarahgill4293

4y↑8

I just want to thank Elvis Costello for giving me a song and video to help me process the feelings I have right now for my own grandmother Veronica. She lived in a house a few blocks away when I was growing up and was instrumental in raising me. I remember seeing this video on MTV when I was 12 or so and grandma was in her sixties and thinking "someday, this will be us. Not today though." Now I'm middle aged, Veronica is 94 and slipping away from us just 20 minutes away in a nursing home we can't access. I don't know whether her memory going now is good or bad. But besides being widowed early-ish, she had a good life. 5 kids, 16 grandkids, and 14 great grandchildren. She was a WAC in WWII and the man who sailed on a ship with a picture of Veronica was my grandfather. She grew up without a phone, saw sputnik, and voted for Obama. What a life! We adore her.
I also want to the thank the CNAs without whom we would be hopeless. The one who has helped us with phone calls is named Anna and she seems like a really beautiful person behind the mask. If you are prayerful people, please spare one that she and all the others like her have a life that was as long and lovely as my grandmother's has been.

@Jessieheels77

I'm not a prayerful person but your comment is so beautiful and moving. I hope your lovely Veronica is still with you. Sending kind and loving thoughts to you and yours.

@yacawntmiss

21w

I'm visiting a home now for my wife's mother. I like to listen to the stories of their youth. It really helps you understand who the folks are, what they accomplished in life. One fellow in his late 90's was a B 17 aircraft commander at the ripe old age of 22 flying out of England with the 8th Air Force. Jeez! 22! I cannot look at him and just see the frail old man.

@cathleenmallett8834

5y↑26

Today I got chills because you know the lyrics were spot on, telling about a complicated illness to soothe the rest of us. Elvis Costello way ahead of his time in telling this story and he crafts it into something that isn't painful with a lively melody to match the spark in her eyes. That's where she is.

@deansusec8745

31w

turns out, written by Paul McCartney

@letitbeknown8126

6y↑18

This is without a doubt one of the greatest songs ever written and one of the greatest videos ever made. It doesn't hurt that Paul McCartney had a hand in the creation of this song😀, but seriously, this is gold, my friends.

@KillerBl8

6y↑10

This is one of my favourite Elvis songs. At the time it came out my Grandmother was in a nursing home and her faculties were not what they were. Her clothes often went missing and sometimes the care staff would forget who they were talking to or about. Often she was lucid and would regale stories and sometimes let out secrets that she really shouldn't.

Through it all was this amazing woman who had travelled to America on a ship in her twenties, lived her life to the full and married a handsome Scotsman who had done as much as she had. This song could have been written about her and I always think of her when I hear it - it's magnificent.

@suepedie1

9y↑87

Loved this song when it came out, years before Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Why I listened to it just now when I have to go upstairs and care for her I'll never know! Wipe the tears away and put on a smile for her. She'll probably say something that makes me laugh, thank God she still has a sense of humor! And her name is Marilyn.

@santos8468

1y↑1

Is Marilyn still with us 7 years later?

@captainfantastic9158

3y↑20

I remember when this first came out: I was a little kid in St. Albans, Queens, NY just getting into music. As I was immersing myself in all things Beatles, I bought the single because I knew it was a collaboration with Paul McCartney, so I had to have it. (I bought the entire SPIKE album weeks later.)

I loved the melody, but, being a fledgling writer in love with grammar, I was very intrigued by the lyrics, concerning a life that I'd not lived yet...meaning a full one filled with love, loss, pain, joy, regret, and the wisdom and maturity that come with such things. I was too young to know such things, but I was also cognizant about life to know that I soon enough would. I knew that I would become "Veronica" one day, as we all inevitably do. I'm not COMPLETELY there yet, but this brilliant song will be waiting for me when I arrive there, just as it was when I first discovered it, coming full circle.

Thank you, for YOUR wisdom, Mr. MacManus.

@enaprokic5109

7y↑298

My grandma was Veronica, was in this condition for years before death...And a carefree mind and devilish spark in the eye for so many years before the Alzheimer set in. :) This makes me cry like few other things.

@pvtrichter8816

7y↑5

my condolences on your loss !!! lost my gran as well so i feel for you take heart it must be painful to hear this at times you can always take solace in knowing her memory and spirit will always be with you !! that's the power of music BE AT PEACE TONGHT LUV!!

@enaprokic5109

@jonathankamnik5050

7y↑1

I lost my grandmother 16 years ago and she suffered from Alzheimer's for the last 7 years. I know how bad you feel.

@timwacker9304

6y↑2

My mother was Veronica, she fortunately did not die like this rather, unexpectedly just after a terminal liver cancer diagnosis. Still the song makes me think of her as she fit very much the description.

@jeffbrigman6811

5y↑1

So sorry my dear

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@Malcontent-

3y↑14

This song brings tear to my eyes. I remember listening to this on the radio while driving with my dad in his new pick up truck back in 1989. The year I graduated high school. Sadly my dad passed away a year later. When I hear this song I think of my dad and us riding around in his pick up. I so miss him. I never truly appreciated the true meaning of video until now. So many years later.

@burns1017

4y↑11

Never gets old. Such amazing lyrics. Easily one of the most underrated artists around.

@johnsmith-cv1lp

2y↑1

he wrote this with paul McCartney .

@philipclifford2314

2y↑15

This is SUCH a good song! Who on earth would think this upsetting subject would make such a memorable video? I miss my Grandma. She fell ill around the time this song was released. Wish I knew more about her. Not many people left alive that knew her but that's how life goes I am learning.

@Tawroset

1y↑5

OMG this is beautiful. Just heard it for the first time, how did I miss it?? Lost my dad to Alzheimer's in 2008, and lost my mom 2 weeks ago. I'm laughing AND crying hearing this gorgeous song.

@jymfysher7704

2y↑3

This song has a universal appeal for all who love their Grandma's.My Nana and Granny both lived well into their 90s and were mentally sharp until the final days,but I still think of them when I hear this song as the passion Costello has for VERONICA is contagious and I think it's a fitting tune to adopt as a theme song for

@Gidget521

11y↑4

Not only is it a beautiful tribute to those that are being robbed by dementia, but Elvis' acting and commentary in this video is just so wonderful and truly loving. This song always makes me cry. In the early years of this video being on MTV I cried for my dear grandmother. Now I'm crying for my own mother. Gorgeous song.

@albalbuena6478

50w

Elvis Costello won the MTV award for Best Male Video in 1989 for this.

@pleasant_screams903

3y↑14

I'm a nurse for 12+ years and it tears me to pieces every time.

@justmadeit2

7y↑2

I remember hearimg this at the end of the 1980s. It would be about 1988 or 1989, on the radio. I was living in New Zealand at the time. About age 14. Now im 42. Music takes you back.

@jodiblackman7838

2y↑12

This has been a favourite of mine for years, having worked in aged care you wonder about the stories locked inside the residents. This song lyric is excellent storytelling and very touching.

@DavidHernandez-oc1oz

This song always brings a tear to my eye

@BunnyKins1970

8y↑140

Oh, bloody hell, I'm crying again.

@stevenhoude8687

8y↑15

+Bunny Kins I have a 26-year old daughter with a chromosome abnormality that lives in a group home. She can't talk and she really can't tell you what she's thinking. I heard this song and immediately thought of her. The part where they shout her name and steal her clothes made me associate this song with her. God, it broke me up....

@carlosvelez3556

8y↑2

me too. me too.

@duffbaker9554

Me, too. I had no idea that I would when I came here to listen to it. Thanks for your post. :-)

@BarackBoxen

Same here, what a way to start the day

@babyface5035

Me too

3 More Replies...

@brendacapaldi4427

4y↑2

As a teenager I loved this song because I adored Elvis Costello, but always understanding the message of Alzheimers this beautiful song was delivering. Now many decades later as someone who is witnessing a loved parent go through this unspeakable journey it means so much more then the pop song I would pop into my cassette to listen to just because. God Bless Veronica....

@jamesmcmanus2589

8y↑19

the result of making a song about reality. Elvis is one of the few among us who can create a song about our condition as humans. a true personal inspiration

@umpire63

6y↑26

A literate song about a serious subject. The up-tempo rhythm betrays the topic. Brilliant.

@michaelvessel4604

4y↑2

umpire63 Probably one of the darkest songs Costello has ever written about aging and losing your memory and slowly deteriorating due to Alzheimer’s, but it’s also ironically very catchy and almost sounds like a old school do-wop record musically.

@SC-jh9qp

3y↑11

I've been a care home worker for 22 years. This song should be compulsory listening!

@reidbronson6358

42w

This is a great song. It reminds me of Veronica Kennedy at St. Charles High. Very smart and gorgeous. I hope she had a great life.

@WilliamKroupaJr.

9y↑19

This song still gets to me after all these years. IMO One of the most emotional pop songs ever written.

@denisewozniak

7y↑18

Thank you for writing this song. Every time I listen to it, I think of my mother. I just listened to her and didn't disagree, even though she told me she had been to the Olympics and won... it was what she wanted to do and if she achieve it in her mind, then I was happy.

@colleenmueller4436

1y↑6

I was 10 years old when this came out and I still love it. I had an idea what the lyrics were getting at, but now as I watch my grandma take this path, it has me crying my eyes out.

@kathysewell8262

4y↑16

What a relevant song today. It breaks my heart. My Mom is in a care home and of course with coronavirus we have not been able to see her for months. Finally we can visit and she talks about her past. What I love is Elvis also portrays the heartbreak for the relatives too. Hopefully we can get these things sorted soon. Get this video to Boris and Matt. Stay safe everyone. xx

@Popability

3y↑2

Mine died after five weeks in lockdown, without seeing me. I think she died of a broken heart because I would see her every day before that for months, and cared for her for two and a half years alone.

@fionayork7473

10y↑63

I work with a cottage full of Veronicas... They are all individual and have lived an awesome life. This comes through after meeting their families...

@markshorrocks5056

10y

Dave Cottee
Yep.

What else is there...

@izpozpeeps

3y↑2

How fortunate they are to have your care and compassion 💗

@thomaspatton3401

Sweet

@thomaspatton3401

Life is excruciatingly real and painful

@Mrmoviefan123

9y↑353

A classic example of a song that sounds happy but is actually depressing.

@peterchandler9014

it's a great song....and I don't get where misogyny plays any part of it ??

@peterchandler9014

7y↑3

I have and and it's about a woman who has a declining disease in her mind Alzheimer's and I don't get your point can you be specific

@christiancamlin13

7y↑13

He never said anything about misogyny. He just said he thought the music did not match with the words. I disagree the song may reference some of the natural things that come with growing old but that is not the point. One point is that older people have not always been old. And they have and have had most of the feelings and experiences that younger people are going through now. Love , anger,lust, envy etc.. The other point seems to be that she does not really care about them stealing her old clothes and nic nacs etc . She will not really need many of those things much longer. And that she has a long fruitful life to look back on while they are grabbing at crumbs The song is cheerful and nostalgic at the same time but with minor but funny complaints.

@peterchandler9014

7y↑2

christian Camlin thank you Christian

@hugh-johnfleming289

7y↑1

Ironic use of Baroque counterpoint.

10 More Replies...

@likingpa

7y↑10

Like many others on this thread. this is personal. My Mom has battled this disease for almost ten years - the last 5 in a nursing home. Now she is 95 and end stage ( in hospice care for 14 months). It is getting harder and harder to watch, but I will keep going until the end. She was always there for me, and entrusted me to manage her legal/financial affairs. Ah, this damn disease. Tears come more quickly now.

@user-qo8ko5sx3e

23w

Please reach out as my Mom has an aggressive form of it.😊

@marcelomapelman1478

2y↑9

Hermosa canción, tocada y cantada increíble y el vídeo es tremendo, melancólico wow

@dougsher

10y↑49

Never really been an Elvis Costello fan, but now my dad has Alzheimer's it amazing how often I listen to this song.

@Addi6500andVmc454

10y↑3

IKR! My parents loved this song so much that they named me veronica! Their 2 choices were, paris, or veronica.... IM SO GLAD THAT THEY CHOSE VERONICA!

@dougsher

+FluffyTheHairless Cat Lovely name.

@Addi6500andVmc454

Doug E thanks XD

@craighiebert3384

5y↑1

I lost my dad to complications of dementia on 3/31/2018

@bethanywilhelm4451

7y↑8

Love ❤️ this song!! Since I was a little girl in the 80's!!😌

@kgdonohue62

9y↑2

I never thought this song would as significant as it is now. I've always loved this song - it's so much more significant now - my Dad passed away over a year ago. He had the onset of Alzheimer's. I can only pray the medical fields progress and find a cure...He still remembered my name though! And his eyes just lit UP when my daughter and I walked into his room....

@JoshBruin77

39w↑2

My mother gave me this cassette when I was a child. I used to listen to "Veronica," having not the slightest clue that the song would apply to her 30 something odd years later. 😢

@roblovicz1257

9y↑106

This song appears so simple,but in reality is very emotionally deep. The wolf is always at the door isnt it?

@thomaspatton3401

2y↑4

The wolf is patient and waiting.

@allenwiedl5419

1y↑3

I just lost my mom the day after Easter. And yes this song does remind me of her in her later years. Thank you Elvis for writing and recording it. It makes me feel better.

@franko6677

6y↑16

Take me back to these days when radio pop songs could have intelligent lyrics about unexpected subject matter. Two other examples from this time period are Suzanne Vega’s “Luka” and Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” We need some brains back in pop music!

@kevinfreeman3952

6y↑5

Three masterpieces of music! These three songs made (and make) you think, wonder what happened next.

@glennmayo

4y↑2

@@kevinfreeman3952 Excellent point! While there are great songs still being recorded, it seems that very few make it to the Top Whatever. People need to hear more music like this. Songs that actually have Something To Say.

@matthewtoddadcock8151

5y↑12

How could 116 people not like this song? WOW!

@stevenross7481

3y↑2

Brilliant, say no more.

@TheCounsellor11

2y↑4

I love this song Elvis, great job!

@joshporter5205

9y↑85

Hard as I try I cannot thing of a sadder song than this. I can't think of a song that makes me angrier and sadder about the human condition than this. Were I a song writer I believe I would be happy to create nothing of any merit besides this one song in my entire career. Elvis Costello, however, has created not only this but so much more as well.

@annep5861

9y↑3

Josh Porter Wow!! That thought got me sad too. You are right.

@TerrenceAybar

9y↑3

+Josh Porter You, my friend, summed it up perfectly.

@SonnyGTA

Absolutely Josh. But for sad, try TAKE AWAY MY PAIN by Dream Theater. I still can't play that song all the way through.

@terezashadden9397

8y↑5

You said that perfect. Thankyou for caring. My Grandma who has this condition is trying her best to fight it. ♡♥♡♥♡♥

@scottmccamish4258

7y↑4

He was a brilliant songwriter, although that term seems inadequate. He was a melodic craftsmen and a storyteller - of which there are very few in pop/rock history. Wonderful song, outstanding musician.

4 More Replies...

@andrewgeggie2092

6y↑5

I wept when I first heard this on the radio in 1989. I'm weeping now--for all the Veronicas out there, locked away in their minds. I fear this for myself as I get older and I remember my childhood distress as I watched my grandmother's decline in the 1960s.

@pleasant_screams903

2y↑1

Thank you Elvis costello for sharing your experience with your grandmother and Alzheimer's. Way ahead of your time !

@billyhigh4690

12w↑1

So sweet so sad😢 Who’s writing songs like this today?

@davidsteel6437

30w

I bought the Spike album when it came out. I always loved Elvis C’s work. Veronica was a bit of a strange track on what was a pretty political album. It was far more personal and was more upbeat in tempo. I loved it though and the video was touching.
This week my 85 year old father has been diagnosed with vascular dementia. I was in his loft looking for documents and found a whole stash of letters of correspondence between him and his mother, my Gran, whilst he was doing in National Service in Cyprus in the late 50s. A portrait of my father as a young man. Precious primary historical sources. The handwriting is precise and the wording whilst formal is heartfelt. Love the fact they both kept their respective letters. They are a gift to get to know a man I didn’t know. A window to his hopes and fears.
His name is William, known as Billy and latterly Bill.

@heydeanie

3y↑1

Veronica sounds like she was a spitfire & a hoot in her day... Wish I'd of known her...

@wellsbron6883

2y↑1

I love elvis Costello

@1bbewww

4y↑9

great song, and most people are surprised to find out it was co-written by Paul McCartney, who also appeared on the recording.

@toddmullins2031

32w↑1

One of my all time favorites! Thankyou Elvis !

@matthewtoddadcock8151

5y↑3

The Greatest song of Elvis Costello’s Career!

@bobofwinnipeg9455

2y↑2

Locked in the world you never wanted.

@stephenpote5515

5y↑1

Makes me miss my grandma ! Some mornings were great, I’d make her coffee and talk about whatever, plan the day. Some mornings she was so angry with everyone calling us all bad names lol God bless her soul !

@reidbronson6358

Freshman year at St. Charles High School in Missouri I had a crush on Veronica Kennedy. Very pretty. Very sweet. Incredibly smart. I hope she's had a good life.
Eventime i hear this song, I think of Veronica.

@lorriepontes1746

8y↑14

@ Dave, wow. I can totally relate. Mom diagnosed 15 years ago; dad just diagnosed. WHAT A PERFECT SONG! It epitomizes the disease.

@Ducksoup67

11y↑2

So you just sit there, And bounce around the years with her. Brilliant, absolute brilliance.

@bjbpainting9625

2y↑12

A beautiful and timeless document put into words and music that captures what is such a painful journey…..helped me through my own personal confusion and hurt
Love how such a fine artist can capture such raw emotions and turn it too reason and give a sense of meaning 👍

@JeffTheNebraskaDJ

ULTRA CLASSIC FROM ELVIS COSTELLO!, the dj

@RetroBuck

6y↑10

I cry my damned eyes out every single time I listen to this song. Its just that beautiful.

@Anniedesmond58

5y↑3

Thank you for the song. I just lost my youngest sister Veronica in Feb 2019 only 54 years old. She would have loved this song.

@kenjhill1

9y↑203

One minute she would be here, the next its 40 years later. Alzheimers summed up.
So Poignant,

@ThePinkDragon

yes

@jonathanzabel7488

I agree.

@kevindonohue2912

4y↑3

I remember most the sundowning, the agitation every afternoon, the visits from dead relatives the rest of us couldn't see, the terror at a war only my father could hear.

@Thombrawley1

Elvis and Paul. what a team.

@ballyman12

8y↑11

Bounce around the years with her, Classic Elvis

@craighiebert3384

6y↑1

I lost my pops to complications of dementia six months ago...now I get it... Very beautiful song, Elvis, thank you! You performed at Hollywood High School the summer before I was to attend - that live version of "Detectives" is brilliant!

@joycemcfarlane1927

9y↑19

Very sweet video of love and caring Very spiritual in a day when the elderly are mostly forgotten and disregarded and put away like an old worn out shoe in our modern way of life

@teresad.shadden8152

5y↑1

There are not many songs that address the issue of Alzheimer’s , as a matter of fact this is the only one I know of. Thank you Elvis Costello 💜💕

@jamescollins2730

Check out a song called "Lady Grey" by Katzenjammer. A band from Norway but sing in English. A lovely song about a lady with Dementia x

@garycooper8687

4y↑4

I remember seeing this in college. It was a surprise because he had dropped out of the scene for a while. I remember him hitting the charts and putting out albums when I was younger but this showed a very introspective, emotional person. A very interesting video for MTV which usually put youth culture in front of everything. He earned a lot of respect from me. I was 21 when the song came out.

@ivanyamanaka26

28w↑1

Just heard this song on b97hawaii makes me wish I video interviewed my parents on a deeper level! There's so many questions I still like to ask, we should all leave a video for future generations to view & hopefully answer questions they have & hopefully clear up any misunderstandings & be remembered in a good way,... I'm sure we all don't want to be forgotten! Sadly I barely know my grand parents let alone great my grandparents

@gwenpeetee

3y↑2

This reminds me of my late mum. A young London girl, worked through the war, brought up 6 of us. Developed Alzheimers and spent her final years in a care home. Just love this.

@rebeccadelbridge2998

28w

I had a very elderly neighbour who i used to chat to on my daily walk, picking up my young children from school and kindergarten. One day she said to me: " I wasn't always like this, you know. I used to be young, and beautiful, like you." She passed away while we were still living in that house. Those words have always stuck with me. I am middle aged now, and beginning to understand. I love getting older, but the life i had in my youth is slowly being forgotten. The ages and stages of life are sad, but beautiful.

@royphillips7435

He's probably up there with my country's finest music makers , Bowie , Partridge, McCartney, Townshend ,Lennon, Wood etc... Good stuff !

@marinemomma62

13y↑1

Just say my mom in a nursing home.. My dad was a Navy..man in World War 2... Her middle name is Veronca .. My is Veronica.. Boy Soon it will be me in that Chair.LOL.... My hubby is a Navy man too!!! Love your music Elvis Costello..

@mikewilson1006

6y↑7

Makes me cry every single time, what a perfect song

@scoop0122

27w↑1

Uplifting and heart breaking at the same time. As well as being a wonderful song.

@taxfreedollars

4y↑2

A truly remarkable songwriter and performer.

@kja427

12y

A far cry from his rambunctious period in The 70's. He mellowed out in The80's. Nice tune, Mr. Costello.

@geldofpunk32

That chorus is gold

@juxtarepublic6106

4y↑3

Wow... Always loved this song, had no idea it was about dementia.... My Mum is in the early stages..... teared up watching it this time.....

@veronicacoleman1266

3y↑1

My name is Veronica. I'm 68 and more than half way there. I should tell Elvis that he wrote my life's story and I want half the royalties. I'm just honoured to see my beautiful name is made even more popular by this song.

@matthewtoddadcock8151

5y↑5

The SONG of this man’s career!

@carolynnefox5608

3y↑1

I still love this song so much. I didn't really understand it when it first came out when I was young, but it all made sense after witnessing a loved one suffer through Alzheimer's. Elvis is so amazingly talented. I can't wait to see him next month!!

@jayatfreelance

9y↑6

I read all the comments and stories posted below and no longer wonder why this song draws a tear to my eye. Thank you all for sharing!

@joanmartindale3251

So moving....so true. There are several Veronicas here where I live.,

@merseydave1

9y↑5

When I was 24, buying this great song in 1989, I just thought it was a catchy ditty song... On playing it over and taking in the lyrics it... I said to myself how profound!.

@MongerelWood

6y↑3

Absolute quality: 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever' and this is beautiful inmo, (Socrates) because it's a very wonderful love song

@adspur

11y

This the song that led me discover the great Elvis Costello.I'll always have a special place in my heart for this song and video.It was as exciting as the day I discovered The Beatles.SO MONUMENTAL!!!

@the_budde

9y↑14

I had a grandfather with Lewybody dementia (dementia mixed with Parkinson's) who passed on August 10th of 2014, and now I can really relate to this song, but at least Grandpa never forgot who I or my family was.

@billysmith2687

'... and they call me a name that they never get right, and if they don't know, nobody else will'.

Beautifully tragic words by a great songwriter. I worked in the homes when I was younger and this rings true to me.

@heartsparkdollar

2y↑2

If this was the only song EC ever wrote, he would have written of the most beautiful and loving songs ever.

@Thombrawley1

1y↑1

let's not forget about Paul

@heartsparkdollar

@@Thombrawley1 Agree, but it is EC song about his grandmother.

@tessiemae4038

10y↑101

This song reminds me of my father. When we had to admit him to a nursing home (he was a wanderer) all the employees called the residents "hon" or "sweetie". My dad was a very dignified man, highly educated and professionally successful. One night after my visit, I listened to this song. Next day, I went to the home and told them his name is Mr. ******, please call him that. I know people will say it's just routine but it felt like he was being made childlike. He had accomplished so much in his life and was reduced to "hon". Just felt disrespectful. Thanks for posting the video.

@fionayork7473

10y↑27

Hi Tessie, I am a Specialised Dementia Carer and will admit that most of the staff call the residents 'love' or something similar. I was brought up differently and will always call them by their preferred name. My father had Alzheimers for about 12 years and passed away nearly 19 years ago. I understand what you're going through.

@tessiemae4038

10y↑20

Thanks for the reply. My Dad died-a blessed and peaceful release.I still feel that although the nurses and aides may think they are being friendly, it places the patient in an inferior and childlike position. I also believe it is done for that purpose-to establish authority, however subconscious it may be. Thank you for the job you do.

@twasbrillig33

5y↑10

@@tessiemae4038 That's interesting, I will consider this if I am ever in the position of helping the elderly.

@jonathanzabel7488

4y↑5

Thanks for sharing your very sensitive comment. An older friend spoke kindly to me of the pride and loss of dignity in an older associate of mine. It's good to be reminded.

@richardburchett

3y↑3

When my grandmother was suffering with dementia, the nursing home staff called her by the wrong name. She always went by “Lou Edith” and they would invariably just call her Lou. I think it would have comforted her more to hear her name when they spoke to her. You did a good thing for your dad.

@NateSean

10y↑16

This song plays often in my store and today was the first time I managed to figure out the title so I could hear it at home. I wasn't expecting to get a punch in the feels.

@mrzevans1978

9y↑6

I've always loved this song...and it was decided today that my daughter (due in Sept) will be named Veronica :) So I had to come give it a listen!

@JT-ok6re

I was 19 years old 1989, and this was the first time I'd ever heard of Elvis Costello! Amazing song sung very fast about a sad subject.

@pandoratbox

11y↑1

I remember hearing this song before I seen the video and thought what a lovely sad song, and when the video came out, I sort of put it all together. Now a social worker for the elderly, I can truly see that they are the forgotten breed. I love them even more now and this song, than I ever did before. Thank you for posting

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