 When I Was Cruel (2002) [ larger cover art ] |
Share this song
Tweet this song
Wikipedia search
Musicbrainz DB;){kind=link}
If only dust could talk
What would we hear it say?
Before it's brushed aside
Just as it's swept away
It's just the evidence
It's of no consequence
It's only flesh and bone
Why don't we leave it alone?
If only dust could gather into lines of chalk
Around a silhouette detective fiction walks
For it's the only witness that can testify
Can I spit out the truth?
Or would you rather just swallow a lie?
Why did they dam the land?
How did they flood the plain?
Did they erase the name?
And wipe away the stain
You kept your mouth well shut
Appeared to turn your coat
Now there's a name for you but it's stuck in my throat
If dust could only mutter
Or in laughter trill
If it could warn and whisper from the windowsill
But it's the only witness that can testify
Can I split out the truth?
Or would you rather just swallow a lie?
Here comes the juggernaut
Here come The Poisoners
They choke the life and land
And rob the joy from us
Why do they taste of sugar?
Oh, when they're made of money
Here come the Lamb of God
And the butcher's boy, sonny
If dust could only gather in the needle track
Then it would skip a beat and it would jump right back
If dust could only gather in a needle track
Then it would skip a beat
And all the sense I lack
| rockpommel16 (rockpommel´s land...dreaming of netherlands) | Posted: Sep 25, 2012 - 11:21 sajitjacob wrote: I don't normally like Elvis Costello, perhaps it's 'cause I usually only hear his singles. This, however, is rather funky. I like it. I like it a lot. maybe I should try listening to his other stuff. ...my thought right that moment..... |
| oldsaxon (Wales via Vancouver, BC.) | Posted: Jul 24, 2012 - 13:26 rdo wrote: Radio Paradise has played about 1800 artists, by my informal reckoning, since my joining several years ago. I would be in favor of that number going up to 4000. It easily could. Elvis Costello ranks in the top 20 in terms of how often RP plays an artist. A backlash is inevitable. Also, one (or maybe two?) people are responsible for the programming of this station. Is it really any wonder that the tastes of some listeners might diverge a bit now and then from the programmer's? I truly love this station, but I would pledge to double my annual contribution this year in exchange for RP to publish some sort of programming policy, if not at least some sort of criteria or guiding philosophy, by which the playlist is derived. That would be very, very interesting. I like Bill's taste in music, mostly. I don't care if there are 1800 and not 4000 (good grief, how hard would that be to programme?) The criteria for programming are quite simple. It goes through a vetting process, Bill or Becca like it...it gets played. It's their station, don't like go listen to SKY.FM. |
| sajitjacob (Christchurch NZ) | Posted: Mar 19, 2012 - 20:54 I don't normally like Elvis Costello, perhaps it's 'cause I usually only hear his singles. This, however, is rather funky. I like it. I like it a lot. maybe I should try listening to his other stuff. |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: Jan 16, 2012 - 09:20 kaybee wrote: This is such an excellent piece...can't understand the hate-on for Elvis Costello on RP. Radio Paradise has played about 1800 artists, by my informal reckoning, since my joining several years ago. I would be in favor of that number going up to 4000. It easily could. Elvis Costello ranks in the top 20 in terms of how often RP plays an artist. A backlash is inevitable. Also, one (or maybe two?) people are responsible for the programming of this station. Is it really any wonder that the tastes of some listeners might diverge a bit now and then from the programmer's? I truly love this station, but I would pledge to double my annual contribution this year in exchange for RP to publish some sort of programming policy, if not at least some sort of criteria or guiding philosophy, by which the playlist is derived. That would be very, very interesting. |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Dec 15, 2011 - 15:36 Marcuse wrote: Well he commits the crime of having a "different" sounding voice and is creative, so, certain quarters of the RP community must burn him at the stake of the narrow mind. The ashes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, David Byrne, Michael Stipe, Tom Waits, and Eddie Vedder lie there also. Elvis, being a very creative musician, is in good company. Bravo good sir |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Dec 15, 2011 - 15:36 My favorite EC song from a very uh different album. |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: Jun 09, 2011 - 12:09 kjf06 wrote: Elvis imitating Dr John? Gets on my nerves fast. One of the few songs I feel compelled to turn down after 2 mins. Do you mean in the way they both enjoy being photographed wearing hats? I think that's just a coincidence. Smart, hot number!   Mr. MacManus Mr. Rebbenac |
| Marcuse (Ouilmette) | Posted: Apr 07, 2011 - 05:50 kaybee wrote: This is such an excellent piece...can't understand the hate-on for Elvis Costello on RP. Well he commits the crime of having a "different" sounding voice and is creative, so, certain quarters of the RP community must burn him at the stake of the narrow mind. The ashes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, David Byrne, Michael Stipe, Tom Waits, and Eddie Vedder lie there also. Elvis, being a very creative musician, is in good company. |
| lophrequa (canadia) | Posted: Apr 07, 2011 - 05:48 TimeWaster wrote: heh heh... "geniouses" well, how good is your Dutch? |
| forge (Boynton Beach, FL) | Posted: Apr 07, 2011 - 05:46 Me too, I'm perplexed why anyone who likes RP wouldn't like this track, it totally fits the repertoire and it's a great tune. |
| forge (Boynton Beach, FL) | Posted: Feb 03, 2011 - 10:52 Me either Kaybee, it's a great track from an awesome artist. |
| kaybee (Lost in the Wilds of Toronto) | Posted: Dec 02, 2010 - 17:49 This is such an excellent piece...can't understand the hate-on for Elvis Costello on RP. |
| jomercer (Maryland) | Posted: Dec 02, 2010 - 12:54 Yikes! I had to mute this one—first time for RP. |
| nerakdon (Colorado) | Posted: Jun 26, 2010 - 08:21 Makes me do Bert's pigeon dance. |
| TimeWaster (The lower of the two Dakotas) | Posted: May 25, 2010 - 12:27 Albert1967 wrote: http://www.spectacleelviscostello.com/index.php Love that show. Great guy and IMO one of the geniouses of pop. heh heh... "geniouses" |
| Albert1967 (Leusden, the Netherlands) | Posted: Mar 23, 2010 - 04:28 megaadam wrote: Agree 100%. His voice is completely unbearable. I would prefer waterboarding. http://www.spectacleelviscostello.com/index.php Love that show. Great guy and IMO one of the geniouses of pop. |
| lwilkinson (North Am-Home of the Last of the Rugged Individualists) | Posted: Nov 17, 2009 - 08:47 Bill, Bill, Bill, pleezzze...........have some coffee and put on some decent tunes. Elvis just don't cut it this morning.  |
| megaadam (Stockholm, Sweden) | Posted: Sep 15, 2009 - 08:13 UltraNurd wrote: I like him as a songwriter, usually, but his voice... Agree 100%. His voice is completely unbearable. I would prefer waterboarding. |
| bobcat1963 (the netherlands) | Posted: Feb 05, 2009 - 23:36 pvcnote wrote: COSTELLO IS SUCKS! pvcnote is just another old hippy who never recaptured after the - brilliant - punk clash in the late 70's... elvis was one of the kings by then, throwing oldies like pinkfloyd a.o. basterds out the saddle.... |
| lophrequa (the very edge of the land) | Posted: Dec 04, 2008 - 18:13 Geecheeboy wrote: This is not very offensive and does not suck so bad. unusual for Elvis Costello! love it |
| Geecheeboy (under a crescent moon and palmetto tree) | Posted: Oct 02, 2008 - 15:43 This is not very offensive and does not suck so bad. |
| ThePoose | Posted: Jul 31, 2008 - 11:37 pvcnote wrote: COSTELLO IS SUCKS!
YOU IS CAN'T WRITE |
| CoYoT51 (Reims, France) | Posted: Mar 27, 2008 - 11:00  This man is a genius! |
| UltraNurd (Boston, MA) | Posted: Jan 24, 2008 - 12:57 Huh. He changed something about his voice for this one that makes it less annoying to me. I like him as a songwriter, usually, but his voice... |
| Paul_in_Australia (Melbourne) | Posted: Jul 19, 2007 - 23:35 physicsgenius wrote: The music is boring the real story here is the bad singing. If you can't hit the notes, why write it that high?
By this reasoning, Beethoven should have just drummed his fingers. |
| kjf06 | Posted: Jul 19, 2007 - 23:32 Elvis imitating Dr John? Gets on my nerves fast. One of the few songs I feel compelled to turn down after 2 mins. |
| onerb | Posted: Jun 18, 2007 - 13:35 Love it!  |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: May 18, 2007 - 05:23 Watching the Detectives Part II? Pretty good - love the wailing guitars and maracas. Nice mèlange of sounds - 7 from the Nottingham jury. |
| kazuma (Austin, TX) | Posted: Jan 30, 2006 - 20:23 jah_blessed wrote: What a great segue from Augustus Pablo!
I agree! 
brandog wrote: I've always been an Elvis fan- but this song is an exception.
I agree! |
| jah_blessed (Netherlands) | Posted: Dec 18, 2005 - 05:32 What a great segue from Augustus Pablo! |
| physicsgenius | Posted: Nov 04, 2005 - 08:39 The music is boring the real story here is the bad singing. If you can't hit the notes, why write it that high? |
| Benjamin1225 (Charlotte, NC) | Posted: Nov 04, 2005 - 08:38 great song, great artist |
| Gregorama (Austin, TX) | Posted: Sep 06, 2005 - 12:22 pvcnote wrote: COSTELLO IS SUCKS!
Huh? |
| SigmaBetaTooth (Cubicle Farm in San Antonio, TX) | Posted: Sep 06, 2005 - 12:11 This sounds like teeth grinding.  |
| pvcnote | Posted: Sep 06, 2005 - 12:10 COSTELLO IS SUCKS! |
| (former member) (Right Here) | Posted: Jun 24, 2005 - 12:21 Boosiewolf wrote: Elvis Costello is the ONLY Elvis, as far as I'm concerned! Wait, wasn't there some fat drug-addict mysogynist from Mississippi or someplace like that? |
| (former member) (Right Here) | Posted: Jun 24, 2005 - 12:20 I've always been an Elvis fan- but this song is an exception. |
| ploafmaster (Richmond, VA) | Posted: May 11, 2005 - 11:53 Blah... |
| Alexandra (Ohioville) | Posted: Aug 19, 2004 - 08:16 MrCostello wrote:  Elvis is one of the most amazing artists of our time. He is truly second to none and doesn't have a single bad song - including this one. He is my favorite by far - LOOK AT MY RP NAME FOR GOD'S SAKE!!Elvis Costello is the ONLY Elvis, as far as I'm concerned! |
| rulebritannia (Sussex countryside, England) | Posted: Apr 20, 2004 - 02:19 black321 wrote: did this guy give up writing music, for the sake of his lyrics?? This is completely drab.
Elvis, Elvis.......where have you gone to, Elvis? |
| redeyespy (SoFL) | Posted: Apr 07, 2004 - 09:17 lbrc wrote: he's aweful!!   Full of awe? Agreed! Nice dirty track. |
| black321 (Centerport, NY) | Posted: Apr 07, 2004 - 09:17 did this guy give up writing music, for the sake of his lyrics?? This is completely drab. |
| MrCostello | Posted: Nov 28, 2003 - 13:06 Elvis is one of the most amazing artists of our time. He is truly second to none and doesn't have a single bad song - including this one. He is my favorite by far - LOOK AT MY RP NAME FOR GOD'S SAKE!! |
| publiceric (CA) | Posted: Aug 30, 2003 - 15:56 As usual, RP does a great job of picking songs I like by people I usually don't care for... |
| iggy33 (Washington, DC) | Posted: Aug 28, 2003 - 08:32 Awesome track, fantastic album..I'm in Elvis bliss... |
| iggy33 (Washington, DC) | Posted: Aug 28, 2003 - 08:31 |
| chlobug (Lexington, KY) | Posted: Aug 20, 2003 - 12:30 Love Elvis Costello... he has the midas touch. I have a tape of his World Cafe interview for "All This Useless Beauty"; listen all the time. |
| michaelc (Walnut Creek, CA) | Posted: Jul 28, 2003 - 17:18 Love this song, love this album has the feel of some of his older stuff, that bite the hand thing. thanks 8) |
| veegez (Burnsville, mn) | Posted: Jul 18, 2003 - 14:26 Originally Posted by stubbsz:
It's a good track... while I agree with you tastes completely; this is a great track but SO different.. so I get why he might rate it higher. But man, I'd love to hear shipbuilding. I LOVE that song. Me too. Shipbuilding is an 11, me thinks. |
| stubbsz (San Jose, CA) | Posted: Jun 30, 2003 - 10:15 Originally Posted by skymunky:
surely not! how much stuff of his have you heard? try holding this track up against Shipbuilding or Man out of Time It's a good track... while I agree with you tastes completely; this is a great track but SO different.. so I get why he might rate it higher. But man, I'd love to hear shipbuilding. I LOVE that song. |