 The Delivery Man (2004) [ larger cover art ] |
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A long time ago, our point of view
Was broadcast by Mr. Bartholomew
Now the world is full of sorrow and pain
It's time for us to speak up again
You're slack and sorry
Such an arrogant brood
The only purpose you serve is to bring us our food
We sit here staring at your pomp and pout
Outside the bars we use for keeping you out
You've taken everything that you wanted
Broke it up and plundered it and hunted
Ever since we said it
You went and took the credit
It's been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man
Every time that man struggles and fails
He makes up some kind of fairytales
After all of the misery that he has caused
He denies he's descended from the dinosaurs
Points up to heaven with cathedral spires
All the time indulging in his base desires
Ever since we said it
He went and took the credit
It's been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man
Big and useless as he has become
With his crying statues and his flying bomb
Goes ‘round acting like the chosen one
Excuse us if we treat him like our idiot cousin
He hangs up flowers and bells and rhymes
Hoping to hell that someone's forgiven his crimes
Fills the air with his pride and his praise
He's big disgrace to our beastly ways
In the fashionable nightclubs and finer precincts
Man uses words to dress up his vile instincts
Ever since we said it
He went and took the credit
It's been headed this way since the world began
When a vicious creature took the jump from Monkey to Man
| ziakut (Slightly North of Obvlivion) | Posted: Jan 14, 2013 - 19:03 I like most EC...but this just sounds stupid to me. |
| WonderLizard (2,755.46 mi. due east of Paradise) | Posted: Jul 10, 2012 - 04:58 I think it'd be fun to play the Wilburys' "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" or the Stones' "Monkey Man" along with this one, but "Evolution" (  ) will do. |
| Toke (Bournemouth UK) | Posted: Jun 08, 2012 - 11:51 Sam The Sham Wooly Bully |
| tuttle99 | Posted: Jun 08, 2012 - 11:51 I never realized how much the video added to my appreciation of this EC song....  |
| creekgirl | Posted: Mar 05, 2012 - 07:33 brilliant, witty, trenchant lyrics. youngsters take note.......he is THE master! though this particular song is not his best musically IMO.....anything off This Year's Model or Armed Forces much stronger........ |
| Roguewarer (Southfield, MI) | Posted: Mar 05, 2012 - 07:31 I saw Elvis. At a fast food restaurant. No lie. Even on a bad day, he's fun and interesting to listen to. I know some folks don't dig him, but he's one of the few artists whose music I find myself dissecting into progressions, phrasing, etc. So intentional and, IMHO, brilliant. Love his stuff. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 15:08 TimeWaster wrote: Ok, that cheesy organ sound hasn't been cool since the 60's. Get a Hammond, for cryin' out loud. And you've been around long enough, you should no longer sound like a teenagers in a garage. There, I said it. Farfisa organs are always cool. If anything, Hammond organs sound much more dated - like something from The Lawrence Welk Show, or a skating rink. That's cool too, though. |
| Umberdog (In my body.) | Posted: Sep 28, 2011 - 18:32 I like this interview... I gave the song an 8. |
| gabrielle7nt (In the kitchen) | Posted: Mar 23, 2011 - 18:58 Not bad for sober-Costello |
| cohifi (Denver) | Posted: Nov 17, 2010 - 23:08 namp wrote: This guy is just... annoying glad you think so |
| namp | Posted: Aug 14, 2010 - 12:09 This guy is just... annoying |
| jbunniii (San Jose, CA) | Posted: Aug 14, 2010 - 12:08 I haven't really liked much of his post-"Brutal Youth" stuff. This one isn't bad, though. |
| Randomax (Wimberley, TX) | Posted: Jul 13, 2010 - 14:34 TimeWaster wrote: Ok, that cheesy organ sound hasn't been cool since the 60's. Get a Hammond, for cryin' out loud. And you've been around long enough, you should no longer sound like a teenagers in a garage. There, I said it. cheesy organ is what makes this song! |
| TimeWaster (The lower of the two Dakotas) | Posted: Apr 09, 2010 - 06:29 Ok, that cheesy organ sound hasn't been cool since the 60's. Get a Hammond, for cryin' out loud. And you've been around long enough, you should no longer sound like a teenagers in a garage. There, I said it. |
| liteon1 (West Coast (of Lake Michigan)) | Posted: Apr 09, 2010 - 06:29 Enough with the Elvis Costello, already. I now hate this guy because of how often he is played here. |
| Cruzan (AUSTIN, TX) | Posted: Mar 08, 2010 - 15:47 Does anyone besides me here Cyndi Lauper "she bops" in this.... ? |
| laozilover (Left of Chicago and up) | Posted: Jan 04, 2010 - 16:51 7  8 ; "Arrowd") ; "Naughty") ; "Snooty") |
| EssexTex (Gitche Gumee) | Posted: Dec 04, 2009 - 08:22 The_Enemy wrote: Johnny Rotten does commercials for butter. The World ended a long time ago. Johnny's commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSE-Iy_tFY Johnny Rottens such a c*nt...and I'm sure he'd be flattered to hear it..... "It's about the butter"......f*ck off. |
| The_Enemy (The Sewer) | Posted: Oct 02, 2009 - 09:17 mortimer wrote: I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk. Johnny Rotten does commercials for butter. The World ended a long time ago. Johnny's commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mSE-Iy_tFY |
| sirrus (yesterday) | Posted: Oct 02, 2009 - 09:09 Yaay, Ardi! |
| lmic (Narrow Minded Couch Potato) | Posted: Oct 02, 2009 - 09:08 Where did THIS come from? It's great! |
| cc_rider (Austin Texas. Y'all.) | Posted: Jul 31, 2009 - 08:20 mortimer wrote: I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk. Sheesh. The man is in his fifties and has scads of punk bona fides under his belt. AND he's married to Diana Krall! Let him enjoy a little luxury and make a few bucks. |
| Rotterdam | Posted: Apr 27, 2009 - 02:43 papaman wrote: This is one of the few EC songs that doesn't make me want to puke...but I'll puke anyway out of principle.  But, but, but, I like this and ... EEEEUUUUW my shoes, you jerk! |
| papaman (Downstate New Mexico) | Posted: Mar 26, 2009 - 14:09 This is one of the few EC songs that doesn't make me want to puke...but I'll puke anyway out of principle. |
| 2noir | Posted: Nov 20, 2008 - 07:37 super... |
| Laptopdog (Overcrowded, Overpriced & Overrated L.A.) | Posted: Oct 19, 2008 - 19:07 sugarbaby wrote: damn good song. heard him sing this on austin city limits I saw the same episode a couple of years ago. After hearing this song and Button My Lip, I had to buy the CD. He and his band really seemed energized and inspired around this time. There was also a live DVD released around this time that is excellent - Elvis and band in a tiny, sweaty, crowded club. Good stuff. Lots of good extras, too. |
| Panama_Floyd (Atlanta, GA) | Posted: May 14, 2008 - 23:20 First time I heard this, I thought "..hey, the real Elvis is back! Of course, I'm 46yr old now...  |
| RadioDoc (Chicagoland) | Posted: Apr 13, 2008 - 10:53 mortimer wrote: I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk.
Jealous? Yesterday I saw a pimp driving a Volkswagen. |
| keyholder (here and now... and everywhere...) | Posted: Apr 13, 2008 - 10:48 great artist. great song.  |
| rocco1207 ("the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat") | Posted: Nov 08, 2007 - 06:44 Not a horrible song I guess but it never would have made the cut on any of EC's first 5 or 6 albums. It's like he forgot how to write a clever melody and chord progression. This song rides on one chord almost throughout and there's nothing original about the melody. |
| rocco1207 ("the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south and north somewhat") | Posted: Nov 08, 2007 - 06:44 Not a horrible song I guess but it never would have made the cut on any of EC's first 5 or 6 albums. It's like he forgot how to write a clever melody and chord progression. This song rides on one chord almost throughout and there's nothing original about the melody. |
| audiolizard | Posted: Nov 08, 2007 - 05:55 obnoxious retro-puke  |
| sugarbaby (portland/hollywood) | Posted: Sep 06, 2007 - 09:38 damn good song. heard him sing this on austin city limits |
| meydele (Par la mer) | Posted: Sep 06, 2007 - 09:32 DoctorHooey wrote: Wow, that WAS him. *sigh* I really did see both Prince and Elvis in commercials within a 24 hour span. Well, there goes my last shred of idealism. I understand being upset by Elvis, but Prince? Prince has always been about the bucks. First time I've heard this, and I like. 7. |
| welby (Ottawa, Canada) | Posted: Jul 05, 2007 - 11:00 Great tune -- Elvis still has it! |
| DoctorHooey (/etc) | Posted: Jul 05, 2007 - 10:58 mortimer wrote: I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk.
Wow, that WAS him. *sigh* I really did see both Prince and Elvis in commercials within a 24 hour span. Well, there goes my last shred of idealism. |
| mortimer (far from Paradise) | Posted: May 03, 2007 - 17:19 I saw Elvis Costello in a Lexus commercial last night. How punk. |
| scott4261 (Little Rock, AR) | Posted: May 03, 2007 - 17:16 Never enough Elvis! |
| orpheus (east coast) | Posted: Dec 21, 2005 - 00:50 Lazy8 wrote: A little more vitriol, a couple more smileys...you've almost got me convinced!  Long live passion    |
| rjs (Atlanta, GA) | Posted: Dec 06, 2005 - 11:20 Deronius wrote: Great performer
Great song I've seen him several times in concert and Costello gives you lots of bang for your buck. Amen, brother! It's not only a good rocking song, but a rare case of digging up a 50-year-old socially-conscious song (uncommon in itself) and tying in to a new rocker!!!! |
| UltraNurd (Boston, MA) | Posted: Dec 06, 2005 - 11:05 Interesting. This is one of the few Elvis Costello songs I've liked, and it appears that most of the Costello fans here don't like it. I guess that means that this isn't his usual sound, which I don't like and his fans like? |
| dwhayslett (Raleigh, NC) | Posted: Dec 06, 2005 - 11:04 RPsavedme wrote: had to mute
had to crank  |
| kazuma (Austin, TX) | Posted: Nov 21, 2005 - 19:36 Lazy8 wrote: Huh. I think this would fit right in on Armed Forces. Compared to the self-indulgent swill he's put out since the glory days, this sounds like Elvis got his mojo back. It's not bad, but it sure ain't anywhere near "Armed Forces" in terms of either quality or style. |
| pdhski | Posted: Sep 09, 2005 - 09:53 just don't like this song. Bleah. |
| dionysius (the aethereal spheres) | Posted: Jul 19, 2005 - 09:35 Had no idea Mr. MacManus was so polarizing here. As self-indulgent as he has been for the past two decades, I regard his new thing as a welcome return to form. He actually seems to remember how to rock'n'roll once again, which was always wonderful combined with his acid wit. |
| radioparadisehead (Oxford, Mississippi) | Posted: May 31, 2005 - 13:55 Recorded within one mile of where I'm sitting right now in Oxford, MS. http://www.sweettea.net/home.htm Elvis is a great guy that was really nice to all us locals. We treated him like family. |
| Deronius | Posted: May 31, 2005 - 13:54 Great performer Great song I've seen him several times in concert and Costello gives you lots of bang for your buck. |
| ploafmaster (Richmond, VA) | Posted: May 02, 2005 - 06:49 I like Elvis Costello's music...I think he's fairly innovative from album to album (at least in the sense that he explores several styles/sub-genres of rock). I do NOT, however, have a high tolerance for his voice. It's not horrible, it's not grating, but the simple way it sounds just doesn't agree with my aural faculties. So I give it a 5. |
| srbarry (Upstate NY) | Posted: Apr 29, 2005 - 17:15 I love Elvis, but just cause it's new Elvis doesn't mean in should be on the playlist. Besides, it's not even new anymore. Back on the shelf please. |
| radiojunkie (a sleepy bordertown (NY/CT)) | Posted: Apr 02, 2005 - 22:10 Trustocity wrote: if songs were musical procedures, this would be an enema
Well, since you obviously won't up yours, I guess I'll have to up mine. An 8. |