Friday, August 25, 2023

Happy Birthday, Elvis Costello!

 “Through a two-way looking glass, You see your Alice”

                    —Beyond Belief, by Elvis Costello, born 25 Aug 1954

The Gin Palace, Dublin


Happy birthday to the one and only Declan Patrick MacManus, aka Elvis Costello, 69 years young on this day.

Why a pic of The Gin Palace? If you know, you know! For anyone who is in search of a clue, read through the lyrics below.  

I took the photo on August 22nd, 2023, and could hardly wait to share it on the 25th. 


Beyond Belief

History repeats the old conceits
The glib replies the same defeats
Keep your finger on important issues
With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues
I'm just the oily slick
On the windup world of the nervous tick
In a very fashionable hovel
I hang around dying to be tortured
You'll never be alone in the bone orchard
This battle with the bottle is nothing so novel
So in this almost empty gin palace
Through a two-way looking glass
You see your Alice
You know she has no sense
For all your jealousy
In a sense she still smiles very sweetly

Charged with insults and flattery
Her body moves with malice
Do you have to be so cruel to be callous
And now you find you fit this identikit completely
You say you have no secrets
And then leave discreetly

I might make it California's fault
Be locked in Geneva's deepest vault
Just like the canals of Mars and the Great Barrier Reef
I come to you beyond belief

My hands were clammy and cunning
She's been suitably stunning
But I know there's not a hope in Hades
All the laddies cat call and wolf whistle
So called gentlemen and ladies
Dog fight like rose and thistle

I got a feeling
I'm going to get a lot of grief
Once this seemed so appealing
Now I am beyond belief

I got a feeling
I'm going to get a lot of grief
Once this seemed so appealing
Now I am beyond belief

I got a feeling
I'm going to get a lot of grief
Once this seemed so appealing
Now I am beyond belief



Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Elvis Costello