I interrupt the previously scheduled Elvis Costello appreciation to bring you a week of unrelated songs. I figure I’ll give a break to the non-Costello fans in the audience (what’s wrong with you people?) and come back to him next week.
A couple of weeks back I featured a group of “happy” songs that were purposefully shallow and innocuous. But I didn’t mean to imply that I find no value in light songs. On the contrary, a well-written upbeat pop song can be the best thing in the world. And today’s song is perhaps the ultimate example.
I can’t imagine anybody hearing ‘Hey Julie’ and not loving it, and that’s not something I can say about very many songs. It has a simple melodic appeal that makes it a favorite of my young daughters and the lyrics are earnest and romantic while engaging in corporate satire worthy of Office Space. The song truly has something for everybody.
With a clip-on tie and a rub-on tan
He’s got me running ’round the office like a dog around a track
But when I get home,
You’re always there to rub my back
Hey Julie,
Look what they’re doing to me
Trying to trip me up
Trying to wear me down
Julie, I swear, it’s so hard to bear it
And I’d never make it through without you around
No, I’d never make it through with out you around
Hours on the phone making pointless calls
I got a desk full of papers that means nothing at all
Sometimes I catch myself staring into space
Counting down the hours ’til I get to see your face
Hey Julie,
Look what they’re doing to me
Trying to trip me up
Trying to wear me down
Julie, I swear, it’s so hard to bear it
And I’d never make it through with out you around
No, I’d never make it through with out you around
[Bridge]
How did it come to be
That you and I must be
Far away from each other every day?
Why must I spend my time
Filling up my mind
With facts and figures that never add up anyway?
They never add up anyway
Working all day for a mean little guy
With a bad toupee and a soup-stained tie
He’s got me running ’round the office
Like a gerbil on a wheel
He can tell me what to do
But he can’t tell me what to feel
Hey Julie,
Look what they’re doing to me
Trying to trip me up
Trying to wear me down
Julie, I swear, it’s so hard to bear it
And I’d never make it through with out you around
No, I’d never make it through without you around
No, I’d never make it through with out you around
Meet Me In Montauk 
YES! Again 🙂
As soon as I saw the headline for today’s entry, a huge smile spread across my face. Now how many songs can you say that about?!
In addition to everything you say, I also love how optimistic a song this is. His work life may be a drudge, but he has a relationship that helps him know that he is more than that job. Of course if Julie ever leaves him, the guy is jumping off a bridge. But we can assume that’ not gonna happen 😉
I also discovered this song right around the time I was discovering The Office, and, in particular, Jim and Pam on The Office, so the fact that I imagine a John Krasinski Jim type character as the speaker behind these words certainly adds to the appeal.
Regardless, thank you for taking my criticism to heart and devoting some time and space to “happy” songs of substance. Maybe my Joni Mitchell song will be featured after all? Nice way to start a new week (perhaps a nod to Alex’s spring break mood 🙂
Not much to add to the above. I love this song, as well as the album from which it comes. Looking forward to the rest of the week, but then looking forward to Costello theme week II (Seriousy, what IS wrong with you people?) 🙂
Excellent choice! I am indeed in a Hey Julie mood. Can’t decide if it’s because I don’t have to ignore another Elvis Costello song or just because it’s Spring Break and Clay is home for a few days.
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