During the course of these Costello Weekends, I’ve made a lot of references to the inscrutability of Elvis Costello’s lyrics. Often I’ll love a song of his despite having no idea what it means.
I do consider Costello a master lyricist despite that difficulty, usually because of a masterpiece of a line that he’ll drop into a song here or there, some play on words that works on three different levels. He might be a bit too cerebral for his own good sometimes, but you can’t deny that the man has tamed his mother tongue.
But once in awhile, Costello will write a song that makes perfect sense on its face. And when such a song also contains those sweet one-liners, well, it’s ‘All the Rage.’
This is a scathing out-of-love song that starts out on fire and just heats up from there. Look at some of these lyrics: “I’ll never be as unhappy as you want me to be,” “it’s in that ugly place that’s just behind your face where you keep my picture still despite the fact that you had me replaced,” “don’t try to read my mind because it’s full of disappearing ink.”
Brilliant stuff, and it doesn’t make me feel stupid for a change.
I’ll lend you my microscope and maybe you will find it
Is it in that ugly place that’s just behind your face
Where you keep my picture still despite the fact
That you had me replaced
Chorus
Say “Goodbye”
Baby can’t you act your age?
You know why
I’m going to give it to you straight
Although I’ll never be
Unhappy as you want me to be
Still it’s all the rage
I’ll probably play along
Left to my own devices
Spare me the drone of your advice
The sins of garter and gin
Confession may delay
You know the measuring pole
The merry boots of clay
I’ve heard it all before
You’ll say it anyway
Chorus
Alone with your tweezers and your handkerchief
You murder time and truth, love, laughter and belief
So don’t try to touch my heart, it’s darker than you think
And don’t try to read my mind because it’s full of disappearing ink
Chorus
Although I’ll never be
Unhappy as you want me to be
Still it’s all the rage
Meet Me In Montauk 
I know this has nothing to do with anything, but I really like the photo you chose of Costello to accompany today’s SOTD. Not that it’s a particularly apt photo for this song, but I like it very much. I somehow imagine that he’s on the set of Cold Mountain watching a take while working on his song for that film. Probably not, but that’s what it brings to my mind.
Anyway, as for today’s song, I like it very much, though I’m not sure I find it as simple as you’re promising me that it is. First, I’m curious if it’s one speaker singing during the chorus, or if it’s a conversation (despite the fact that it’s not literally a duet). I feel as though the person (the woman?) who is saying “Baby can’t you act your age?” is not the same person singing the other lyrics. Possible?
Also, what the hell is “alone with your tweezers and your handkerchief” supposed to symbolize? It’s an arbitrary pair not to mean something. I’m trying to figure out how one would “murder” time, truth, love, laughter, and belief using just those two items 😉
Fascinating.
Well, for me half the fun of listening to Costello is not understanding everything that I’m certain he means, so these mysteries make the song even more fun. Thanks for sharing.
Not sure if Amy’s theory is correct regarding two voices, but I suppose it could be.
I think what is fascinating about this song is the retro 50’s/60’s sound or innocence mixed in with decidedly less innocent lyrics. Another great example of EC showing off his musical historian chops.