It’s common knowledge that falling in love is pretty much the worst thing that can happen to a musician. And on the flip side, a painful breakup is great news. I’m speaking from a fan’s perspective, of course — no doubt the musician sees it differently.
Elvis Costello married jazz singer Diana Krall in 2003 after a brief engagement. That same year, swept up in the fever of that new romance, Costello released North, his only album of original material I’ve ever sold back.
I don’t feel very comfortable describing North because I listened to it only once or twice before realizing I’d never listen to it again. It’s a collection of stripped-down love songs of the sort that — no surprise — Diana Krall might sing.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Diana Krall. I think she does what she does quite well. But what she does quite well is very different than what Elvis Costello does quite well. True, his Burt Bacharach collaboration provided some memorable moments, but North doesn’t have that album’s off-kilter charm. It’s limp and lifeless.
‘Still’ was the album’s single and while it’s a pleasant enough song, I had trouble getting through it’s 2-1/2 minute length just in listening to it for this blog post.
I’m really looking forward to the killer break-up album Costello will record when these two split.
These few lines I’ll devote
To a marvellous girl covered up with my coat
Pull it up to your chin
I’ll hold you until the day will begin
Still
Lying in the shadows this new flame will cast
Upon everything we carry from the past
You were made of every love and each regret
Up until the day we met
There are no words that I’m afraid to hear
Unless they are Goodbye, my dear
Still
I was moving very fast
But in one place
Now you speak my name and set my pulse to race
Sometimes words may tumble out but can’t eclipse
The feeling when you press your fingers to my lips
I want to kiss you in a rush
And whisper things to make you blush
And you say, Darling, hush
Hush
Still, still
Meet Me In Montauk 
I really don’t want these two to split, but i think you’re right about break up songs being really good. Sinatra recorded “I’m a fool to want you” after his break up with Ava Gardner and it was one of his best songs ever.
I actually am rather fond of this song. I too am not faliliar with the rest of the album though and I agree that, by and large, this is not the EC I want to hear most of the time.
Fortunately, later albums have proven that EC doesn’t need to break up with Krall to produce wonderul material. Indeed, as you previously pointed out, his last record ranks right up there amongst his best efforts.