Elvis Costello’s 1986 album King of America blended Country and Americana flavors with his brand of brainy singer-songwriter rock, resulting in one of his greatest achievements.
Among confessional ballads and geo-political explorations, Costello dropped in a few fun rave-ups, including today’s SOTD, ‘The Big Light.’
This is the most straight-forward lyric you’ll ever find in an Elvis Costello song. Nothing to decipher or puzzle over here, just a straightforward depiction of the morning after a drunken night.
Well I had a little feeling to have a big night
And I woke up feeling small and not so brave and not quite right
I had to face the who am I and where is she and what did I do
But worst of all I had to face the big light
[Chorus]
The big light came through my window and it opened up my eyelids
And it snapped them up like roller blinds
And told me things that I did
I can’t face another day and night of good ideas and complications
And I’m thankful that I didn’t open another bottle of inspiration
[Verse 2]
When the hangover this morning had a personality
And I cast my shattered mind over selected memories
I didn’t even touch the light switch so I knew I’d never see
The Haggard face that would be staring back at me
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Well I had a little feeling to have a big time
And I woke up to alarm bells like a big church chime
I had to face the who am I and who is she and what did I do
But worst of all I had to face the big light
[Chorus]
Meet Me In Montauk 
Love this album!