Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Oliver's Army
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- Опубликовано: 3 сен 2015
- REMASTERED IN HD!
Official Music Video for Oliver's Army performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions.
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(C) 1979 Elvis Costello under exclusive license to Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
#ElvisCostello #ElvisCostelloAndTheAttractions #OliversArmy #Remastered 
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Met him twice on the street in London. We had a nice chat. He even remembered me the second time. Sound guy. Amazing talent.
I saw him live in London, he came down from the stage and passed playing the guitar just next to me, I didnt know what to do when he came just a feet or two next to me so I just touched him and said someting stupid I guess?
Wow!!
He married above his weight
cool
That’s awesome!! 🤣 I met morrissey at an organic grocery store in LA once!! Yes, he does his own shopping 🛒
I’m probably the youngest in this comment section. I’m 14 and this was my dad’s favorite song. He passed a month ago and I’m listening on repeat because of him
I'm just a teensy bit older, 16 turning 17 in a couple weeks. Recently got into Costello and no one under the age of 50 seems to care! I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm sure he would be so grateful you're reconnecting with his favorites.
God bless your dad.
Bless you, music can help you through the worst of times
Bless you, you had a lovely father and you will be a good man for this. respect to you.
Ur dad was a legend
1:11
>drops the n bomb
>goes into one of the best choruses ever
>frolicks around a beach like a 5 year old
🤣🤣
It's white-n bomb, what the British army called the local Irish nationalists during the troubles.
@@waynemurphy6708 I BET REFERENCES TO OLIVER CROMWELL, WENT DOWN WELL IN IRELAND.
Can’t believe Elvis has disowned his own song! Apart from being a brilliant song it was honest, poetic and loved by my generation. I had just finished a tour of duty in Ulster when it was released and could relate exactly to what he was saying about working class lads always being recruited to sort out someone else’s mess. I accept some of the lyrics would be viewed as not PC today, but I hope the trend of pulling down statues is not going to transfer to works of art, literature and poetry. I would urge Elvis to think again and remember he was only reflecting values that were held widely in the seventies and he has nothing to be ashamed of.
Agreed wholeheartedly. The ignorant, such as those who wish to cancel this extraordinary, well -informed, angry, masterpiece (seemingly in utter ignorance of the song's message) can't be appeased, and it is pointless trying.
Exactly, people cancelling a song that speaks facts, and If you aren’t angry at this song or offended and you see the light hearted side and can acknowledge a piece of total art why can’t we all. Some people are just dumb. They don’t watch the vid or read all the lyrics just isolate the N-Word and call Elvis Costello a racist, which he’s not. The only crime Elvis committed in my eyes was being a genius and writing one of the great songs of the 70’s nothing wrong with that
Appeasement only breeds WEAK NESS
Exactly. In fact black gang members et al actually refer to each other as “niger” to this day and get away with it!
Elvis in this snowflake, hashtag# me too millennials. He doesn't need the headache.
A song about sending young working-class men off to die in foreign wars, that sounds like Abba. Brilliant.
Good call. He meant it to sound like an ABBA song
not dis time
he was singing about mercenaries ! paid killers !
Kate Bush also had her version called Army dreamers.
And status quo had in the Army now , and xtc had generals and majors , and Exploited had army life ,there might be a theme here .
This nerdy looking bloke became one of the coolest musicians overnight with great songs.
You got that right :)
One of the greatest singer song writers, a poet.
He made some great music.
He even sounds cool for someone who looks like a bit of a dweeb
I am obsessed with Oliver’s Army, the melody is addictive and I’ve been listening to it for years, but I must confess that I don’t know any other Elvia Costello songs, what would someone recommend next?
This song is damn masterpiece
I think this is one of his all time best songs.Its 2024 and still loving it.
No fluff, no fancies gimmicks, just one of the greatest songs in British music. Written, played and sung by the band. Outstanding.
oliver is my second name classmates would refer this song to me
It's shit.
@@ryanflanagan9624 stop bringing everyone down Ryan 🙏🤣
Sounds like Dancing Queen
This song is shit. 😒🤡
There's something about this song.
I utterly love it.
Listened to it hundreds of times.
Never tired of it.
It's like no other, and the piano is knock-out
listen to this version
ruclips.net/video/wJOi0-mc_6s/видео.html
Along with I Write the Book
My favourite EC song, still listen to it regularly.
My husband & I loved this. I lost him in 2020 to cancer at 58 yrs old. Love you Gareth ,miss you Gar , always love you
So sorry for your loss. Sending love 💕
Hi Gareth, my condolences on your never ending loss. I lost me beloved Jacquelina in 2008 from cancer. She was 45. I haven't loved since. I love this son. Check out Peace Love And understanding. I love it. Those 2 songs are his triumphs and belong together. Good luck to you
Sorry for your loss, I pray you have peace and comfort with you from our dear Lord Jesus Christ who is there for us all in the good times and bad times of our lives, much love and God bless you! Sara
Thank you so much Sara x
So sorry to hear about your sad loss. I hope you are as well.
A truly Great Song by one of the Finest Song writers ever . I often thought of this song when in Army 🪖 Vehicles in the 1980 s never knowing what might or might not happen .
One of the best songs in the history of the world.
Agreed.
Even though n word is in here, it is brilliant.
True, a good song is a good song.
You obviously have never listened to truly great music , catchy tune nothing more .
for every music vid by anyone there is someone who proclaims something about it being the best ever in the world....
As a former member of "Olivers Army" who left the British Army at exactly the same time as this record was released, I actually love this song. This is the label on the tin which we all signed up for, in order to escape the tedious existence of unemployment in the UK. In my "Brick" in Northern Ireland we had soldiers from every country in the UK (including NI) and I was proud that we ensured that nobody died in Armagh during our 3 month tour there in early 1978.
Hi James - Well done - good man - Brilliant song and summed up what many of us did - I couldn't find a job, so took the 'Queen;s shilling. Did two tours - Andersonstown and out of the Docks, near Palace Barracks. Had a great time - strange thing to say I suppose. All the best.
Olive's army remains are relevant now as it was when written. The armed forces are dependent on recruiting kids from poor areas where there are precious few other options.
@@upthegills27 I guess everyone has a price but no politician is telling me who to shoot or bomb.
@jayhuegan Jesus never fails us come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior today amen For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son john 3:16-18 come to know Jesus today He died on the cross for our sins and rose again, so we can live with Him forever because He loves us, by His blood He has victory over sin, death and hell amen. God Jesus The Holy Spirit love you amen God bless amen :)
@jayhuegan Mainly from Scotland in fact.
One of the few perfect songs in existence
This is one of the greatest song ever played....
Did security for him in London hes a quality fella so down to earth
The best song of Elvis Costello...
I was 19. St Thomas's Hospital student nurse. This was playing everywhere. I'm 63 now and still remember every word. Brings back such happy memories! Hi to any Nightingales out there!
Second post...The thing is why do we still love this song? Ok.. it's a great tempo..but in all honesty we know what he was saying..even though now he says he doesn't stand by it...he does...just under pressure to say that imo....
I was 20. All the great music from "way back then" really does conjure up memories.
I was 14. First saw it on Kenny Everett's Video Show....went out and bought the single the next day! Top tune.
I was in hospital for 8 weeks in 1979 at age 9, this song was number one in the charts for 7 weeks.
I'll never forget it
Would you rather have been anywhere else?
@@monikatrombly8383 what, than here, today?
It reached no 2 in England where was it number one 1 for seven weeks.??
I was born in 1979. I love this song. Always have. Top tune!!
Looks like you succeeded
The lyrics are so biting, so brilliant. And that piano. I loved this song in 1979 and still do so today in 2023.
The piano bit was inspired by Dancing Queen.
@@joekopsick1540 Sure was. Total contrast in uses too. One song about the frivolity of youth and the other about the harshness of imperialism.
One of the coolest motherf**kers ever to pick up a guitar. The Buddy Holly glasses, the suits, the mannerisms. Just oozed coolness. Absolutely love it
As Peter Crenshaw, from the Three Investigators, would say:” I’ll buy a double helping of that”
Yeah, he is pretty cool. I couldnt be that cool if I tried!
Yes.always loved his look
Totally ripped off by Millhouse
Thank you i always think of him as buddy holly reborn
Brilliant track ,proving that class never ages.Lyrics still relevant today..
Class indeed. !
i'M SURPRISED HIS LINE ABOUT WHITE , YOU KNOW WHAT'S , HASN'T BEEN SCRUBBED.
Just fabulous. Most underrated artist ever imo. Outstanding.
What a fabulous album. One of the best 😊❤
I'm glad they kept 'that word' in.✌
Me too. It's RIGHT, now.
What, "Arabs"??
I concur
@@GrislyAtoms12 no and he says it in slang- Abs
@@wenesdae Gotcha! I was joking - I know what word everyone is referring to.
This album came out 45 years ago (1-5-79) and it still sounds fresh. Terrific collection of songs!
I was 12 going on 13 when this was number one. So many great songs from that year. I now have a grandson, a few months old, named Oliver. So I play this to him…
*This one of the greatest songs ever made*
and played
@@MrDaiseymay indeed
🧢
I had never heard of Elvis Costello until this song hit the radio. I was in college and of an age to be in someone's army. This one spoke to me. I bought the album and have loved Elvis C, particularly with the Attractions, ever since. I am glad to still have Elvis as we grow old together!
Always loved your music, and your acting on 2 1/2 men thank you ❤
Here before this brilliant song vanishes forever... 😕
This is one of my favorite songs ever written. It’s has so many political undertones while still maintaining a bubblegum jingle to it. It’s a catchy tune, that actually has something to say. Bravo Elvis Costello, you’re my inspiration as a writer.
Mine too
Back when pop songs had clever lyrics...
Probably never have clever lyrics again a golden era and time magic
When they were literate.
Pop songs can have clever lyrics nowadays, but the format and use of these ideas is... different, to say the least.
Back when artists could actually write intelligent, coherent lyrics. Most people have no idea of the meaning behind Oliver's Army.
This song isn't representative of pop songs of that era. Most pop songs in every era don't have particularly clever lyrics. A lot of pop songs from every era are terrible, too. We just generally like more of them from the era in which we were young because we liked them at the time and they remind us of good times from our past. Also, we tend to not bother remembering the songs we don't like.
All that said, I do think there's a difference between music in the past and music today, in that there were more grown adult music artists in the past who brought more complex experiences to especially grown adults in the audience. Today, I would bet that a smaller percentage of people are trying to make it in the music business at 30+ years old. The cost of living is higher, and record companies are looking to sign much younger people.
Elvis Costello is a National Treasure.
Agree ... great era .... I like to connect on my YT Channel doing Bowie covers ... sometimes my One Man Band versions get people laughing ... I have a collection of rotten fruit that they donate onstage so I know keep the car running at stage exit left.
Totally a classic ❤
Elvis Costello, The Best, I met him on the street in NYC, in 86, couldn't believe it. Great Artist, he talked to me for a good 10 minutes. What a Great Guy!
I bought this single out of my paper round money 41 years ago.I was chuffed then,played it to death All these decades later its just as good for me.I love it.😀
It was my brothers first record
It's stood the test of time
yaeh man, it was the second 7 inch single i bought. (first was 'Promises' - Bizzcocks)
The Olivers Army single came in a picture sleeve - a close up of Costello's face ,doing his lip sneer thing.I Blu-tacked it to my bedroom wall, cos he was cool ..
Great tune. Classic :)
@@andyt9008 I think 1979 is my most memorable year for music.
Ska and Two Tone, my favourite still, Blondie Dreaming, Nick Lowe Cruel to be Kind, Eton Rifles The Jam.New Wave. Superb Andy. I
@@oddbod8655 Not only you ,I think it was one the best years ever so many great songs that people are still playing .
Well spent money!
As an American, I didn't understand the meaning of the song when it came out - but I loved it! The lyrics...how much the world has changed and not for the better that you have to police every word you have ever said, written, sung or spoken.
As a boy from the tyne, born in 73 ... I always loved this, but it's poignant it 2023
so much for 'fighting for freedom'.
shed a tear when i read all the comments,so relieved that i was not on my own finding this song absolutely a significant turning point in my life,thanks Elvis.
This is a terrific song by probably the most underrated songwriter of all time. Does ANYONE think this sounds like a song from 1979?! Classic but not dated. E.C. & co. are just brilliant!
+Persephone Hackett Don't really think he's underrated. Most critics consider him one of the greatest pop songwriters of his generation. He always ranks right up there.
+Angela Hackett What does a song from 1979 sound like? A song of its time :)
+Angela Hackett It has that horrible sound of the 80's which I hate almost as much as hip hop and tecno - but in terms of lyrical writing he was great.
+Michal Nielsen Not sure which horrible 80's sound you are referring to. I generally think of overdone synthesizer & cheesy guitar solos as elements of bad 80's music. Neither of which are present in this song. To each their own. He is an amazing lyricist, one of the best ever in my opinion. This song isn't exactly the peak of his writing abilities but still provides interesting commentary on the events of the time.
+Angela Hackett I know what you mean about not sounding dated. I was listening to Alison a day or two ago and was shocked to see it was released almost 40 years ago.
play the fucking song. fight the madness, man....we got your back...
I am so happy to hear this again! Thank you sir! ❤😊
Palace song now Oliver's army are on their way. Love this song for years and years. Absolute legend legend
I was 14 in 1979 and remember going in to town to buy this record with my best mate Steve.
Its still up there as one of my favorite songs along with Accidents will happen.
And 40 years later me Steve and Elvis are still best mates.
I was born in August 65. This song had a lot of go in it. I was always so hyper and this got it out of my system whenever I would listen to it
Real mates are for life :)
I got him to sign the accidents will happen (inside out sleeve) whilst he produced the specials first lp lucky me my mum had a second job above TW studios Fulham in the launderette top geezer and the specials where lovely I was 13
Thanks for the message
15 year old me who found this on my dads playlist:
... This is genuinely good fr 💀💀🔥🔥🔥
This guy was so far ahead of his time its just plain scary.
He's even scrolling on a phone at the start too
doesnt sound like any music that then occurred in the future since it was made...are we still not to the sound he foretold?
Wtf are you talking about? The song was written over 50 years after the fact.
Good song though.
The scenes on the beach look like a Zoom background, so you're right!
bang on mate, especially with the racism!
I kind of feel for the younger generation. It's like the Lester Bangs character said in Almost Famous. "Rock and roll is dead. It's over. You missed it." Man, we were lucky to grow up with killer music.
I think we were privileged to grow up with 70's and 80's. Unfortunately music declined from the early 90's and the last 20 years is awful
@@grahamcheesman2252totally agree.
I count myself extremely lucky to have been in my 20's in the 80's.
Saw this genius 3 times ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@@RosieHarp yes he was a genius along with so many in our time, only a few nowadays
@@grahamcheesman2252 I'm struggling to think of anyone musically.
@@RosieHarp truthfully so am I which says exactly what we know, today's music is awful
this song just doesnt get old
nor do the lyrics---sadly
This is one of those songs that you can loop endlessly and it doesn't get repetitive. Perfectly crafted pop with underlying intelligent lyrics about something other than love or getting drunk in a club. XD
I played this on repeat for years, never get bored
100% I still sing this song to myself every SINGLE night!
And wake up singing too this!!!!! xxxx
This is an antiraciscisn personified!!!!! ❤❤❤❤
@@ryanflanagan9624 shut up
When I get looped, I repeat things endlessly. That's the difference between me and Elvis.
@@donreed do you believe in afterlife?
How can it be 43 years since I bought this utterly timeless classic? Word-perfect, poptastic-tunesmithery with enough righteous sass, pop-sheen and melody to ensure it will still sound fresh and relevant in another 43 years. Mr Costello nailed every aspect of this bullseye! Don't change a word Declan... it didn't offend then and it doesn't offend now.
45 now mate mental how time goes
Do not fucking dare stop playing this..!
Loved this guy over 40 years. Master wordsmith!
Bob i love your comment , i too have been in love with this genius guy since his beginning , however i saw him a few months ago ,, he let me down , he didnt sound too good , im sorry about that lol Jane x
Costello's best song by far. Once of the best pop songs ever!
Sorry. One of the best pop songs ever.
@@zepzepzep3046 Yep
@@CIMAmotor agreed fantastic song
Agree a pop classic with great lyrics
Brilliant songwriter Elvis.
Genius!!!!
+Chalky Whyte That was written by Mark James so that *might* have been funny had it actually been written by the other Elvis :)
I didn't find it that funny tbh, kudos for trying though but, I wouldn't give up the day job :D
Your parties must be swinging, Nicky.
+Hellwyck How did you know I was a swinger?
A Classic. One of the greatest song writers ever.
Love this song,brings back wonderful memories.
P A L E S T I N E!! Thanks Elvis XX.
Spot on Elvis Costello so far ahead of your time in many ways. Very relevant now 2024. Masterpiece
Yes it is now very relevant.
Hardly as it was of it's tome. After all he has felt the need to change the lyrics of the song as we have moved forward.
Keep listening to this song….it’s part of me and my teenage years, please don’t erase these memories.
Absolutely, we are being swamped by the pc and woke brigade, disgusting.
The Agency is coming to erase your memories.
Could be one of the greatest songs ever written. Elvis Costello is a seriously talented artist
It's rubbish. You need to broaden your horizons, kiddo. 😒😒
Armed Forces is his best album.
@@alexmartin5073 Rubbish? What about white na
ggers do you not like?
@@alexmartin5073 You’re rubbish! It’s a great song.
@@alexmartin5073
If the song is rubbish.....why are you here? Goofy
Timeless anthem! No matter how many times I listen to it, it never gets old. Classic!
Well, Elvis announced just a few days ago that he has removed this song from his live playlist, due to some of the lyrics no longer being acceptable today. He had apparently been thinking of just doing a couple of minor rewrites within the song... then just decided to stop playing it. Being the songwriter, it's his call, I guess. Though I get his misgivings, I'm glad the song/video are still available.
No point in creating art if you're waiting for society's approval of what is or isn't acceptable. He may have personal reasons beyond bowing to social pressures, but however much precident there is of artists altering past work they feel they've outgrown, it's always, ALWAYS good to preserve the original copies for study.
This song is still relevant in 2020! Long livd Costello!
2021 👍
Melodically one of my all-time favourites.
Rnd367748dssm
QadewqasewQasewQadew
???!
I forgot how freaking awesome this guy is. What a talent.
No one has ever combined such happy music with such dark lyrics. A brief summary of the English treatment of the Irish
"No one has ever combined such happy music with such dark lyrics."
Um, "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" comes to mind. Or, should I say, comes down on one's head? IMO, Elvis C was influenced stylistically by MSH when writing this song.
The first sentence is good. However I don’t think it’s just about how the English treated the Irish. For me it’s always been about the fact that it’s the poor who become the average squaddies in Britain … from places like the Mersey (Liverpool) and the Thames (working class London) and the Tyne (Newcastle). It’s these boys who swelled the ranks of the British Army, served overseas because they had few other career choices. Plus they’re expendable. If a squaddie died in 1980s Belfast it was just ‘one less white n*gger’.
It’s ’Oliver’s Army’ because Cromwell’s New Model Army was really the beginning of the modern British Army.
misfits@@GrislyAtoms12
man i did saw Elvis Costello at Pinkpop festival in a pink suit alone with an acoustic guitar no band the whole audience 50,000 man where breathless listening to this great artist fantastic!!!!!!!
This song always brings back memories of me being frustrated when I was 12, I loved Elvis Costello but everybody, even my own friends, laughed at me for liking this music. I don't care, I feel blessed for having such terrific parents, raising me to the right kind of music :)
+Mama Lama Some people can't understand liking quality music.
Like you, I don't know anyone else who listens to Elvis Costello, but my dad introduced me to his music and I'm grateful he did!!
+Mama Lama I was 12 also, discovering Elvis Costello at that time. From that point on in my young head I was going to marry him lol. Every song of his throughout my difficult teen years spoke to me. While all my classmates were listening to disco or van halen I had my secret Elvis. Genius lyricist. So many facets to his music. All time favorite album of his was Imperial Bedroom.
Looks like you were one of the few mature enough to recognize authentic music. Wish more people did.
haha, i just said pretty much the exact same thing elsewhere. cheers bro
I'm 53 and this reminds me of being a kid back in the 70's, around 1978/79. Funnily, as I've grown older, people often say I look like EC. Unfortunately this song is rarely played on UK radio in the PC world we are in, because of the lyrics, but it's firmly on my playlist. Superb.
elvis wont play the line anymore, even though it is what irish soldiers were called
a great anti-colonialist song
👍👍
My favorite Elvis Costello song. Beautiful music to my ears.
Still as relevant and as fresh as a daisy in the scary days of '21!
One word SUPERB
The best song about British colonisation ever written
Thank you, I always wondered what it was about, thought he was singing about Oliver Cromwell 😆.
Great song.
@@Angel-eq9tq It is about Oliver Cromwell. It's probably left out of British history classes that Cromwell was responsible for 600,000 Irish killed out of a population of 1.4million. Amazing when you think about it, nearly half of the population of the country. That was nearly the proportions killed and displaced in the Great Famine 200 year later.
I'm sure he was.
It’s not about colonialism, it’s about white working class boys in England, no job no future, being sent by government to fight foreign wars. When the UK is already full of an invading force. It’s satirical, ironic and way ahead of its time.
This is so relevant today!! 🎶
He doesn't get enough praise 4 his fantastic music, well done, elvis Costello 😊
Hello, how are you doing it's nice meeting you here.
"R Whites Lemona-a-ade: I'm a se ret lemonade drinker. R Whites, R Whites".
Which Elvis Costello and his Dad, wrote and performed. Remember the bloke in the 70's advert, going to the 'fridge in the middle of the night to secretly slurp his stash? That was
Mr. MacManus Senior, aka, Elvis Costello's Daddy. Absolutely true.
Wow...I thought you were joking at first, but the R Whites song voice really does sound like EC.
An incredible piece of music. How many 25 year olds today could write such an articulate and historical knowledgeable song, let alone get a record deal with it?
8 years ago, I named my son Oliver after this song. He has always known that, and has heard the song a few times when he was younger. Tonight he found this album on my old highschool iPod and was SO excited that he has a whole army 😍
What a beautiful story ❤
after all these years i still love this song so much.
One of the best songs ever written, very under rated , not like the dribble that is done these days and nobody remembers
I don't disagree, but we've always had forgettable drivel
Underrated? On whose scale? u nuts!
Except it's NEVER been underrated.
Yes still listening in 2019
Who gives a flying f**k what year it is???
like wise :)
I care, our Kelli. What a long day.
Kelli Taylor, I’m so glad to be 53 and able to see all these bands The were part of a shift in music. Enjoy all this music from the 80’s, Duck.
Ahuevo!!!!
My absolute favorite song. Sorry to hear he's no longer singing it. It's more of a social commentary and not just a song.
It's cos of the word that shalt not be spoken... and a reluctance to change it, whilst accepting the need to change it. Fair play.
More woke pressure.
@@andymatthews7617 No pressure at all. Elvis's own choice. I doubt he will be saddened that caring for others upsets you...
@@Reelin_In_The_Years it's not about caring for others, it's about thousands of Albanians coming here when there is no conflict in their own country, it's nothing short of scandalous, where do you think the infrastructure is to cope with a million more people who have come in in the last 4 years, if people are genuine asylum seekers that's a different matter, but for people to come here for a gravy train, that's something else, THINK ABOUT IT.
@@andymatthews7617 ... which has nothing at all to do with the subject we were discussing...
Iconic song from an iconic era. The happiest era. Even Elvis disowning the song it's still a classic then - now - forever xxx Love to Olivers Army xx
Working class hero with great lyrics. "Hong Kong is up for grabs" and "the boys from the Mersey, the Thames and the Tyne"...Nice one Declan
Mark Anthony Harrison I wish we could all overrun the e u 👍
Oh look, It's the son of the chap who wrote the R Whites song! Seriously, both are fond memories from my childhood, Thank you Elvis Costello
Wow! I laughed out loud at that one!
Again, another totally righteous tune!
I adore the chunky keyboards on this track. The intro still gives me shivers. Aaaah nostalgia for my youth here ☺️
Daring, bold, and absolutely brilliant lyrics by a true master of mischief.
Elvis Costello was BIG on my college campus in the 80s. I even saw him in concert at the Mann theatre in Philadelphia. All this time I’m “singing” along to this song and I didn’t even know the lyrics. And I’m Black! Intent is what’s most important to me and this song will remain on my playlist along with Zeppelin, Billy Holiday and Curtis Mayfield….
I can honestly say I had never heard or heard of this song until today.It gets some bad publicity from its writer of all people,and I somehow see a news feed about the song.So that's why I am here.Good song though,and I agree,his intentions were not at all meant to be hateful.
He was singing about the British army in Northern Ireland, after visiting Belfast and seeing young British soldiers on street corners with machine guns. 'Oliver's Army' are what the British army are called that(mainly in Ireland) because of the devastation Oliver Cromwell wreaked in the religious wars of the 1640s. He paid particular attention to Ireland and it's Catholic population! Hence the line in the song 'all it takes is an itchy trigger, one more widow...one less white n####r!' (Irish Catholic). He's now decided to retire the song and not play it again, down to that one 'controversial' line🙄. Sad really, cos imo it's not said to offend...it was considered a fact by many during 'The Troubles' in N. Ireland. And Elvis Costello, although born in Liverpool, England, comes from Irish, Catholic stock originally...
COSTELLO:The Man is a living Legend - Yesterday and Today
I read an article about this song on the Daily Mail and I'm appalled at people's reaction, I have a black parent and I knew what the lyrics were in the '80s although I only just found out what he was talking about, I wasn't offended then and I'm now only offended by people's attitudes! Having been raised Catholic I know that the Catholic Irish were persecuted, I just wonder if the grandfather he was referring to was also the husband of Veronica, love that song too!!!!
Great tune and backing band are superb especially that piano, makes the song.
He was the real ELVIS.
Mr.Costello is,as it goes without saying,is a virtually sensational sound to each and everyone's ears.His music composition and performing gifts are precisely among the very best not just today but just as much yesterday for all Music History.
Christoper i love your comment , ive loved this guy since his beginning , however i saw him a few months ago , he didnt sound too good > i was rather disappointed to say the least lol Jane x
EC sings to my blood. Or does his blood sing to me?
I'd like to be in Oliver's Army together with Elvis!! Great song!!!😄😊
What a genius I always get slagged for looking like this guy I always take it as a compliment what a genius songwriter he is
A version that hasn't been sanitised for the 21 century, thank God.
@Paul Little Reread my comments, Paul.
HE SAID THE NOG WORD!
@@MichaelGraham21 whats he got to do with the nog word
What capitol is overun?
I'm pretty sure commercial radio has always censored this.
I was 5 in 1979 I have got this on my I pod now 40 years later this still sounds so timeless
I was 6, I looked away and when I looked back I was old as fuck.
Scottish Girl a brilliant track he was very underrated Scottish Girl
I was 11 loved this song 😀
Great song , great walking bass line , one of the best songs ever composed !
I dedicated this to my late wife Glenys who loved this song miss you RIP
this bloke is a pure genius ,his voice and songs are secong to none ...im a life time fan forever lol to all fans
The real Elvis. This one has talent.
EastOfBourne he's the one for sure 😎
I never liked Elvis until I found the real Elvis 😊 Costello is a real artist.