Basement Kiss

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Lucy Grace can’t show her face down in the North End Road
For in Belgravia rumours have been whispered and suggestions have been made
Did you sell your friends out when the heat got too intense?
You say you like the danger but it’s only a pretense
You say you need the money
When everybody knows you can always fall back on your inheritance

Did you bruise your arms on those false alarms?
Did you bruise your pride on his smile so wide?
Only fingertips from forbidden bliss
Did you bruise your lips on this basement kiss?

Who’s that sneaking ‘round the door?
You can’t come here no more
Can’t you go home again?
She used to sit alone for hours
Spend her evenings watering dried flowers
When her mother came to stay and finally went to bed
Lucy Grace was in the front room shooting through your head
She tried to take your breath away and give you something else instead

Did you bruise your arms on those false alarms?
Did you bruise your pride on his smile so wide?
Only fingertips from forbidden bliss
Did you bruise your lips on this basement kiss?

Next year she’ll serve her function in her Audrey Hepburn hat
It still won’t suit her much but she’ll get over that
She’ll be pale and feign indifference as they’re handing out the prizes
Spilling Daddy’s words of wisdom and her ugly sister’s tranquilizers

Why were you so tardy putting up your guard?
When you hurt so easily and you try so hard
Did you bruise your arms on those false alarms?
Did you bruise your pride on his face so snide?
Only fingertips from forbidden bliss
Did you bruise you lips on this basement kiss?

Basement Kiss
Written byElvis Costello & Cait O'Riordan
Performed byElvis Costello
Produced byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar, bass
Pete Thomas - drums
Recordedlate 1991 or early 1992, Pathway Studios, London
ReleasedApril 18, 1994
Singles13 Steps Lead Down, 1994
Sulky Girl, 1994 (Australia)
Sulky Girl, 1995 (Japan)
Length3:40

First known performance:
September 24, 1994, Sendai, Japan
Last known performance:
October 17, 2009, Sydney, Australia
     (10 known performances)


Alternate versions

Basement Kiss (Live 1994)
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedDecember 1, 1994, Dublin, Ireland
ReleasedAugust 2, 1996
SinglesThe Other End Of The Telescope, 1996
Length4:11

Wendy James version

Performed byWendy James
Produced byChris Kimsey
MusiciansWendy James - vocals
Pete Thomas - drums, percussion
Cass Lewis - bass
Neil Taylor - guitar
Andy Bown - organ
Jon Astley - piano
Ian Wilson - backing vocal
Steve Butler - backing vocal
AlbumsWendy James: Now Ain't The Time For Your Tears, 1993
Length3:58
13 Steps Lead Down single13 Steps Lead Down UK 7" single front sleeve.jpg

The Other End Of The Telescope singleThe Other End Of The Telescope UK CD single front cover.jpg

Wendy James: Now Ain't The Time For Your TearsWendy James Now Ain't The Time For Your Tears album cover.jpg

Covers

Wendy James Now Ain't The Time For Your Tears 1993 AllmusicWikipediaAmazonAmazon.uk

Internal links

External links