Broken Promise Land

From The Elvis Costello Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search

There's a place
Where words mean nothing or much less
Such a disgrace
We got to get out of this mess

Coming in under the cover of darkness
How high shall we build this wall?
I could've said more but it would've seemed heartless
How hard did I slam that door?

I swore I'd never walk away
Until I saw this day
It didn't turn out the way we planned
Now I'm living in
Broken Promise Land
Broken Promise Land

There's a town I know
Has a strange resemblance to Jericho
Even though
Seven horns are getting ready to blow

Coming in under the cover of darkness
How high shall we build this wall?
Could've said more but it would've seemed heartless
How tight shall we close that door?

They only claimed to be redeemed
They take that name and then blaspheme
It didn't turn out the way we planned
Now I'm living in
Broken Promise Land
Broken Promise Land

There's a place
Where infidels and showgirls meet
Such a disgrace
Wedding bells crumble in the street

Coming in under the cover of darkness
How high shall we build this wall?
I could've said more but it would've seemed heartless
How tight shall we shut that door?

In the name of the Father and the Son
In the name of gasoline and a gun
It didn't turn out the way we planned
Now I'm living in
Broken Promise Land
Broken Promise Land

Broken Promise Land
Words byElvis Costello
Music byElvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
Performed byElvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
(featuring The Imposters, Anthony "AB" Brown & The Crescent City Horns)
Produced byJoe Henry
Horn arrangementAllen Toussaint
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, Fender Telecaster guitar (tremolo)
Allen Toussaint - piano
Steve Nieve - Hammond B3 organ
Davey Faragher - bass, backing vocals
Pete Thomas - drums
Anthony "AB" Brown - Fender Telecaster guitar
Brian "Breeze" Cayolle - baritone saxophone
Amadee Castenell - tenor saxophone
Joe "Foxx" Smith - trumpet
Sam "Big Sam" Williams - trombone
RecordedNovember 27 - December 10, 2005, Sunset Sound, Hollywood, and/or Piety Street Recorders, New Orleans
ReleasedMay 27, 2006
AlbumsThe River In Reverse, 2006
PromosUK Elvis Costello (2006), 2006
Length4:34

First known performance:
May 24, 2006, Berlin, Germany
Last known performance:
June 2, 2022, Bexhill-on-Sea, England
     (27 known performances, 45 as a snippet)


Alternate versions

Broken Promise Land (Live 2006)
Performed byElvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
featuring The Imposters, Anthony "AB" Brown & The Crescent City Horns
Horn arrangementAllen Toussaint
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Allen Toussaint - piano
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Davey Faragher - bass, backing vocal
Pete Thomas - drums
Anthony "AB" Brown - guitar
Brian "Breeze" Cayolle - saxophone
Amadee Castenell - saxophone
Joe "Foxx" Smith - trumpet
Sam "Big Sam" Williams - trombone
RecordedJuly 3, 2006, Montreal, QC, Canada
ReleasedDecember 5, 2006
VideosHot As A Pistol, Keen As A Blade, 2006


The River In Reverse2006 The River In Reverse Album small.jpg

Hot As A Pistol, Keen As A BladeHot As A Pistol Keen As A Blade DVD cover.jpg

Covers

no known covers

Internal links

External links