Human Touch

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I know I've just gotta get out of this place
I can't stand any more of that mechanical grace
Though you say it's only an industrial squeeze
It looks like a luxury and feels like a disease

(chorus):
Oh give it to me, give it to me
I don't want to know much about much
Give it to me, give it to me
I need, I need, I need the human touch

Left with just a house to hold, drinking your way to drydock
It's easy to break up a model citizen, living in the state of shock
I just can't believe I am responsible for this
What the makeup hides can't be made up with a kiss

(chorus)

When I'm talking in tongues I go where you lead
I don't make you plead, oh I need you

How I'd like to fix her in a picture of rage
How I'd like to catch her when she's acting her age
But when she's laying stretched out on the floor
It's no mystery to me anymore

(chorus)

Human Touch
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byNick Lowe
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedOctober 1979, Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands and/or Eden Studios, London
ReleasedFebruary 1980
AlbumsGet Happy!!, 1980
PromosGet Happy!! (Promo Album), 1980
Length2:27

First known performance:
December 10, 1979, Cannes, France
Last known performance:
January 30, 1981, Upper Darby, PA
     (10 known performances)


Alternate versions

Human Touch (Alternate Version)
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byNick Lowe
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedOctober 1979, Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands and/or Eden Studios, London
ReleasedJuly 28, 2003
AlbumsGet Happy!! (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2003
Length2:19
Get Happy!!GH album cover large.jpg

Covers

Robbie Fulks performed live, 2015-03-30, The Hideout, Chicago 2015 YouTube
ICU Stringband performed live, 2017-03-16, Harlows, Sacramento, CA 2017 YouTube
Steve Nieve performed live, 2020-04-24, The Daily Improvisation, France 2020 FaceBookEC Fan Forum
Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2014 YouTube

Internal links

External links