I Want To Vanish

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I want to vanish
This is my fondest wish
To go where I cannot be captured
Laid on a decorated dish
Even in splendor this curious fate
Is more than I care to surrender
Now it's too late

(Chorus:)
Whether in wonder or indecent haste
You arrange the mirrors and the spools
To snare the rare and precious jewels
That were only made of paste

If you should stumble upon my last remark
I'm crying in the wilderness
I'm trying my best to make it dark
How can I tell you I'm rarer than most
I'm certain as a lost dog
Pondering a sign post

(Repeat Chorus)

I want to vanish
This is my last request
I've given you the awful truth
Now give me my rest

I Want To Vanish
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & Steve Nieve featuring The Brodsky Quartet
Produced byGeoff Emerick & Elvis Costello
Arranged byElvis Costello & Steve Nieve
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Steve Nieve - grand piano
Michael Thomas - violin
Ian Belton - violin
Paul Cassidy - viola
Jacqueline Thomas - violoncello
Roy Babbington - double bass
Ruth Causey - Bb clarinet
Pete Whyman - bass clarinet
RecordedAugust-September 1995, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
February 1996, Westside Studios, London
ReleasedMay 13, 1996
AlbumsAll This Useless Beauty, 1996
CollectionsExtreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. Years, 1997
Unfaithful Music & Soundtrack Album, 2015
PromosSelections From My Aim Is True, Spike, And All This Useless Beauty, 2001
Length3:13

First known performance:
November 25, 1994, London, England
Last known performance:
February 13, 2023, New York, NY
     (45 known performances)


Alternate versions

I Want To Vanish (Live 1996)
Performed byCostello & Nieve
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - piano
RecordedMay 22, 1996, New York, NY
ReleasedDecember 3, 1996
AlbumsCostello & Nieve, 1996
PromosLive At The Supper Club, New York, 1996
Length3:22

I Want To Vanish (For The Stars version)
Performed byAnne Sofie von Otter meets Elvis Costello
Produced byElvis Costello
Arranged byElvis Costello & the Ensemble
MusiciansAnne Sofie von Otter - vocal
Bebe Risenfors - clarinet, accordion
Svante Henryson - cello
Mats Schubert - piano
Johan Lindström - electric guitar
Magnus Persson - vibraphone
Michael Blair - percussion
RecordedFebruary 2000-January 2001, Atlantis Grammophon AB, Stockholm and/or Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin and/or Westside Studios, London
ReleasedMarch 19, 2001
AlbumsFor The Stars, 2001
In My Element, 2008
Length2:41
All This Useless BeautyATUB album cover large.jpg

Costello & NieveCostello & Nieve album cover.jpg

Extreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. YearsEH album cover 500.jpg

For The StarsFTS album cover 333.jpg

Unfaithful Music & Soundtrack AlbumUnfaithful Music & Soundtrack Album album cover.jpg

Covers

Michel Benita Lower The Walls 1999 websiteAllMusicAmazon.uk
Michel Benita performed live, 2009-07-18, Montpellier, France 2009
Bonnie Brett The Elvis Costello Songbook 2003 info
Christine Collister Dark Gift Of Time 1998 AllMusicAmazon
Pierrejean Gaucher Melody Makers 2010 websitelink
Pierrejean Gaucher Trio performed live, 2010-01-30, Le Triton, Les Lilas, France 2010
Rebecca Griffin performed live, 2008, Berkeley, California 2008 YouTubeYouTube
The Lennies Blind Dead Rising 2021 YouTubeAmazon
Sara Lov I Already Love You 2011 AmazonAmazon.uk
Steve Nieve & Muriel Teodori performed live, 2020-04-05, The Daily Improvisation, France 2020 Facebook - 6:30
Anne Sofie von Otter For The Stars 2001 AllMusicAmazonAmazon.uk
Andy Sheppard Quartet Surrounded By Sea 2015 AllMusicAmazonAmazon.uk
Andy Sheppard Quartet performed live, 2016-02-20, 12on14 Jazz Club, Warsaw, Poland 2016 AllMusicConcert review
June Tabor Against The Streams 1994 AllMusicAmazon
June Tabor Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous 1998 AllmusicAmazonAmazon.uk
Trio Libero performed live, 2013-03-17, Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Scotland 2013 AllMusicConcert review

Internal links

External links