Less Than Zero (Dallas Version)

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Jenny takes her clothes off in succession
While her husband rides a bumper in the President's procession
She sees him on the screen as she looks up from giving head
When he's had enough of that her lover throws her on the bed
To teach her she's alive and suddenly he's dead

Turn up the TV
No one listening will suspect
Even your mother won't detect it
No your father won't know
They think that I've got no respect
But everything means less than zero
Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey

Calling Mister Oswald, calling anyone at the scene
If you were taking home movies there's a chance you might have seen him
They've got a thousand variations, every witness in a file
Jenny puts on some coffee and she comes back with a smile
She says, "I hear that South America is coming into style"

Turn up the TV
No one listening will suspect
Even your mother won't detect it
No your father won't know
They think that I've got no respect
But everything means less than zero
Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey

A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor
Mister Oswald thought he had an understanding with the law
She's got rubies on her fingers, Jenny turns and looks away
Her mind upon a basement out of the USA
She says, "Let's talk about the future now we've put the past away"

Turn up the TV
No one listening will suspect
Even your mother won't detect it
No your father won't know
They think that I've got no respect
But everything means less than zero
Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey

Less Than Zero (Dallas Version) (Live 1978 - Toronto)
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedMarch 6, 1978, Toronto, ON, Canada
Released1978 (promo-only release)
October 15, 1993 (commercial release)
AlbumsLive At The El Mocambo, 1978
My Aim Is True (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2001
Collections2½ Years, 1993
Promos2½ Years (In 31 Minutes), 1993
Length4:17

First known performance:
January 28, 1978, Dallas TX
Last known performance:
February 27, 1979, Dallas TX
     (37 known performances)


Alternate versions

Less Than Zero (Dallas Version) (Live 1978 - Washington)
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedFebruary 28, 1978, Washington, DC
ReleasedMarch 4, 2008
AlbumsThis Year's Model: Deluxe Edition, 2008
Length4:28

see also: Less Than Zero

Live At The El MocamboLive At The El Mocambo album cover.jpg

2½ Years2½ Years album cover.jpg

My Aim Is TrueMAIT UK initial album cover large.jpg

This Year's ModelTYM album cover large.jpg

Covers

no known covers

Internal links

External links