Little Atoms

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I arose and Marigold lay down with Curious Iris
Cherry gave to Victor her prudence and her virus
For the sake of purity I can recall the time and place
Between Wisdom and Murder she gave up her immaculate face

(Chorus:)
My poor belated chastity fell foul of grown up games,
With false and lovely modesty
I can recall the names I'll miss
In the particle of me that cares for this
I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss

Patience has her virtue still
but every grace must have its price
I through some felicity may spin a tale of constant vice
I took my better nature out, drowned it in the babbling stream
Took the blossom of my youth and blew it all to smithereens

(Repeat Chorus)

And if you still don't like my song then you can just go to hell
I don't care if I'm right or wrong or if my typewriter can spell
But I cannot promise you I've said "Goodbye" to childish things
There's still some pretty insults left and such sport in threatening

(Repeat Chorus)

And for the sake of clarity
They are "Faith", "Hope", and "Charity"
In the particle of me that cares for this
I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss

Little Atoms
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byGeoff Emerick & Elvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedAugust-September 1995, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
February 1996, Westside Studios, London
ReleasedMay 13, 1996
AlbumsAll This Useless Beauty, 1996
SinglesLittle Atoms, 1996
Various Artists collectionsPanasonic Präsentiert: Legends Of Rock, 2003
Length3:56

First known performance:
September 6, 1992, Dublin, Eire
Last known performance:
November 19, 2013, Orono, ME
     (86 known performances)


Alternate versions

Little Atoms (DJ Food Rinse)
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Rinsing and additional production byDJ Food
ReleasedJuly 22, 1996
SinglesDistorted Angel, 1996
Length11:08

Little Atoms (Polished Glass Mix)
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Rinsing and additional production byDJ Food
ReleasedJuly 22, 1996
SinglesDistorted Angel, 1996
Length7:58

Little Atoms (Live 1996)
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
RecordedMay 20, 1996, Boston, MA
ReleasedDecember 3, 1996
AlbumsCostello & Nieve, 1996
PromosLive At The Paradise, Boston, 1996
Length5:40
All This Useless BeautyATUB album cover large.jpg

Little Atoms singleLittle Atoms UK CD single front cover.jpg

Distorted Angel singleDistorted Angel UK CD single front cover.jpg

Costello & NieveCostello & Nieve album cover.jpg

Covers

Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2021 YouTube

Internal links

External links