London's Brilliant Parade

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Outside my window
Not long before sleep arrives
They come with their sirens
And they sweep away all the boys
Busy draining the joy from their lives
They never said their prayers out loud

And while I'm dreaming
There's a passing motor car
That broadcasts a popular song
And a girl appears to be saying
"Do you think that I'm going to go far?"

(Chorus:)
Just look at me
I'm having the time of my life
Or something quite like it
When I'm walking out and about
In London's brilliant parade

She's one of those girls that you just can't place
You feel guilty desiring such an innocent face
But of course they knew that when they cast her
Along with the red Routemaster
And the film takes place in an MGB
And a perfect re-creation of "The Speakeasy"
Everybody looks happy and twisted
Though she probably never existed
For old times' sake
Don't let me awake

I wouldn't want you to walk across Hungerford Bridge
Especially at twilight
Looking through the bolts and the girders
Into the water below
You'll never find your answer there

They sounded the "all-clear" in the occidental bazaar
They used to call Oxford Street
Now the bankrupt souls in the city
Are finally tasting defeat

Don't look at me
I'm having the time of my life
Or something quite like it
When I'm walking out and about
In London's brilliant parade
When I'm walking out and about
In London's brilliant parade

From the gates of St. Mary's
There were horses in Olympia
And a trolley bus in Fulham Broadway
The lions and the tigers in Regent's Park
Couldn't pay their way
And now they're not the only ones
At the Hammersmith Palais
In Kensington and Camden Town
There's a part that I used to play
The lovely Diorama is really part of the drama, I'd say

(Repeat Chorus Twice)

London's Brilliant Parade
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byMitchell Froom & Elvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Pete Thomas - drums
Steve Nieve - grand piano, organ
Bruce Thomas - bass
Recorded1993, Olympic Studios, London
ReleasedMarch 8, 1994
AlbumsBrutal Youth, 1994
SinglesLondon's Brilliant Parade, 1994
CollectionsExtreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. Years, 1997
Unfaithful Music & Soundtrack Album, 2015
PromosWords And Music, 1994
Malice And Magic (Japan), 1994
Malice And Magic (US), 1995
A Taste Of Extreme Honey, 1997
UK Elvis Costello, 2002
Length4:22

First known performance:
May 3, 1994, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Last known performance:
February 19, 2023, New York, NY
     (88 known performances)


Brutal YouthBY album cover large.jpg

London's Brilliant Parade singleLondon's Brilliant Parade (Part 2) UK CD single.jpg

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

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

Covers

Bob Fenster home studio recording 2015 YouTubeFacebook
Steve Nieve instrumental, performed live, 2020-03-18, The Daily Improvisation, France 2020 Facebook - 11:25
Al Stewart Live At The Jazz Cafe - unofficial 2001 al-stewart.co.ukYouTube
Al Stewart Rhymes In Rooms 2007 AllMusicAmazon

Internal links

External links