On Your Way Down

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Sunrise
Sunset
Since the beginning it hasn't changed yet
People fly high begin to lose sight
You can't see very clearly when you're in flight

It's high time that you found
The same people you misuse on your way up
You might meet up
On your way down

Vintage wines from the year '62
It's your thing, it's your thing
It pleases you
You got to frown when you cross town
You think it's an honor just to have you around

It's high time that you found
The same dudes you misuse on your way up
You might meet up
On your way down

You think the sun rises and sets for you
But the same sun rises, sets and shines
On the poor folks too
I don't mind you turning round
I myself would even like a little higher ground

It's high time that you found
The same people you walk on on your way up
You might meet up
On your way down
On your way down

On Your Way Down
Written byAllen Toussaint
Performed byElvis Costello & Allen Toussaint
(featuring The Imposters, Anthony "AB" Brown & The Crescent City Horns)
Produced byJoe Henry
Horn arrangementAllen Toussaint
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, Gibson Super 400 guitar
Allen Toussaint - piano, backing vocals
Steve Nieve - Hammond B3 organ
Davey Faragher - Fender Precision bass, backing vocals
Pete Thomas - drums
Anthony "AB" Brown - Fender Telecaster guitar
Brian "Breeze" Cayolle - baritone saxophone
Amadee Castenell - tenor saxophone
Joe "Foxx" Smith - trumpet
Sam "Big Sam" Williams - trombone
RecordedNovember 27 - December 10, 2005, Sunset Sound, Hollywood, and/or Piety Street Recorders, New Orleans
ReleasedMay 27, 2006
AlbumsThe River In Reverse, 2006
Various Artists collectionsJazzsommer 2006, 2006 (extract, fade out at 1:30)
Length4:55

First known performance:
September 20, 2005, New York, NY
Last known performance:
June 21, 2018, Madrid, Spain
     (56 known performances, 1 as a snippet)


Alternate versions

On Your Way Down (Live 2005)
Performed byElvis Costello with The Allen Toussaint Band
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Allen Toussaint - piano
Anthony "AB" Brown - guitar
Chris Severin - bass
Herman LeBeaux - drums
Reginald Toussaint - percussion, musical director
Tracy Griffin - trumpet
Brian "Breeze" Cayolle - saxophone
Amadee Castenell - saxophone
Suzanne Bonseigneur - background vocal
Ed Russell - background vocal
RecordedSeptember 20, 2005, New York, NY
ReleasedAugust 22, 2006
VideosFrom The Big Apple To The Big Easy: The Concert For New Orleans, 2006
The River In Reverse2006 The River In Reverse Album small.jpg

From The Big Apple To The Big Easy: The Concert For New OrleansFrom The Big Apple To The Big Easy DVD cover.jpg


Recordings by other artists

 Artist  Year  Release  Links
Lee Dorsey  1973  single discogs
 Allen Toussaint  1972  single
Little Feat  1973 Dixie Chicken WikipediaAmazon.uk
Trombone Shorty featuring Allen Toussaint  2010 Backatown Amazon.uk

Internal links

External links