Party Girl

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They say you're nothing but a party girl
Just like a million more all over the world
I know I shouldn't be raising my hopes so high
But I have seen the hungry look in their eyes
They'd settle for anything in disguise of love
Seen the party girls look me over
Seen 'em leaving when the party's over

They can't touch me now
You say you don't mind
We're so hard to find
I could give you anything but time
Give it just one more try
Give it a chance
Starts like fascination
Ends up like a trance

Oh you'll never be the guilty party girl
Maybe someday we can go hiding from this world
Maybe I'll never get over the change in style
But I don't want to lock you up and say you're mine
Don't want to lose you or say goodbye
I'm the guilty party and I want my slice
But I know you've got me and I'm in a grip-like vise

They can't touch me now
You say you don't mind
We're so hard to find
I could give you anything
I would give you anything
I can give you anything but time
Give you anything but time (repeats)

Party Girl
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byNick Lowe
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedAugust-September 1978, Eden Studios, London
ReleasedJanuary 5, 1979
AlbumsArmed Forces, 1979
CollectionsGirls Girls Girls, 1989
2½ Years, 1993
PromosSelections From Armed Forces - Imperial Bedroom - Mighty Like A Rose, 2002
Either Side Of The Same Town Sampler, 2010
Length3:20

First known performance:
May 4, 1978, Boston, MA
Last known performance:
October 2, 2023, Geneva, Switzerland
     (184 known performances)


Alternate versions

Party Girl (Live 1978)
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedJune 4, 1978, Los Angeles, CA
ReleasedOctober 28, 2002
AlbumsArmed Forces (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2002
Length3:19
Armed ForcesArmed Forces Rykodisc album cover.jpg

Armed ForcesArmed Forces Rhino album cover.jpg

Girls Girls GirlsGGG album cover 300.jpg

2½ Years2½ Years album cover.jpg

Covers

Steve Nieve instrumental, performed live, 2020-03-21, The Daily Improvisation, France 2020 Facebook - 22:45
Oliver's Army (Dallas) performed live, Dallas-area Costello tribute band 2003 - OliversArmyBand
Linda Ronstadt Mad Love 1980 AllMusicAmazonAmazon.uk
Linda Ronstadt performed live, 1980, 1982 1980 - linkFLACMP3
The Saturday Night Live Band instrumental, performed live, 1990-12-01, Saturday Night Live 1990
Karla Schickele performed live 2002- link
Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2014 YouTube
Bethany Thomas performed live, 2017-03-27, The Hideout, Chicago, IL 2017 AllMusicYouTubeinfo
Corin Tucker Band performed live, 2010, San Francisco and Philadelphia 2010 YouTubeYouTube

Internal links

External links