Soul For Hire

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Hang my head and shut my eyes
What kind of justice is this?
Fool I was, I thought that you fought fire with fire
Got to be more than just a soul for hire

Speaking for myself I wouldn't take the fame, the fees, the glory
For whoring in the practice of the law
I make my case stop and stutter
Soul comes unglued from the uppers
Blood is seeping in the hole
A mother's eye is weeping

I see every human kind
And still the truth is distant
I see every evil men do and desire
Got to be more then just a soul for hire

When it's time to give protection
To the ones who need it most, who are desperate
I get distracted from my job
Streams of ink and piles of paper
What are the breaks?
Jump out the window? Parole? Escape?
Blood is seeping in the hole
A mother's eye is weeping

Hang my head and shut my eyes
I can't see justice twisted
I see every evil men do and desire
Got to be more than just a soul for hire

When it's time to give protection
To the ones who need it most, who are desperate
I get distracted from my job
Streams of ink and piles of paper
To hand them over to dopers and kiddie-rapers
Corrupt in every twisted grudge
And that is just the judge

Hang my head and shut my eyes
What kind of justice it this?

Soul For Hire
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello
Produced byThe Imposter: Elvis Costello, Ciaran Cahill, Leo Pearson & Kieran Lynch
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, Fender Jazzmaster guitar, Fender Precision bass, melodica, cymbal
Leo Pearson - rhythm processor
Steve Nieve - vibraphone
Recordedca. late 1999-early 2000, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
ReleasedApril 15, 2002
AlbumsWhen I Was Cruel, 2002
Length3:55

First known performance:
October 16, 1999, Indianapolis, IN
Last known performance:
October 19, 2002, Pittsburgh, PA
     (22 known performances)


Alternate versions

Soul For Hire (Live in Tokyo)
Performed byElvis Costello & The Imposters
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Davey Faragher - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedJune 28, 2002, Tokyo, Japan
ReleasedOctober 1, 2002
AlbumsCruel Smile, 2002 (hidden track)
Length6:34
When I Was CruelWIWC album cover 400.jpg

Cruel Smile2002 Cruel Smile Album small.jpg

Covers

Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2021 YouTube

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External links