Stalin Malone

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(Instrumental)



Alternate lyrics

from Vocal Version on Spike (Rhino reissue):

I'm going to make you even fear the dream you dream
Don't even think about it, don't make a wish
You think that I don't see you as you trawl those young weak fish
Hooked on those poor wonders, till they want you alone
Though they can't tell a cuckoo-clock from the squeals of saxophones
That's when they'll fear my name

I'm telling you the day will come when this man gets what he merits
Though people still wear animal skins to ward off evil spirits
Only wife-swapping and witchcraft woke the dormitory town
'Til horse's heads up in the trees came dripping down
Yes, horse's heads hung in the trees after the bird had flown
Did you wonder of my whereabouts as the powder room was blown?
Did anybody call my name?

In a room called creation, where you all obey my laws
Where Seconal is gravity and pain is like applause
You think that this phenomenon is some coincidence
I've got people everywhere, you're under my surveillance, in the pocket of my pants
Okay, she left me, but I'll soon get over that
Falling out of the "Blood Tub" and rolling on my back
Waking up to the one o'clock gun with a Punch and Judy bird
Reaching out for a gelignite beer that fills me up with murder
To overhear forbidden songs her lover must have known
Between the pity and advice...
"There's no one here to help you now, but speak after the tone"
Leave for me a message of hope

Now the church door is a roller-shutter with padlocks and keys
Just like all of the other dispensaries
The saloon is like a casket, stained wood and human dust
Stale with conversation that hangs on your clothes like smoke
The wooden clock set time for her to dance dressed only in a flower
As the jazz band drowned the hysterical bird that it spits out on the hour
I'd drop out of sight and disappear, turn up in another town
But somehow I can't seem to put it down now, put it down
You probably wonder why I'm here, I don't trust myself alone
But do I have to see her fall into his arms before I can atone?
Get my jacket on, get my story straight
I'm leaving on my own

Stalin Malone
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byElvis Costello featuring The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Produced byElvis Costello, Kevin Killen & T Bone Burnett
MusiciansGregory Davis - trumpet
Efrem Towns - trumpet
Kevin Harris - tenor saxophone
Roger Lewis - baritone & soprano saxophones
Charles Joseph - trombone
Kirk Joseph - sousaphone
Jenell Marshall - snare drum
Lionel Batiste - bass drum
Recorded1988, Southlake Studios, New Orleans
ReleasedFebruary 6, 1989
AlbumsSpike, 1989
Length4:06

First known performance:
June 30, 1989, Roskilde, Denmark - snippet only
June 28, 1995, London, England - first full performance
Last known performance:
November 7, 2001, New York, NY
     (5 known performances, 14 as a snippet)


Eye.jpg
“When I was 15, rock steady was all the rage at parties in England, and you heard records by the Pioneers, Alton Ellis, and Roland Alphonso's fantastic "Phoenix City" which was a direct influence on a song from Spike, "Stalin Malone."” The Beat, August 3, 1989

Alternate versions

Stalin Malone (Vocal Version)
Performed byElvis Costello featuring The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Produced byElvis Costello, Kevin Killen & T Bone Burnett
MusiciansElvis Costello - recitation
Gregory Davis - trumpet
Efrem Towns - trumpet
Kevin Harris - tenor saxophone
Roger Lewis - baritone & soprano saxophones
Charles Joseph - trombone
Kirk Joseph - sousaphone
Jenell Marshall - snare drum
Lionel Batiste - bass drum
Recorded1988, Southlake Studios, New Orleans
ReleasedAugust 21, 2001
AlbumsSpike (Rhino reissue), 2001
Length3:11
NoteSame basic recording as album version but includes Elvis' guide vocal.
Spike1989 Spike Album.jpg

Covers

Composers Ensemble / Michael Thomas performed live, June 2000, Almeida Theatre, London  with vocalist Johnny Brown 2000
Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2019 YouTube

Internal links

External links