Stranger In The House

From The Elvis Costello Wiki

This never was one of the great romances
But I thought you'd always have those young girl's eyes
But now they look in tired and bitter glances
At the ghost of a man who walks 'round in my disguise

I get the feeling that I don't belong here
But there's no welcome in the window anyway
And I look down for a number on my keychain
'Cause it feels more like a hotel everyday

There's a stranger in the house; nobody's seen his face
But everybody says he's taken my place
There's a stranger in the house no one will ever see
Everybody says he looks like me

And now you say you've got no expectations
But I know you also miss those carefree days
And for all the angry words that passed between us
You still don't understand me when I say

There's a stranger in the house; nobody's seen his face
But everybody says he's taken my place
There's a stranger in the house no one will ever see
But everybody says he looks like me

Stranger In The House
Written by	Elvis Costello
Performed by	Elvis Costello
Produced by	Nick Lowe
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar John McFee - pedal steel guitar Sean Hopper - keyboards Johnny Ciambotti - bass Mickey Shine - drums
Recorded	late 1976-early 1977, Pathway Studios, London
Released	March 17, 1978
Albums	My Aim Is True (Rykodisc/Demon reissue), 1993 My Aim Is True (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2001 My Aim Is True: Deluxe Edition, 2007
Singles	Stranger In The House, 1978 (bonus single with This Year's Model LP)
Collections	Taking Liberties, 1980 Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers, 1980 Girls Girls Girls, 1989 (vinyl only) 2½ Years, 1993 Singles, Volume 1, 2003
Promos	Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers promo, 1980 UK Elvis Costello (2006), 2006
Length	3:04

First known performance:
August 21, 1977, London, England
(93 known performances, 1 as a snippet)

Alternate versions

Stranger In The House (duet with George Jones)
Performed by	George Jones with Elvis Costello
Produced by	Billy Sherrill
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar George Jones - vocal Tommy Allsup - guitar Phil Baugh - guitar Billy Sanford - guitar Pete Wade - guitar Pete Drake - steel guitar Johnny Gimble - fiddle Hargus "Pig" Robbins - piano Henry Strzelecki - bass Karl Himmel - drums
Recorded	July 1978, CBS Studio A, Nashville (backing track) March 13, 1979, CBS Studio A, Nashville (vocals)
Released	April 1980
Albums	George Jones: My Very Special Guests, 1980 Almost Blue (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2004
Singles	George Jones: Stranger In The House (single), 1980
Various Artists collections	On The Road... Country Collection, 1981 (Netherlands)
Length	3:36

Stranger In The House (Live 1978)
Performed by	Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums
Recorded	June 4, 1978, Los Angeles, CA
Released	October 28, 2002
Albums	Armed Forces (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2002
Length	3:52

Stranger In The House (BBC Version)
Performed by	Elvis Costello (& The Attractions)
Produced by	Tony Wilson
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums
Recorded	October 23, 1978, Maida Vale 4, London
Released	February 19, 2002
Albums	This Year's Model (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2002
Promos	Selections From This Year's Model - Blood & Chocolate - Brutal Youth, 2002
Length	4:15

Stranger In The House (Live 1979)
Performed by	Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums John McFee - guitar
Recorded	February 16, 1979, Los Angeles, CA
Released	July 26, 2004
Albums	Almost Blue (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2004
Length	3:56