Sunday's Best

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Times are tough for English babies
Send the army and the navy
Beat up strangers who talk funny
Take their greasy foreign money
Skin shop, red leather, hot line
Be prepared for the engaged sign
Bridal books, engagement rings
And other wicked little things

Chorus:
Standing in your socks and vest
Better get it off your chest
Every day is just like the rest
But Sunday's best

Stylish slacks to suit your pocket
Back supports and picture lockets
Sleepy towns and sleeper trains
To the dogs and down the drains
Major roads and ladies smalls
Hearts of oak and long trunk calls
Continental interference
At death's door with life insurance

Chorus

Sunday's best, Sunday's finest
When your money's in the minus
And you suffer from your shyness
You can listen to us whiners

Don't look now under the bed
An arm, a leg and a severed head
Read about the private lives
The songs of praise, the readers' wives
Listen to the decent people
Though you treat them just like sheep
Put them all in boots and khaki
Blame it all upon the darkies

Chorus

Sunday's best

Sunday's Best
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 (not on original US release), 1979
SinglesAccidents Will Happen (US), 1979
CollectionsTaking Liberties, 1980
Girls Girls Girls, 1989
2½ Years, 1993
Length3:21

First known performance:
October 31, 1977, Guildford, England
Last known performance:
July 19, 2016, Belfast, Northern Ireland
     (13 known performances)


Eye.jpg
“This song was a catalogue of small-minded English prejudices and seething sanctimonious preferences. It took its cue from what, in my ever so ‘umble opinion, is the greatest record ever released on Stiff Records. It is the Ian Dury song, “England’s Glory” performed by the great music hall comedian and actor, Max Wall.” Armed Forces 33⅓ Network

Armed ForcesArmed Forces Rykodisc album cover.jpg

Accidents Will Happen singleAccidents Will Happen US 7" single front sleeve.jpg

Taking LibertiesTL album cover 200.jpg

Girls Girls GirlsGGG album cover 300.jpg

2½ Years2½ Years album cover.jpg

Covers

Handshake Squad performed live, 2001-08-17, Costello tribute, Tampa, Florida 2001 handshakesquad.com
The House Band Stonetown 1991 AllMusicAmazon
Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2014 YouTube

Internal links

External links