The Long Honeymoon

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All the bedroom lights go out
As the neighbourhood gets quiet
Everything in heaven and earth is almost right
But there's a wife who's wondering where her husband could be tonight
And when the phone rang only once she took a dreadful fright

Little things just seem to undermine her confidence in him
He was late this time last week
Who can she turn to when the chance of coincidence is slim
'Cause the baby isn't old enough to speak

Chorus:
There's been a long honeymoon
She thought too late and spoke too soon
There's no money back guarantee on future happiness
There's been a long honeymoon
If he's out on a date then her life's in ruins
She never thought her love could ever be as strong as this

All the movies and the papers
Feature the murders of lonely women
If he isn't in by ten she'll call up her best friend
Why doesn't he come home
Why does her friend's phone keep on ringing
Maybe she should just pretend

(Chorus)

Be as strong as this...

The Long Honeymoon
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byGeoff Emerick from an original idea by Elvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedNovember 1981, AIR Studios, London
ReleasedJuly 2, 1982
AlbumsImperial Bedroom, 1982
CollectionsGirls Girls Girls, 1989 (cassette only)
PromosA Conversation With Elvis Costello, 1982
Length4:15

First known performance:
August 29, 1981, Gateshead, England
Last known performance:
September 24, 2023, Paris, France
     (186 known performances)


Alternate versions

The Long Honeymoon (Instrumental Piano Demo)
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - piano
RecordedMarch 1981, September Sound Studios, Huddersfield, England
ReleasedJuly 28, 2003
AlbumsTrust (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2003
Length1:41

The Long Honeymoon (Live 1996 - Chicago)
Performed byCostello & Nieve
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Steve Nieve - piano
RecordedMay 18, 1996, Chicago, IL
ReleasedDecember 3, 1996
AlbumsCostello & Nieve, 1996
PromosLive At The Park West, Chicago, 1996
Length4:25
The Long Honeymoon (Live 1996 - Boston)
Performed byCostello & Nieve
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Steve Nieve - piano
RecordedMay 20, 1996, Boston, MA
ReleasedDecember 3, 1996
AlbumsCostello & Nieve, 1996
PromosLive At The Paradise, Boston, 1996
Length4:46
Imperial BedroomIB album cover large.jpg

A Conversation With Elvis CostelloA Conversation With Elvis Costello album cover.jpg

Girls Girls GirlsGGG album cover 300.jpg

Costello & NieveCostello & Nieve album cover.jpg

TrustTrust album cover large.jpg

Covers

D.C. Anderson Box Under The Bed 1997 AllMusicAmazon
Mary Coughlan Long Honeymoon 2001 AllMusicAmazon
Steve Nieve instrumental, performed live, 2020-03-31, The Daily Improvisation, France 2020 Facebook - 0:00
Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2016 YouTube

Internal links

External links