Town Cryer

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Chorus:
I'm the town cryer
And everybody knows
I'm a little down
With a lifetime to go
Maybe you don't believe my heart is in the right place
Why don't you take a good look at my face
Other boys use the splendour of their trembling lip
They're so teddy bear tender and tragically hip

I'm never going to cry again
I'm going to be as strong as them
They say they'd die for love
And then they live it out
They'll give you something to cry about
And suddenly you really fall to pieces

(Chorus)

Love and unhappiness go arm in arm
Long-suffering friends of your fatal charm
Living for the pity that you're going to get hurt
Just a little boy lost in a big man's shirt
And suddenly you really fall to pieces

(Chorus)

Town Cryer
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, orchestration
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedNovember 1981, AIR Studios, London
ReleasedJuly 2, 1982
AlbumsImperial Bedroom, 1982
PromosA Conversation With Elvis Costello, 1982
Length4:16

First known performance:
August 29, 1981, Gateshead, England
Last known performance:
June 7, 2023, Vancouver, BC
     (79 known performances)


Alternate versions

Town Cryer (Demo)
Performed byElvis Costello
Produced byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, all instruments
RecordedAugust 21-22 1981, Pathway Studios, London
ReleasedOctober 28, 2002
AlbumsImperial Bedroom (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2002
Length2:55

Town Cryer (Fast Version)
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 1982
AlbumsImperial Bedroom (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2002
SinglesMan Out Of Time, 1982
CollectionsSingles, Volume 2, 2003
Various Artists collectionsNME Mighty Reel, 1982
Length2:14
Imperial BedroomIB album cover large.jpg

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

Single: Man Out Of TimeMan Out Of Time UK 12" single front sleeve.jpg

NME Mighty ReelNME Mighty Reel cassette cover.jpg

Singles, Volume 2Singles Volume 2 album cover.jpg

Covers

Kristen Cothron Show Me Where The Edge Is 2012 Amazon
Steve Nieve instrumental, performed live, 2020-03-23, The Daily Improvisation, France 2020 Facebook - 7:15
Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2016 YouTube
Wet Wet Wet Cloak And Dagger 1992 WikipediaDiscogs

Internal links

External links