Unwanted Number

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You should hear the things that they say about me
They're saying "She's no better than she needed to be"
They don't know that he was kind and strong and tender
And now I'll never be another Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number

How can I tell them?
How can I express?
How it felt to step out of this life and into his embrace
How can I tell them?
How can I explain?
All the love that I never had I found in him

There may be a stain on the family name
And if my father was here I think I know who he'd blame
Mama says that he just doesn't care to remember
And all he thinks of me is another Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number

How can I tell her?
How can I express?
How it felt when he came to my room
And helped me to undress
What can she tell me?
How can I believe
That she really didn't hear me cry
When he wouldn't leave?

There's a local game where they whisper my shame
They say "He gave her his child
He wouldn't give her his name"
They will torture me from January till September
And soon there's going to be another Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number

And I will give my love to another Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number

Soon there's going to be, soon there's going to be
Another, another, another Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number

Soon there's going to be, soon there's going to be
Another, another, another Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number
Unwanted Number
Soon there's going to be, soon there's going to be
Another, another, another Unwanted Number

Unwanted Number
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & The Imposters
Produced bySebastian Krys & Elvis Costello
Vocal arrangementElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, electric guitars, intro piano, mini-moog
Pete Thomas - drums, tambourine
Davey Faragher - bass
Steve Nieve - piano, electronic keyboard, Vox Continental organ
Elvis Costello, Kitten Kuroi, Briana Lee & Davey Faragher - vocal group
ReleasedJuly 27, 2018 (stream/download track)
October 12, 2018 (album)
AlbumsLook Now, 2018
Length3:33

First known performance:
May 13, 1996, Los Angeles, CA
Last known performance:
October 3, 2023, Lucerne, Switzerland
     (63 known performances)


For Real version

Performed byFor Real
SoundtracksGrace Of My Heart, 1996
Various Artists collectionsSongs Of Elvis Costello: Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous, 1998
Length3:30
Look NowLook Now album cover.jpg

Grace Of My Heart: Original Motion Picture SoundtrackGrace Of My Heart soundtrack album cover.jpg

Songs Of Elvis Costello: Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & RendezvousBespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous cover.jpg

Covers

For Real Grace Of My Heart: Original Motion Picture SoundtrackVarious artists 1996 AllMusicAmazon
For Real Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & RendezvousVarious artists 1998 AllmusicAmazonAmazon.uk
Steve Nieve instrumental, performed live, 2020-05-23, The Daily Improvisation, France 2020 Facebook - 56:35

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