Don't start me talking
I could talk all night
My mind goes sleepwalking
While I'm putting the world to right
Called careers information
Have you got yourself an occupation?
Chorus:
Oliver's army is here to stay
Oliver's army are on their way
And I would rather be anywhere else
But here today
There was a checkpoint Charlie
He didn't crack a smile
But it's no laughing party
When you've been on the murder mile
Only takes one itchy trigger
One more widow, one less white nigger
(Chorus)
Hong Kong is up for grabs
London is full of Arabs
We could be in Palestine
Overrun by a Chinese line
With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne
But there's no danger
It's a professional career
Though it could be arranged
With just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
If you're out of luck or out of work
We could send you to Johannesburg
(Chorus)
Alternate lyrics from 2020 live performances
(replacing "Checkpoint Charlie" verse)
They say the times are changing
And peace on earth has come to pass
Although the war is raging
They say each war will be the last
Send the boys back to Enniskillen
'Cause a robot army does all the killing
And the BBC will beg you to forgive us
Choose a word or two and cut them out with scissors
Alternate lyrics from 2023-2024 live performances
(replacing "Checkpoint Charlie" verse)
The times are changing
And peace on earth has come to pass
Although the war is raging
They say each war will be the last
Send you overseas to the lands we plundered
'Til you came back home found yourself outnumbered
Gun running with a legal tender
Sing the soldier's song scream no surrender
One man's freedom is another man's terror
The red badge of courage the cowards white feather
Another statistic in the margin for error
One more widow another pallbearer
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Oliver's Army |
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Written by | Elvis Costello |
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Performed by | Elvis Costello & The Attractions |
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Produced by | Nick Lowe |
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Musicians | Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums |
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Recorded | August-September 1978, Eden Studios, London |
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Released | January 5, 1979 |
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Albums | Armed Forces, 1979 |
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Singles | Oliver's Army, 1979 Green Shirt, 1985 |
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Collections | The Best Of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, 1985 The Man (The Best Of Elvis Costello), 1985 Girls Girls Girls, 1989 2½ Years, 1993 The Very Best Of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, 1994 The Very Best Of Elvis Costello, 1999 Singles, Volume 1, 2003 The Best Of Elvis Costello The First 10 Years, 2007 Unfaithful Music & Soundtrack Album, 2015 |
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Various Artists collections | Formula Thirty 2, 1986 Counting The Beat, 1991 The Sound Of The Suburbs, 1991, 1997 Rock & Wave Vol. 1: The Hits From The Underground, 1992 Back To The 70's, 1993 Sounds Of The Seventies, 1994 Sounds Of The 70's (Castle), 1994 Festival Rock, 1994 Drivetime 3, 1995 Lo Mejor de Los 80 Volumen 2, 1995 The Number One Punk Album, 1996 Fantastic 70s!, 1998 Rock Anthems Vol. 2, 1998 Classic Rock 1975-1979, 1998 The Best Seventies Album In The World ...Ever! II, 1999 Ten Years Of Rock: FLEADH, 1999 Music Of The Millennium CD 2, 2000 Pop & Wave By Public, 1999 Sounds Of The 70's, 1999 New Wave Greats 1976 - 1983, 1999 Mersey Boys & Liverpool Girls: The Sounds From The Mersey 1978-2001, 2001 Songs for the Aussie Bloke Vol. 2, 2001 Decades: Story Of The 60's, 70's & 80's, 2001 SchoolDisco.com - Spring Term, 2002 To Be Someone, 2002 Best Of British: 50 Golden Years Of British Popular Music, 2002 Capital Gold Rock Legends, 2002 SchoolDisco.com: The Revision Guide, 2002 Elite Rock, 2002 Rock Sessions, 2002 Smile - Acoustic Happy Music, 2003 Virgin Radio: The Album, 2004 British Legends, 2004 Pop Goes The 70's, 2005 Capital Gold: Platinum Legends, 2005 Dad Rocks!, 2005 Shouting From The Streets: Songs Of Protest, 2007 7 Inch Heroes, 2007 |
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Promos | Timothy White's Rock Stars, 1989 2½ Years (In 31 Minutes), 1993 The Very Best Of Elvis Costello (Spain promo), 1999 UK Elvis Costello, 2002 Selections From Armed Forces - Imperial Bedroom - Mighty Like A Rose, 2002 Virgin Radio Sessions: Exclusive Soundcheck Panel Volume 7, 2004 - |
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Videos | The Best Of The Kenny Everett Video Show, 1981 - -
The Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello - The Videos |
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Length | 2:57 |
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