It's at times such as this she'd be tempted to spit
If she wasn't so ladylike
She imagines how she might have lived back when legends and history collide
So she looks to her prince finding since he's so charmingly slumped at her side
Those days are recalled on the gallery wall
And she's waiting for passion or humour to strike
(Chorus:)
What shall we do, what shall we do with all this useless beauty?
All this useless beauty
Good Friday arrived, the sky darkened on time
'Til he almost began to negotiate
She held his head like a baby and said "It's okay if you cry"
Now he wants her to dress as if you couldn't guess
He desires to impress his associates
But he's part ugly beast and Hellenic deceased
So she finds that the mixture is hard to deny
(Repeat Chorus)
She won't practice the looks from the great tragic books
That were later disgraced to face celluloid
It won't even make sense but you can bet
If she isn't a sweetheart or plaything or pet
The film turns her into an unveiled threat
Nonsense prevails, modesty fails
Grace and virtue turn into stupidity
While the calendar fades almost all barricades to a pale compromise
And our leaders have feasts on the backsides of beasts
They still think they're the gods of antiquity
If something you missed didn't even exist
It was just an ideal -- is it such a surprise?
(Repeat Chorus Twice)
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All This Useless Beauty |
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Written by | Elvis Costello |
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Performed by | Elvis Costello & The Attractions |
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Produced by | Geoff Emerick & Elvis Costello |
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Musicians | Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar, celesta Steve Nieve - grand piano, keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Pete Whyman - bass clarinet Roy Babbington - double bass |
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Recorded | August-September 1995, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin February 1996, Westside Studios, London |
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Released | May 13, 1996 |
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Albums | All This Useless Beauty, 1996 |
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Singles | All This Useless Beauty, 1996 |
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Collections | Extreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. Years, 1997 |
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Various Artists collections | Pure Genius, 2002 Songs: The Best Of The Singer/Songwriters, 2002 - Windmill Lane Recording Studios, 2021 - |
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Promos | Music Matters Volume 8, 1996 Selections From My Aim Is True, Spike, And All This Useless Beauty, 2001 UK Elvis Costello, 2002 |
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Length | 4:37 |
Alternate versions
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