13 Steps Lead Down

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When nobody knows she puts on secret clothes
And lies in the meadow with her hands tied behind her back
I won't refuse
If you know how to use it
Just stop playing that ugly drug music

Thirteen steps lead down
Thirteen steps lead down
There's commoners and kings
And everyone's a prisoner
Of paper and glue and a decent pair of scissors
So tonight I'm drinking to your health
Because I just can't stand myself

Thirteen steps lead down
Thirteen steps lead down
Thirteen steps lead down
Thirteen steps lead down

She stands and fails on fashion fingernails
Her lovers have her walking 'round
On instruments of torture
And one of them is poisonous
The other is a thief they say
So what one could give to her
The other cannot take away

When nobody knows she puts on secret clothes
And lies in her splendour for a picture opportunity
Cover up that bruise, put on patent leather shoes
Just stop playing that bad mood music

Thirteen steps lead down
Thirteen steps lead down
There's commoners and kings
And everyone's a prisoner
Of paper and glue and a decent pair of scissors
So tonight I'm drinking to your health
Because I just can't stand myself

Thirteen steps lead down
Thirteen steps lead down
Thirteen steps lead down
Thirteen steps lead down

13 Steps Lead Down
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byElvis Costello (& The Attractions)
Produced byMitchell Froom & Elvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Pete Thomas - drums
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Recorded1993, Olympic Studios, London
ReleasedMarch 8, 1994
AlbumsBrutal Youth, 1994
Singles13 Steps Lead Down, 1994
CollectionsExtreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. Years, 1997
Various Artists collectionsFinal Mix (No. 8: April 1994), 1994
My PoMo Valentine (Hits Post Modern Syndrome), 199_
PromosWords And Music, 1994
13 Steps Lead Down, 1994
Warner Music United Kingdom New Releases, 1994
Top Selection 1994 May, 1994
Malice And Magic (Japan), 1994
Malice And Magic (US), 1995
Either Side Of The Same Town Sampler, 2010
VideosThe Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello - The Videos, 2005
Length3:16

First known performance:
April 1, 1994, Late Show With David Letterman
Last known performance:
Template:2019
     (129 known performances)


Alternate versions

13 Steps Lead Down (Demo)
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Recorded1992-1993, Elvis' home
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2002
AlbumsBrutal Youth (Rhino reissue), 2002
Length2:04
Brutal YouthBY album cover large.jpg

13 Steps Lead Down single13 Steps Lead Down UK 7" single front sleeve.jpg

Extreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. YearsEH album cover 500.jpg

The Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello - The VideosTRS dvd cover.jpg

Covers

Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2020 YouTube
Radio Costello performed live, 2023-10-01, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield, England 2023 FaceBook

Internal links

External links