50 Songs For 50 Days

50 Songs For 50 Days.

Elvis is posting a series of song lyrics on his website, one every day for 50 days. He introduced the series on his FaceBook page thus:

"Elvis Costello’s October Surprise

“If you’re tired of the lies of politicians and of preachers
You can place your trust in me, help me be your brother’s keeper
If you pay too many taxes, think salvation should be cheaper
Just say “Blood and Hot Sauce”

These lines come from a campaign song that I wrote for a musical adaptation of the Budd Schulberg story, “A Face In The Crowd”, which would have been coming to the stage quite soon, had it not been for the present contagion.

“Face” is the tale of Lonesome Rhodes, a lying, cheating, pill-popping double-talking no-good, who is discovered in jail by, Marcia Jeffries, a radio producer who sees potential in his silver tongue and common touch.

The story sees him rise through the broadcasting world until Lonesome gets such good ratings that he believes that he holds sway over, “The Ordinary Man”, who he secretly despises.

But that story is for another day.

In the meantime, I have created this installation of “50 Songs For 50 Days”, presenting lyrics written over the last 50 years - most of them my own - and heard on recordings made between 1977 and 2020, including several that will be issued here for the first time.

These songs were written in response to events over these many years but it strikes me that you may find something useful in them at this present moment; a joke, a motto or even a couple of dance steps to keep the blood pumping and the hot sauce at hand.

I hope these songs will amuse, console or even infuriate, because passive indifference is hardly the way forward.

From September 15th, we will bring you a different song every day for the next 50 days via the miracle of your favourite streaming service and the wonder of the internet. Please stay tuned.

I hope you get what you wish for or what you really deserve and that we can all find a way to forgive those who trespass against us.

One day I will see you again in the stalls or in the stars. Love from your friend in the future. Elvis Costello"

50 Songs For 50 Days - September 15 - November 2, 2020)

number	song	lyric	album or other release (date)
01.	(You’re Nobody “Til Everybody In) This Town (Thinks You’re A Bastard)	"It was a song with a topical verse which I’m Afraid he then proceeded to sing Something about the moody doomed love of The Fish-Finger King”	Spike (1989)
02.	Waiting For The End Of The World	“Hiding from a scandal in the national press They had been trying to get married since they stole the wedding dress You may see them drowning as you stroll along the beach But don't throw out the lifeline till they're clean out of reach”	My Aim Is True (1977)
03.	Why Can't A Man Stand Alone?	"Must he be burdened by all that he's taught to consider his own? His skin and his station, his kin and his crown, his flag and his nation They just weigh him down”	All This Useless Beauty (1996)
04.	Jimmie Standing In The Rain	“Eyes going in and out of focus Mild and bitter from tuberculosis Forgotten man Indifferent nation”	National Ransom (2010)
05.	Night Rally	“They're putting all your names In the forbidden book I know what they're doing But I don't want to look”	This Year's Model (1978)
06.	Hurry Down Doomsday (The Bugs Are Taking Over)	"In time you can turn these obsessions into careers While the parents of those kidnapped children Start the bidding for their tears”	Mighty Like A Rose (1991)
07.	All This Useless Beauty	“Nonsense prevails, modesty fails Grace and virtue turn into stupidity While the calendar fades almost all barricades to a pale compromise While our leaders have feasts on the backsides of beasts They still think they're the gods of antiquity”	All This Useless Beauty (1996)
08.	Brilliant Mistake	“He thought he was the King of America Where they pour Coca Cola just like vintage wine Now I try hard not to become hysterical But I'm not sure if I am laughing or crying”	King Of America (1986)
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External links

• ElvisCostello.com
• Spotify