Dirty Rotten Shame

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I recall the good old days
But thankfully they've gone
Now the ponies are all broken nags
That stumble as they groan
And throw the jockeys from their throne
When there are ditches left to dodge
And lions left to tame
But it's nothing but a dirty rotten shame

It's a dirty rotten shame
That when you're frivolous and strong
It isn't youth, its fearlessness
That has been wasted on the young
The cruel are in the cradle
And the bishop's in the bag
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame

Now I sound like a millionaire
That brags of rags and jewels
A snarling pup is wild enough
But as his anger cools
He's left to sharpen useless tools
That tear and graze in fine affrays
But few are worth the name
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame

It's a dirty rotten shame
And that is not an idle boast
When all your courage and your strength
Will leave you as you need it most
When there are lamps to dampen
And cauliflowers to flip
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame

Dirty Rotten Shame
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello
Produced byT Bone Burnett
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, Gibson Century acoustic guitar
Dennis Crouch - double bass
Stuart Duncan - fiddle
Jeff Taylor - accordion
Mike Compton - mandolin
Jim Lauderdale - harmony vocal
RecordedMarch 31-April 2, 2008, Sound Emporium Studio, Nashville
ReleasedApril 28, 2009
SinglesComplicated Shadows, 2009
DownloadsSecret, Profane & Sugarcane, 2009 (iTunes US/Canada pre-order only)
Length3:48

First known performance:
November 8, 1994, Poole, England
Last known performance:
February 10, 2023, New York, NY
     (21 known performances)


Complicated Shadows singleComplicated Shadows single cover.jpg

Secret, Profane & SugarcaneSecret Profane And Sugarcane album cover medium.jpg

Covers

Ronnie Drew Dirty Rotten Shame 1995 AllMusicAmazon
Ronnie Drew Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & RendezvousVarious artists 1998 AllmusicAmazonAmazon.uk

Internal links