Favourite Hour

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Revision as of 04:42, 20 February 2023 by Nunki (talk | contribs) (update last known performance)
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Figure hanging on a leather band
Cog consults the watch he cups in his hand
Bejewelled movement measures lost and vanished time
Pray for the boy who makes his bed in cold earth and quicklime

(Chorus:)
So stay the hands, arrest the time
Till I am captured by your touch
Blessings I don't count, small mercies and such
The flags may lower as we approach the favourite hour

Now there's a tragic waste of brutal youth
Strip and polish this unvarnished truth
The tricky door that gapes beneath the ragged noose
The crippled verdict begs again for the lamest excuse...

(Repeat Chorus)

Put out my eyes so I may never spy
Waving branches as they're waving goodbye
Their vile perfume brings to my mouth a bitter taste
The murmuring brooks had best speak up, it's a terrible waste...

(Repeat Chorus)

Favourite Hour
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byElvis Costello
Produced byMitchell Froom & Elvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, piano
Recorded1993, Olympic Studios, London
ReleasedMarch 8, 1994
AlbumsBrutal Youth, 1994
PromosWords And Music, 1994
Length3:31

First known performance:
August 13, 1992, Dartington, England
Last known performance:
February 19, 2023, New York, NY
     (38 known performances)


Alternate versions

Favourite Hour (Church Studios Version)
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Pete Thomas - drums
Steve Nieve - keyboards
RecordedDecember 9, 1992, Church Studios, London
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2002
AlbumsBrutal Youth (Rhino reissue), 2002
PromosSelections From This Year's Model - Blood & Chocolate - Brutal Youth, 2002
Length3:32

Favourite Hour (Live 2004)
Performed byElvis Costello with The Metropole Orkest
Produced byGert-Jan van den Dolder
Arranged bySteve Nieve
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Steve Nieve - piano
The Metropole Orkest
Vince Mendoza - conductor
RecordedJuly 9, 2004, The Hague, Netherlands
ReleasedJanuary 13, 2006
AlbumsMy Flame Burns Blue, 2006
Various Artists collectionsSounds Now!, 2006
Length3:58
Brutal YouthBY album cover large.jpg

My Flame Burns BlueMy Flame Burns Blue album cover.jpg

Covers

Camerata performed live, 2017-07-13, QPAC, Brisbane, Australia; arrangement by Paul Cassidy 2017 Facebookabc.net.au
Steve Nieve and AJUQ performed live, 2020-03-20, The Daily Improvisation, France 2020 Facebook - 18:36

Chords

Tabbed by TPPD

(Intro Chord) D
(Verse 1) D F#m Bm7 D7 Figure hanging on a leather band G Bm7 Em7 Cog consults the watch he cups in his hand Em7 A D A Bejewelled movement measures lost and vanished time A Bbdim D Pray for the boy who makes his bed in cold earth and quicklime
(Chorus) D Dmaj7 Bm7 Em7 So stay the hands, arrest the time Em7 Bbdim(Db bass) D Till I am captured by your touch Bm7 Gm/Bb Bbm F Blessings I don't count, small mercies and such F Am7 Dm7 G The flags may lower as we approach the favourite hour
(Verse 2) D F#m Bm7 D7 Now there's a tragic waste of brutal youth G Bm7 Em7 Strip and polish this unvarnished truth Em7 A D A The tricky door that gapes beneath the ragged noose A Bbdim D The crippled verdict begs again for the lamest excuse...
(Chorus) D Dmaj7 Bm7 Em7 So stay the hands, arrest the time Em7 Bbdim(Db bass) D Till I am captured by your touch Bm7 Gm/Bb Bbm F Blessings I don't count, small mercies and such F Am7 Dm7 G The flags may lower as we approach the favourite hour
(Verse 3) D F#m Bm7 D7 Put out my eyes so I may never spy G Bm7 Em7 Waving branches as they're waving goodbye Em7 A D A Their vile perfume brings to my mouth a bitter taste A Bbdim D The murmuring brooks had best speak up, it's a terrible waste...
(Chorus) D Dmaj7 Bm7 Em7 So stay the hands, arrest the time Em7 Bbdim(Db bass) D Till I am captured by your touch Bm7 Gm/Bb Bbm F Blessings I don't count, small mercies and such F Am7 Dm7 G The flags may lower as we approach the favourite hour

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External links