Rope

Down by the harbourside A boat is fastened by a length of rope It was a perfect match Dreaming of escape Feeling almost detached Look beneath the waves The seabirds diving down into black water The morning bells begin Schoolchildren chant and spin A length of rope Below a hanging tree Like cruel secrets some of us turn out to be Should our love increase We are all released like statues from marble While in a prison yard They're taking turns to guard A length of rope Are you too weak to fight? Picking up a thread and then stretching it tight Look beneath the waves The seabirds diving down into black water Still our love increased We are all released like statues from marble

Rope Words by Elvis Costello Music by Fleshquartet Performed by Anne Sofie von Otter meets Elvis Costello Produced by Elvis Costello Arranged by Fleshquartet Musicians Anne Sofie von Otter - vocal Fleshquartet:  Jonas Lindgren - violin, electric 5-string violin  Örjan Högberg - viola, electric 5-string violin  Mattias Helldén - cello, electric cello  Sebastian Öberg - cello, electric cello Christian Olsson - drums, percussion Recorded Fleshquartet recorded September 23-27, 2000, Fleshland, Stockholm Possible additional recording October 2000-January 2001, Atlantis Grammophon AB, Stockholm, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, and Westside Studios, London Released March 19, 2001 Albums For The Stars, 2001 Length 3:57 First known performance:  October 13, 2009, Melbourne, Australia Last known performance:  October 17, 2009, Sydney, Australia      (2 known performances)

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