Temptation

Who's this kid with his mumbo jumbo
Living in air-conditioned limbo
Though they treat him just like a guest
He's living under threat of arrest
Now that he's finally trying to make some sense
He drinks in self-defense
Give me temptation

The subtle touch of authority will
Take you anytime down to the station
You say that it's alright by me
Now you're living with the curse of sophistication
Now that you're shackled up to the rigmarole
With absolute control

I see you lying so wide awake
After I've given you all that you can take
So for heaven's sake
Give me temptation

Still you want to succeed so badly
Finding your life will not be deadly
You tell me you can take it or leave it
Sometimes I think that you really believe it
You're just itching to break her secret laws
As you go from claws to clause
Give me temptation

Temptation
Written by	Elvis Costello
Performed by	Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced by	Nick Lowe
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums
Recorded	October 1979, Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands and/or Eden Studios, London
Released	February 1980
Albums	Get Happy!!, 1980
Collections	Girls Girls Girls, 1989
Promos	Get Happy!! (Promo Album), 1980 Timothy White's Rock Stars, 1989
Length	2:31

First known performance:
March 1, 1980, West Runton, England
Last known performance:
November 19, 2018, Memphis, TN
(387 known performances)

“This started out as a holier-than-thou snipe at a VERY FAMOUS ROCK STAR, who I imagined to be breathing his own artificial atmosphere. However by the time we came to record it I'd had a good lungful of the same poison, but had also located that slippery addictive feeling that you get just before giving in to something wicked. It proved to be the saving of the song, together with a few pints of beer and a riff borrowed from Booker T and The MGs.” — Girls Girls Girls liner notes, 1989.

Alternate versions

Temptation (Alternate Version)
Performed by	Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced by	Nick Lowe
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums
Recorded	October 1979, Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands and/or Eden Studios, London
Released	July 28, 2003
Albums	Get Happy!! (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2003
Length	2:27

Temptation (Live 1996)
Performed by	Costello & Nieve
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal Steve Nieve - piano
Recorded	May 14, 1996, Los Angeles, CA
Released	December 3, 1996
Albums	Costello & Nieve, 1996
Promos	Live At The Troubadour, Los Angeles, 1996
Length	3:50