Turning The Town Red

You've been told that this won't do They put me in the picture but the film turned blue A glimpse of you Turning the town red A head full of brand new words and a mouth full of shocks You're a big boy now with a face to stop clocks Turning the town red Turning the town red You made your bed and now you better dream in it The word that you once whispered, now you're screaming it Days drip down the damp wallpaper Pictures plastered on the ivy creeper Between your old toy soldiers and your mother's sleepers Turning the town red Turning the town red You made your bed, you better face the consequence A black pool opened at my feet into a dream sequence Turning the town red Turning the town red Turning the town red Turning the town red You know I heard her call my name At least I think that's what she said Surely I'm the poor relation who can't afford the shame So what's she doing in my bed? Turning the town red Turning the town red Turning the town red Turning the town red... Alternate lyrics from demo version: You've been told that this won't do So you're turning the town red They put me in the picture but the film turned blue A glimpse of you Turning the town red You said they carried you shoulder high After turning the town red Now you've lost that lovin' feelin' And you don't know why Turning the town red You made your bed and now you better dream in it The word that you once whispered, now you're screaming it Turning the town red Days drip down the damp wallpaper Pictures plastered in an ivy creeper Between your old toy soldiers and your mother's sleepers Soon you'll be turning the town red Don't get the needle with the boys in the blocks Find yourself alright when the bathroom door locks You're a big boy now with a face to stop clocks Soon you'll be turning the town red Turning the town red Turning the town red You made your bed, you better face the consequence A black pool opened at my feet into a dream sequence Turning the town red I smell trouble I heard her call my name At least I think that's what she said Surely I'm the poor relation who can't afford the shame So what's she doing in my bed? You know that scent that often lingers After turning the town red I can't find it on my face or even on my fingers I'm turning the town red Turning the town red Turning the town red Turning the town red

Turning The Town Red Written by Elvis Costello Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions Produced by The Mono Kings (Clive Langer & Alan Winstanley), assisted by Jon Jacobs Musicians Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded February 1984, SARM West Studios, London Vocal and guitar overdubs recorded at AIR Studios, London Released June 1984 Albums Goodbye Cruel World (Rykodisc/Demon reissue), 1995 Goodbye Cruel World (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2004 Singles I Wanna Be Loved, 1984 The Only Flame In Town, 1984 (US/Spain) Collections Out Of Our Idiot, 1987 Girls Girls Girls, 1989 (cassette only) Singles, Volume 3, 2003 Soundtracks Scully (TV Series), 1984 Various Artists collections Fields Of Anfield Road, 2009 Length 3:17 First known performance:  December 22, 1983, London, England (late show) Last known performance:  February 28, 2020, Liverpool, England      (13 known performances) Alternate versions Turning The Town Red (Demo) Performed by Elvis Costello Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Recorded December 1983, Eden Studios, London Released July 26, 2004 Albums Goodbye Cruel World (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2004 Length 3:36

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: Goodbye Cruel World  •  lyrics  •  chords  •  GCW info page 1
• Lyrics  •  Alternate lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: Goodbye Cruel World