London's Brilliant

I didn’t want to be some satellite clown So I went up to London ‘cos I heard it’s falling down Found the Denis the Menace of Little Venice Still digging up the bones of Strummer and Jones Revolutionary days were sadly over And a cool profile down Ladbroke Grove Won’t make it no more You could wake up in a doorway London’s brilliant when it’s raining Everybody’s moaning and complaining London’s dismal and divine And I know one day, one day... (one day, one day, one day) It’s going to be... Mine eyes have seen the gory faces of those bitter men and their bawdy talk And that’s not all Every night before I close my eyes I said a prayer to my desires Hung up on a poster on the wall Don’t let me grow up to fail and fall If I must grow up at all Well the nights got chilly and he swore he’d love me silly But he couldn’t raise a spark in the dark in Hyde Park With a bite and a bark, he tried to make his mark Now he’s selling his willy somewhere in Piccadilly He said I could be a little Madam in Mayfair But I’d rather wake up in a doorway somewhere ‘Cos in the long run I’ll probably be someone London’s brilliant when it’s raining Everybody’s moaning and complaining London’s dismal and divine And I know one day, one day it’s going to be... One day, one day, one day it’s going to be... One day, one day, one day it’s going to be... London’s brilliant Alternate lyrics Alternate lyrics from Now Ain't The Time For Your Tears: Well the nights got chilly and he swore he’d love me silly But he couldn’t raise a spark in the dark in Hyde Park With a bite and a bark, he tried to make his mark Now he’s getting fucked silly somewhere in Piccadilly

London's Brilliant Written by Elvis Costello & Cait O'Riordan Performed by Elvis Costello Produced by Elvis Costello Musicians Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar, bass, piano Pete Thomas - drums Recorded late 1991 or early 1992, Pathway Studios, London Released November 14, 1994 Singles London's Brilliant Parade, 1994 (12" & cassette single) Length 2:15 Only known performance:  April 19, 2020, The Daily Improvisation      (1 known performance) Wendy James version Performed by Wendy James Produced by Chris Kimsey Musicians Wendy James - vocals Pete Thomas - drums, percussion Cass Lewis - bass Neil Taylor - guitar Andy Bown - organ Jon Astley - piano Ian Wilson - backing vocal Steve Butler - backing vocal Albums Wendy James: Now Ain't The Time For Your Tears, 1993 Singles Wendy James: London's Brilliant, 1993 [1] Length 2:23

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: London's Brilliant Parade 12" single info page  •  London's Brilliant Parade cassette single info page
• Lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues