Costello, Elvis - Jack Of All Parades Lyrics






When we first met I didn't know what to do
My old love lines were all worn out on you
And the world walked round my mouth
They lit me up and they snuffed me out

[Chorus:]
And I was everybody's boy
But soon that thrill just fades
To be the love of one true heart
Or the Jack of all parades

You won't know who to thank
You won't know who to blame
It's just a part of the Murdering Game
'Cos down in the fleshpots
Where they pay you in pounds
They're laughing like drains
And baying like bloodhounds
For the Jack of all parades
The Jack of all parades

Once I knew a girl
That looked so much like Judy Garland
That people would stop and give her money
And everybody was Frankie, Jimmy or Bobby
Not the Jack, the Jack of all Parades,
Oh the Jack, the Jack of all Parades,
Oh the Jack, of all Parades.

Now the way that I feel is no longer news
You know my love and how to refuse it
Cause you know where the door is
And how to use it
Oh you know you do

But from my chequered past
To this shattered terrace
Where you can't keep your mind off
the Crimes of Paris
And you can't keep your peace
And try to forget it
And I can't forgive you
For things you haven't done yet

Oh I was anybody's boy
But soon that thrill just fades
To be the love of one true heart
Or the Jack of all parades

When we first met I didn't know what to do
My old love lines were all worn out on you
And the world walked 'round my mouth
I didn't mean to say it
I just blurted it out
As you pretended not to notice
Or be taken aback
And I loved you there and then
It's as simple as that

Oh I was everybody's boy
But soon that thrill just fades
To be the love of one true heart
Or the Jack of all parades
To be the love of one true heart
Or the Jack of all parades
Oh the Jack of all parades





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Costello, Elvis Jack Of All Parades Comments
  1. D.... k....

    The tragedy of it all was that the music-listening audience of that time completely ignored this master-piece. It was like as if the audiences in 1966 ignored "Rubber Soul".

  2. M.... G....

    Great lyrics, evocative

  3. D.... k....

    When we 1st met I didn't know what to do my old love-lines were all worn out on you- & the world walked round my mouth. Debra.

  4. F.... F....

    when he was exceptional

  5. J.... C....

    My favorite track of 'King of America'. Thanks for posting!

  6. T.... C....

    This sounds like a great songwriting continuation of "Goodbye Cruel World".

  7. m.... ....

    1:16 Do bloodhounds really bay? I thought they tended to be quiet in their work..

  8. �.... ....

    この『キング・オヴ・アメリカ』の日本でのアルバムのキャッチ・コピー”コステロ一座は人を喰う”は史上最高のコピーですね。

  9. N.... L....

    Classic stuff. I like Imperial Bedroom, but it was nice to hear this come out.

  10. D.... F....

    i love this fella

  11. k.... ....

    After the overproduced Clive Langer records in the early 80s, this sent me hurdling back to the first 4 or 5 albums.

    k.... ....

    I don't understand this comment.

    k.... ....

    This album, King Of America is much better than Punch The Clock and Goodbye Cruel World, to my ears

    k.... ....

    By a damned good sight! @kevin mccready

  12. D.... k....

    I remember ( correctly, I believe) that, this honey; " Sign ' O the X's", & "Blood & Chocolate", were released that year. I was in in Nirvana!!!! 4 me the last year of true Rock ' n Roll, royalty in top- form.

  13. S.... T....

    Love the piano at the end!! would have loved to have heard Ray Charles sing some of this music on this album

  14. T.... M....

    Who gave a thumbs down!!!?

    T.... M....

    Tyrone McElhennon we're looking into that , bub

    T.... M....

    I think an explanation is in order

  15. J.... S....

    The best part of my Elvis experience is that I never over indulged out on his material. I have neglected his output in various segments. Now I can hear things for the first time even though I saw him 6 or seven times.But the first 3 or 4 albums, so good.

    J.... S....

    After his 1st 3 albums, he was nominated by the Grammys for best new artist in 1979. He lost to Peaches and Herb. His 1st three albums put him in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This Year's Model has been my favorite album since 1978.

  16. N.... A....

    This is from one of his most experimental albums. G-d, how I miss the old Elvis Costello!

    N.... A....

    the new Elvis is cool too!

    N.... A....

    Imperial Bedroom was odd musically, but the lyrics were amazing.

  17. r.... ....

    Played the heck out of this when it came out and I was on my college radio station. Criminally under appreciated album. Great stuff. Thanks for posting!

    r.... ....

    Me too, played it constantly when it came out.

    r.... ....

    Genius.

    r.... ....

    Most of my high school classmates took the piss out when I walked into class one day sporting my new vinyl copy of King Of America fresh from the local indie record shop (that didn't last very long) on LI. What is this bullshit? Why does E. C. look like a rabbi?
    But I'd already heard the album on Vin Scelsa and I knew it was like, E. C. making a massive comeback. The previous two
    albums didn't do much for me. Blood and Chocolate continued the resurgence. I still love the album, and love the very spare
    production and the crisp drum sound, etc. The Costello Show!