Posted on 01/11/2022 5:25:33 PM PST by nickcarraway
Elvis Costello has announced he’ll no longer perform his 1979 hit song “Oliver’s Army” is concert.
The rocker explained his decision during an interview with The Telegraph, noting that it stems from the lyric, “Only takes one itchy trigger / One more widow, one less white n_____."
“If I wrote that song today, maybe I’d think twice about [the lyric],” Costello admitted, before noting that the slur was historically accurate. “That’s what my grandfather was called in the British army — it’s historically a fact — but people hear that word go off like a bell and accuse me of something that I didn’t intend.”
“Oliver’s Army” was inspired by the conflicts in Northern Ireland that took place during the ‘70s. The song, which was included on the 1979 LP Armed Forces, hit No. 2 in the U.K. and remains the highest charting song of Costello's career. At the time of release the song aired on radio stations uncensored, however the track has routinely been bleeped in recent years. Costello claimed such action was “a mistake.”
“They’re making it worse by bleeping it for sure. Because they’re highlighting it then,” the musician opined. “Just don’t play the record!”
Costello admitted he’d toyed with changing the inflammatory lyric. “On the last tour, I wrote a new verse about censorship, but what’s the point of that?” he questioned. “So I’ve decided I’m not going to play it.”
Costello is currently slated to hit the road for a U.K. tour in June. His new album, The Boy Named If, arrives on Jan. 14.
No kidding! Thanks for that!
The song was a Top 5 hit in the UK and really is Anglo-centric so it probably has no audience beyond the UK.
As much of his early work, "Oliver's Army" is satire about a right-wing paramilitary group. Oddly enough, the person quoted in the song is angry about non-whites immigrating to Britain and slowly taking over. (Hmm, guess they were right).
But Elvis then dismisses their rough talk:
But there's no danger. It's a professional career.
Though it can be arranged with just a word in Mr. Churchill's ear
If you're out of luck or out of work
We can send you to Johannesburg.
It's a clever little send-up but I can understand not wanting to get tagged by the cancel culture.
I just hope the feminists don't go after "Pump It Up".
It’s OK, nobody cares.
My two fav’s are My Aim Is True and Get Happy. Probably my all time favorite song of his is Riot Act from Get Happy.
Didn’t know about the acoustic stuff. Thanks for the heads up.
What a great way to make millions of people go watch your old video! Brilliant!
He’s a leftist first and foremost so none of this is a surprise. I saw him in concert back in his prime a couple of times and his shows were good energetic fun. That said apart from the odd bit of news like this I haven’t thought about him in decades. I’ve pretty much shut down left wing entertainment for myself so I won’t ever be attending a current self censored show by Declan.
Winnie the Poo, and Tigger.
Just don’t call the “Neighbor”
I actually just did, because I was trying to remember how “Oliver’s Army” started out! Ahh, those keyboards ... Still such a classic sound, and the lyrics detailing all the countries where a mercenary might go, and all the danger to be had ... Well ... Nothing much seems to have changed!
For example, I understand Hong Kong is still “up for grabs.”
Steve Nieve! Love him.
Yeah! Fantastic!
Went to see The Replacements when they opened for Costello. Lasted a half of his first song.
He did that because he was partly drunk and sick of Bonnie Raitt being sanctimoniously self righteous at his table and wanted a reaction from her. He got that from her.
I will definitely check that out. Thanks!
I am reliably informed that I am full of crap and that he played after The Indigo Girls. Only a slight error.
Saw the Replacements at the Keswick theater in Glenside PA. Awesome concert.
The song didn't do well in the US.
I wouldn't say that he dropped the song because he's a lefty if he originally wrote the song because he was a lefty.
Bonnie Raitt being sanctimoniously self righteous could drive anyone to at least temporary madness.
Let’s rewrite 1984 too so no one gets triggered by the similarities to current events.
10 people? Might want to multiply that by several million.
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Don’t you just love it when other people are proud to display their ignorance for all the world to see.
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