Today’s slow drag is with “Man Out of Time,” from “Imperial Bedroom,” released in 1982. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello. It’s a famous piece, a quasi-sophisticated piece that racks up idiom after idiom as it flows by. Even if the exact meanings might not be clear at first, this worldly piece brings a spectacular view of a twilight world. So, this is where he came to hide When he ran from you In a private detective's overcoat And dirty dead man's shoes It’s not surprising that an Elvis Costello piece filled with melodic harmony would start with a deficit of clarity. It puts the listener on the back foot with its dissonant yet declarative statement. “This is where he came to hide when he ran from you.” It suggests it’s set down in the subjective first person, masquerading as the objective third person. Either way, the person didn’t seem to run far enough, as they’ve been captured. The structure of this verse will present itself again throughout the piece. In fact, there will be three equal instances of verse/verse/bridge/chorus. Each verse contains an alternate rhyme scheme, with most rhymes coming on the second and forth lines, as in you/shoes from this first verse. While it doesn’t appear to happen overtly often between Elvis Costello songs, it’s wholly conceivable that the “private detective’s overcoat” is a slight update on and allusion to “Watching the Detectives.” A “Dead man’s shoes” is a British idiom that expresses a situation, such as a difficult-to-secure job when times are tight, where someone senior must die before someone else is able to take their place. Think Prince Charles. The “dirty” part, well that’s just a bit of classic idiom busting, so prolific on “Imperial Bedroom.” The pretty things of Knightsbridge Lying for a minister of state Are a far cry from the nod and wink Here at traitor's gate Here again, another alternate rhyme scheme, with the rhyme falling on the second and forth lines: state/gate. Knightsbridge, minister of state, traitor’s gate. This sort of grouping will take place in subsequent verses as well. Knightsbridge is upper middle-class area of London nestled near Belgravia and Hyde Park. A “minister of state” is said to be a junior minister who assists other ministers in such duties as operations and public protection. “Traitor’s Gate” is located on the Thames River at the Tower of London. The entrance, only accessible by boat, is now closed due to the rising water table, but the words “entry to the traitor’s gate” can still be seen over the bricked up arched passageway. 'Cause the high heel he used to be has been ground down And he listens for the footsteps that would follow him around After the first two verses is this bridge, two lines that rhyme. The imagery of a ground down high heel and footsteps meld into a chilling noir back alley scene. The paranoia is embedded in these lines. To murder my love is crime But will you still love A man out of time? Much like the screaming intro and outro to the song itself, I’ve puzzled over this chorus for years now. Evocative, to be sure, but If you were to lift it from the piece entirely, would the rest of the piece still stand? Albeit with less of a clear understanding of the title itself. How does love and the absence of time compliment each other? It makes me happy to confess I have no idea how this maddening little chorus fits in to the rest of the piece. There's a tuppenny ha'penny millionaire Looking for a fourpenny one With a tight grip on the short hairs Of the public imagination A tuppenny ha’penny, or two pence, millionaire is another British idiom; it means to pretend to be rich when they’re hard pressed to find just one penny. Conceivably, a fourpenny millionaire is in roughly the same situation as a two-penny millionaire, only with slightly more cache. We’ve all seen the type; they litter up reality television with their silly little designer clothes and attitudes. In this verse, note that it maintains the alternate rhyme scheme, only it comes on the first and third lines, millionaire/hairs. This is a so-called violation of the rhyme scheme. Still, to my way of thinking, the structure is showing much restraint. But for his private wife and kids somehow Real life becomes a rumor Days of Dutch courage Just three French letters and a German sense of humor Framed around the alternate rhyme scheme of rumor/humor, this verse resembles the second verse with its list of three: Dutch, French, German. Dutch courage as the confidence garnered from drinking, three French letters as in assent, oui, and a German sense of humor as in grim pleasure in others’ pain, or at least that’s what it meant before 1990. Mr. Google tells me that that’s when the notion of comedy changed a bit, at least in popular culture. It’s an unscientific poll, of course, but if I had to guess what one of Mr. Costello’s most quoted lines was, I’d guess “real life becomes a rumor.” He's got a mind like a sewer and a heart like a fridge He stands to be insulted and he pays for the privilege This bridge is quite faithful to the bridge that came before it. In the same vein as a ground down high heel, yet is somehow an opposite view, speaking poetically of a dirty mind and a cold heart. The other side of the footprints that followed him around is something entirely encouraged and welcome. The biggest wheels of industry Retire sharp and short And the after-dinner overtures Are nothing but an afterthought The biggest wheels are those with great power, much like a titan of industry. Is this a bit of idiom busting? Sharp and short puts us in mind of the familiar alliterative idiom, “short, sharp, shock,” meaning a speedy and effective punishment, only rearranged and missing the “shock.” I’d wager that this is a bit of idiom busting as well. And the use of prepositions, after/over as a way to anchor what happens when drinks are had all around. As for the list of three as seen above, I’d consider industry, overtures, and afterthought the same sort of tenuous groupings worthy of a lingering thought. And as for the alternate rhyme on the second and forth lines: short/afterthought, particularly if you drop the /r/ is short. Somebody's creeping in the kitchen There's a reputation to be made Whose nerves are always on a knife's edge Who's up late polishing the blade I’ve always found this piece to be a bit of upstairs/downstairs, as evidenced by creeping around in the kitchen, after dinner, being somewhere one shouldn’t be. As for our list of three; there are a few to choose from. I see creeping, reputation, and polishing. There’s also kitchen, knife’s edge, and blade. Again, the alternate rhyme falls on the second and fourth lines: made/blade. Love is always scarpering or cowering or fawning You drink yourself insensitive and hate yourself in the morning Love is always running away, as in “this is where he came to hide when he ran from you.” Love is always a bit of a scaredy cat, as in “real life becomes a rumor.” Love is always a cloying people pleaser, as in “lying for a minister of state,” or even “a tuppenny ha’penny millionaire looking for a fourpenny one.” Drinking yourself insensitive could be how he came to be standing to be insulted. The final bit of the last line, “and hate yourself in the morning” isn’t an idiom, it’s a universal truth. To murder my love is crime But will you still love A man out of time? — Dig it Again, this has been a slow drag with “Man Out of Time” from 1982’s “Imperial Bedroom.” It’s a journeyman piece of writing that follows a rigid structure of its own making, past its mere alternate rhyme scheme. The verses contain little lists and puzzles. The bridges seem to take on different personas. That’s a helluva lot to ask of 250 words. As mentioned, I don’t know where the chorus fits in to the grand scheme of the piece, I just know it’s fun to continue to puzzle over it. If you have a better understanding than I do, please let me know. And that’s it for today’s slow drag, my friend. Thank you for listening. Other gems from “Imperial Bedroom” that I’ve had the thrill of doing a slow drag with is episode 14, “Silly Beggars Can’t Be Choosers,” a slow drag with “Pidgin English,” and episode 31, “Verbal Gymnastics,” a slow drag with “The Loved Ones.” In addition to writing and producing this podcast, my first book is available. “The Most Terrible Time in My Life…Ends Thursday” is starting to get some attention. Find it on Amazon; it’s in eBook and paperback versions. Give it a read, rate it, review it, and spread the word. I’m well into my second book now, and would love even more attention for this wonderful little book. Please take the time to give us a five-star rating, especially on Apple Podcasts. As always, thank you for helping to get the word out about this little passion project. Truly, it means the world. So, until next time, adieu, my little ballyhoo. Show Notes: ---------------------- Appreciation written, produced, and narrated by Remedy Robinson, MA/MFA Twitter: https://twitter.com/slowdragremedy Email: [email protected] Podcast music by https://www.fesliyanstudios.com Rate this Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/slowdrag ---------------------- References: Elvis Costello Wiki Resource, “Man Out of Time”: http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Man_Out_Of_Time “Man Out of Time”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XDuHPLzsxM Purchase “The Most Terrible Time in My Life…Ends Thursday” https://www.amazon.com/Most-Terrible-Time-Life-Thursday-ebook/dp/B07XLXS5PL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Y4SGCT62WPEK&dchild=1&keywords=the+most+terrible+time+in+my+life+ends+thursday&qid=1608873405&sprefix=The+Most+Terrible+Time+in+%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-1 “Dead Man Shoes” Idiom: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/dead-mens-shoes The responsibilities of a Minister of State, UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--61 “Traitors’ Gate”: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/traitors-gate “Twopence ha’penny millionaire” https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Twopence%20ha%27penny%20millionaire “Rhyme Schemes” https://www.masterclass.com/articles/poetry-101-what-is-a-rhyme-scheme-learn-about-rhymed-poems-with-examples#the-abab-rhyme-scheme-in-poetry Comments are closed.
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AboutSlow Drag with Remedy is an Elvis Costello podcast appreciation. It's an exploration of linguistics, language, poetry, and clever wordplay as framed by the peerless poetry of the modern-day master, Elvis Costello. Slow Drag by Song
Poor Napoleon Alibi Church Underground The Big Light Georgie and Her Rival Joe Porterhouse No Hiding Place 20% Amnesia All This Useless Beauty Let Him Dangle King of Thieves Damnation's Cellar Stripping Paper Pidgin English Riot Act Bedlam The Quickening Art Luxembourg Chemistry Class Living in Paradise My Mood Swings Waiting for the End of the World Little Atoms Two Little Hitlers Crimes of Paris You Tripped at Every Step Needle Time Men Called Uncle Peace in Our Time The Loved Ones I Almost Had a Weakness Our Little Angel Invasion Hit Parade Turpentine Miracle Man A Voice in the Dark The Greatest Thing Satellite Hand in Hand Clubland Tart Glitter Gulch Stations of the Cross Science Fiction Twin Possession This Sad Burlesque Flutter and Wow Soul for Hire After the Fall Blue Chair Monkey to Man Mouth Almighty Watch Your Step ...This Town... Distorted Angel Worthless Thing No Dancing Miss Macbeth Charm School Poor Fractured Atlas Brilliant Mistake My Little Blue Window Suspect My Tears Coal Train Robberies Fish 'n' Chip Papers I Hope You're Happy Now Man Out of Time 13 Steps Lead Down Go Away Sweet Pear The Name of This Thing is Not Love Jimmie Standing in the Rain The Deportees Club The Birds Will Still Be Singing Starting to Come to Me Pay It Back Five Small Words Pretty Words Radio Silence Human Hands Night Rally I'll Wear It Proudly Motel Matches Drum and Bone Harpies Bizarre Nothing Clings Like Ivy Why Won't Heaven Help Me Next Time 'Round The River in Reverse A Room with No Number Clown Strike The Invisible Man My Most Beautiful Mistake All the Rage The Town Where Time Stood Still Episode of Blonde e of Blonde No Flag A Slow Drag with Josephine That Bridge I Burned Sour Milk Cow Blues You Little Fool Spooky Girlfriend Suit of Lights There's a Story in Your Voice Dishonor The Stars The Other Side of Summer Mischievous Ghost They're Not Laughing at Me Now White Knuckles Honey, Are You Straight or Are You Blind? Black and White World The World and His Wife
God's Comic The First to Leave Green Shirt The Man You Love to Hate Lip Service American Gangster Time Blame It on Cain The Spell That You Cast Lipstick Vogue The Difference Stella Hurt Tears before Bedtime |