Today’s slow drag is with “20 Percent Amnesia,” from “Brutal Youth,” released in 1994. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello’s birth name.
I might have read or heard in passing that the title, “20% Amnesia” refers to an election where, despite all the heated debates in the lead up to the election, many people simply didn’t bother to turn up to vote, 20% or so. Pinning down the exact event will be left to others who know much more than I do. I appreciate the words inside the worlds with which they live. In this case, it’s a 3:24 second song about ambition and the lack thereof; it features a scolding refrain as a reminder, and an epilogue with a wise message. What I like about the poetry of “20% Amnesia” is the familiarity and the distance it creates. It’s political without being overtly so. It’s universal in nature, yet decidedly British in its vernacular. In short: it’s brilliant. But really, what else would you expect me to say? Five years before “20% Amnesia,” there was “Tramp the Dirt Down,” from the spectacular and informational album, “Spike.” With lines such as: “when England was the whore of the world, Margaret was her Madame,” and “when they finally put you in the ground they’ll stand there laughing and tramp the dirt down,” there is little room for interpretation past utter contempt for the then UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. “Tramp the Dirt Down” is vitriolic and personal. I feel uncomfortable listening to it. It’s like walking in on an argument and not knowing where to look. I probably won’t be doing a slow drag with it “Tramp the Dirt down” anytime soon, but will hasten to add that, after Thatcher’s death in April of 2013, Elvis Costello dusted off the song a mere three months later at the Glastonbury Festival that July. His decision to revive the song, he is quoted as saying, was because the “same bunch of slimes are governing Britain once again.” David Cameron was the Prime Minister in 2013, preceded by two Labor and one conservative PMs after Thatcher’s departure in 1990. Yes, an argument can be made that trotting out this song was, as Thatcher supporters put it, “insensitive and in poor taste.” But what it decidedly is not is apologetic or hypocritical. I question the timing but admire integrity. In the intervening 25 years, however, the curled lipped, the barbed pronunciation, the genuine contempt seems to have been tempered. The sentiment nevertheless continues to resonate. I highly recommend comparing the two live versions in order to see the difference. Take for instance, “Alison,” or the Nick Lowe penned “Peace, Love, and Understanding”; then and now, they remain constant in vigor and form when performed live. “Tramp the dirt down” does not. It seems we can only stay legitimately angry for just so long. General bemusement, on the other hand, remains quizzical in an evergreen fashion. At least, that’s the sense I get from “20% Amnesia.” If it were about one specific election once, it’s since gone on to give way to a greater message: "What is your destiny?" the policewoman said > 20% amnesia The word that she wanted was "destination," I'm afraid > 20% amnesia This is your future boy, this is your fate > 20% amnesia And you're obsolete and they can't afford to educate you > 20% amnesia Destiny and destination. See, words do matter. One’s a preordination and the other is a location. The vernacular, “I’m afraid,” as in “the word that she wanted was ‘destination’ I’m afraid,” sounds strange to my American ears, a reaction that comedian Rich Hall seems to share. Once, as a panelist on QI, in response to the question, “what does fear smell like? Hall answered, “crab salad.” Fear smells like crab salad. He explained: Quote: “I went to this deli the other day and said, “can I have a crab salad sandwich?”, and the woman behind the counter said, “we’re out of crab salad. I’m afraid.” Words matter, and so does comedic timing. I hope I did justice to that joke. But now we’re really going to get into the weeds of British vernacular. In his bed-time boot-boy jersey Ringing up some fantasy tart Give me strength or give me mercy Life intimidates art It’s easy to be swept away in the clever twist of phrase: life imitates. No, strike that, life intimidates art, that we need to double back to the beginning of this verse. Boot boy has a few meanings, mostly negative, hooligan, skinhead, but when combined with “jersey,” as in “his bedtime boot boy jersey,” I’m inclined to favor the definition of a sort of servant, or an eager young footballer who, quote: “cleans the boots of the senior players on the team.” His jersey can only make him look as if he’s part of team, yet he knows he can’t compete in terms of skill. There’s an expression using this term that I quite like: “the team needs a makeover, from chairman to boot boys.” “Ringing up some fantasy tart.” Ah, the webcam girls before there was a web. <play clip> “Tart.” Another British slang. English to English translation might be “tease.” Give me strength or give me mercy Don't let me lose heart From rage to anesthesia 20% amnesia I won’t bore you with all the eggcorns I’ve discovered in this piece, save for “from rage to anesthesia.” I’d always heard it as “from rich to rags is easier.” True enough, but from rage to unconsciousness colors the verse a bit differently for me now. These lyrics are a gift that keeps on giving. Were you passed out on the sofa? > 20% amnesia While justice was bartered by a drunken oaf? > 20% amnesia This is all your glorious country thinks of your life > 20% amnesia Strip Jack Naked with a Stanley knife > 20% amnesia I c an’t tell you who the drunken oaf is, but I have learned a great deal about “Strip Jack Naked.” It’s a children’s game, akin to “war” that has a mathematical intrigue. I found more information about it in an article from “The American Mathematical Monthly.” More commonly referred to as “Beggar My Neighbor,” it’s also known as “Knave out of Doors,” and my favorite, “Beat Your Neighbor Out of Doors.” The game is referenced in Dicken’s 1860 “Great Expectations.” Quote: "What do you play, boy?" asked Estella of myself, with the greatest disdain. "Nothing but beggar my neighbor, miss." "Beggar him," said Miss Havisham to Estella. So we sat down to cards. How “Strip Jack Naked” is played with a “Stanley Knife” is beyond me, which is exactly why this line remains neon colored in my mind. Another English to English translation. We call a Stanley knife a box cutter. So the German Queen went home again But she couldn't find forgiveness They made a fist of the hand of friendship But it's only business With all the bloodlines, houses, abdications, and one instance of Cromwell to remember, I always figured that’s why Brits always seems smarter than Americans; all we have to do is remember 40 or so dead presidents. The hundred years of the current British monarchy is, indeed, “partly” German. Think back, think back if you still can When the trumpet sounded and the world began Somebody said "We must have won" So they started burying the bogeyman Mister Gorbachev came cap in hand > 20% amnesia Here are two facts you probably already knew: Mikhail Gorbachev was last leader of the Soviet Union. Coming with your “cap in hand” means to do something in a humble manner. From a bankrupt land to a bankrupt land > 20% amnesia Mister Gorbachev and some other fella > 20% amnesia Were taken to a show called "Cinderella" > 20% amnesia And here are two facts I didn’t know. In addition to the British slang used throughout, there is also a bit of American hubris on my part. Turns out, The UK was the other bankrupt land, and the other “fellow” was Prime Minister John Major, and not The US and Reagan, as I’d always assumed. As reported in the Baltimore Sun, Gorbachev came to the UK to ask for money and through a quirk of translation, ended up at the Rossini opera, “Cinderella” with the Prime Minister before dinner. Words matter. Context matter. This dense piece comes with what can be considered an epilogue: You don't have to listen to me That's the triumph of free will When there are promises to break And dreams to kill A constant reminder about how many people forgot to vote, placing the nation in the state it seemed to be in, then turning it to the notion of free will can be considered sarcastic or earnest. It’s difficult to tell. Promises to break. Dreams to kill. 20% Amnesia can be as political and/or social and/or abstract as you want them to be. Although, it might be difficult to shake the underlying weariness and just a hint of contempt throughout, albeit not to depth of “Tramp the Dirt Down.” As the master tells us: But its a dangerous game that comedy plays Sometimes it tells you the truth Sometimes it delays it There’s a fine line between tragedy and comedy, between progress and farce. ---- Dig it: Again, this has been a slow drag through “20 Percent Amnesia” from 1994’s “Brutal Youth.” This piece is jam-packed with imagery, opinion, culture, and history. With “How to be Dumb” from “Mighty Like a Rose” a very close second, “Tramp the Dirt Down” is arguably the most overtly angry concoction from Elvis Costello. “20% Amnesia,” in contrast, feels somehow nostalgic: a rebuke sprinkled into a child’s card game, “Strip Jack Naked,” the strange history of the current monarchy, fantasy tarts, the Soviet Union 1point0, British lingo, and of course twisted and misunderstood words and idioms. Cinderella and the immortal, “life intimidates art,” destiny versus destination. Is it possible that “20% Amnesia” serves to remind us how history is circular and apt to repeat itself? Thank you so very much for finding this appreciation of Elvis Costello’s poetry, and for listening all the way to the end. This truly is a passion project that I am thrilled to share with you. I’ve really enjoyed this, and hope you have too. Please check the show notes for links to the actual song, as well as links to references made in this episode. There is also the companion blog with other references for your convenience. If you like this, please subscribe and share. Get in contact with comments, suggestions, or stories of your own. I’d love to hear them, especially if I’ve cocked up a few expressions here and there. So, until next time, Adieu, my little ballyhoo.
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Appreciation written, produced, and narrated by Remedy Robinson, MA/MFA Twitter: https://twitter.com/slowdragremedy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slow_drag_with_remedy/ Email: [email protected] Podcast music by https://www.fesliyanstudios.com Rate this Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/slowdrag ---------------------- References: Strip Jack Naked: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/nov/22/rules-card-games-beggar-neighbour “Beggar My Neighbour” Marc. M. Paulhus. Source: The American Mathematical Monthly, Vol. 106, No. 2 (Feb., 1999), pp. 162-165 Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of the Mathematical Association of America https://www.jstor.org/stable/2589054 Boot Boy definition and examples from the Cambridge dictionary: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/boot-boy A Hundred Years of Windsors but Still the Queen is partly German: https://www.ft.com/content/b80a9dde-f1f0-11e6-95ee-f14e55513608 Tramp the Dirt Down: http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Tramp_The_Dirt_Down How to Be Dumb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q7sFEe_H-o Rich Hall QI quote: https://www.quotes.net/mquote/833502 The difference between destiny and destination: https://wikidiff.com/destination/destiny Elvis Costello continues to sing “Tramp the Dirt Down” https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/tramp-the-dirt-down-elvis-costello-defends-decision-to-continue-singing-anti-thatcher-songs-8706270.html Glastonbury Festival 2013 “Tramp the Dirt Down” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaZ8PormR1w Gorbachev and Cinderella and Major: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-07-17-1991198031-story.html Pick up the phone! (90s adult sex chat line ad): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKdlb5yv5xo 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 |