01 :: The Place Where They Take Your Spine :: A Slow Drag with "Poor Napoleon"

Today's Slow Drag is with "Poor Napoleon," released in 1986. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello.

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Appreciation written, produced, and narrated by Remedy Robinson, MA/MFA

Twitter: @slowdragremedy

Email: [email protected]

Podcast music by https://www.fesliyanstudios.com

Rate this Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/slowdrag

References:

Elvis Costello Wiki Reference: http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Poor_Napoleon 

Poor Napoleon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIh_O7rksgw

Reduction to absurdity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikjkCi_DhC8 

Magic Fingers: https://www.retrothing.com/2007/06/magic_fingers_v.html  

Corpse Factory: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/the-corpse-factory.html 

The "hardest cut": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd3-HakNEGM&vl=en 

Eggcorns: https://grammarist.com/mondegreens/ 

Title dispute: https://www.stereogum.com/693/napoleon_dynamite_vs_elvis_costello/news/ 

Pomeranian reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjN5q9Ixen4

"Poor Napoleon" Lyrics:

I can't lie on this bed anymore, it burns my skin
You can take the truthful things you've said to me
And fit them on the head of a pin

Poor Napoleon

You always look so disappointed when I take my stockings off
Don't you know the facts of life, boy
Don't you know what these things cost
She was selling stolen kisses to traveling salesmen and minstrel singers
You put a penny in the slot
She called you her Magic Fingers

Poor Napoleon

I bet she isn't all that's advertised
I bet that isn't all she fakes
Just like that place where they take your spine
And turn it into soapflakes

Bare wires from the socket to the bed where you embrace that girl
Did you ever think there's far too many people in the world?
One day they'll probably make a movie out of all of this
There won't even have to be a murder just a slow dissolving kiss

Poor Napoleon

So good night, little school boy, you'd better learn some self control
Did you mess up your hairstyle, pour scorn in your begging bowl

Poor Napoleon